Fidelia Ezinwanne Chigbogu, the immediate elder sister of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, has died at the age of 61.
Mrs Chigbogu, fondly called “Darling” by her husband, reportedly slumped and died on Sunday morning in Lagos while preparing to attend church.
Her husband, Chudi Chidinma Chigbogu, a native of Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, described her death as a devastating shock, saying she had shown no signs of illness before the incident.
“It was like a shock to me because, even as I am talking to you now, I never believed it,” he said.
Narrating the circumstances surrounding her death, Mr Chigbogu said the family had experienced an electrical incident the previous Thursday when their electricity meter exploded and burnt their changeover room.
He said they had contacted officials of the electricity distribution company, who promised to visit on Monday to replace and relocate the meter.
“We were busy waiting for them. My wife said she would give testimony in church on Sunday, and we were preparing for that,” he said.
According to him, his wife woke up on Sunday morning without any apparent health complaints and was preparing to leave for church when the incident occurred.
“That Sunday morning, she woke up. There was nothing like a headache, nothing like fever, nothing. She finished bathing and was preparing to go to church. She usually leaves home between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. because of the roles she plays in the church,” he said.
Mr Chigbogu explained that he was washing his car because of dust when he became concerned that his wife had not come downstairs.
“I went to wash the car because of dust. Around 8 a.m., I called my son and said, ‘Why has mummy not come down? Go and check.’
“Only for the boy to go and start screaming that he called his mummy and she did not answer. He lifted her hand, and her hand dropped,” he recounted.
He said he immediately rushed upstairs and found his wife lying unresponsive on the bed.
“I called her names, no way. I alerted neighbours, and we carried her to six hospitals. Anywhere we went, they would take me aside and say I didn’t bring her on time, that she had passed on.
“I said no, it was not possible, until we got to Navy Hospital, where they refused to admit her,” he said.
Mr Chigbogu said prayers continued at their home for several hours as the family struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.
He recalled that around 4 p.m., someone told him she had seen his wife in a vision, moving swiftly without looking back, which she interpreted as a sign that the deceased had made it to heaven.
“That was when I changed my mind and allowed an ambulance to come. She left here after 6 p.m. and got to the village around 7 a.m. the next day,” he said.
Describing his late wife, Mr Chigbogu said she was a natural leader, peacemaker and philanthropist who played a significant role in her family, church and community.
“Aside from calling her Darling, I called her many names because she was a leader. No matter the case in the family, she would settle it.
“She is the founder of a women’s group, played a very big role in the church and was known for her charitable work. Before her passing, she was working on her orphanage.
“Even though she is no more, I will not let her down. I will make sure that project comes to pass,” he said.
On her family background, Mr Chigbogu said her parents had seven children—three boys and four girls—and that his late wife was the second daughter.
He added that she was also one of the trustees of the Ubah family.
