It was glitz and glamour as friends and well-wishers joined the Claude-Wilcox family of Peterside Community in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State as they laid to rest the late Amaopusenibo Idamiebi George Claude-Wilcox.

The late Claude-Wilcox, who is the elder brother of the Chairman of Bonny Chiefs Council, Se-Alabo Dagogo Claude-Wilcox, was during his lifetime, the pioneer General Manager of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Port Harcourt, Chairman, Bonny Utility Company (BUC), Executive Secretary, Finima Relocation Committee, and member, Bonny Kingdom Development Committee (BKDC), among other significant roles.

His body was conveyed from Kpaima Mortuary in Port Harcourt to his hometown, Peterside where it was committed to mother earth at the community’s cemetery.

The funeral obsequies in his honour included a Service of Songs at his Port Harcourt residence, a Commendation Service at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, an Evening of Tributes and Valedictory Session in Finima, a Valedictory Service by the Wilcox House Council of Elders and a Funeral Service at St. James Anglican Church in Peterside, Bonny LGA.

In his homily at the Commendation Service, the Vicar of St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, Venerable Richard Hart spoke on salvation of mankind, addressing the fact that man is of God and can only belong to God but through salvation from sin, admonishing those present to live a life pleasing to God.

The Valedictory Session by the Elders Council of Wilcox Chieftaincy House was presided over by the Chief and Head of the House, Se-Alabo Dagogo Claude-Wilcox, and had in attendance his colleague chiefs; Se-Alapu Reginald Abbey-Hart, Abel Attoni, Leslie Finecountry, Evans Brown, Golden Christy-Wilcox, Benjamin Dad-Allison, and Wari-Alabo Elliot Jim-Halliday.   

Also in attendance were the Chairman of Bonny LGA, Dame Anengi Claude Wilcox and her colleague Alapu-Ta (wives of chiefs), President, Amaopusenibo Furosia Wilcox, and members of the Bonny Kingdom Titled Citizens Assembly, elders of other chieftaincy houses of Bonny Kingdom.

In his remarks, Se-Alabo Dagogo Claude-Wilcox, who himself is a former diplomat, retired soldier and paramount head of Peterside Community, extolled the virtues of his late sibling, reminiscing on the older Claude-Wilcox’s achievements while alive, urging those alive to emulate his ways.

In his homily, the Vicar of St. James Anglican Church in Peterside, recounted the good deeds of the late Amaopusenibo Idamiebi Claude-Wilcox, admonishing members to “emulate such good life so they can make it to eternity as pilgrimage on earth is transient”.

Amongst the dignitaries, were a former member of the House of Representatives, Randolph Brown, his wife and CEO of Our Kitchen, Esther, former Chairmen of Bonny LGA, Edward Pepple, Adonye Dappa-Wilcox, and Adonye Wilcox, as well as member-elect of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and a host of others.