By Emman Ovuakporie
There is a new ‘craze’ in Nigeria particularly among Christian faithful’s that it is better to celebrate the living rather than celebrating the dead.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) two Sundays ago dug into this new strong belief’ of celebrating aged parents rather than spending a fortune for burial ceremonies.
Recently, a popular pastor joined the vogue the vogue – Pastor Kinu Kabirwa threw all his friends and accomplices off balance two weeks ago when he sent invite out that he was going to celebrate his aged parents.
His friends frantically called him demanding to know what killed his parents, he laughed and simply informed them that”I want to celebrate them while they are still breathing.
By 4pm all guests well over 250 were already seated waiting for the grand entry of ‘Papey’and mama Kabirwa both well above 85years.
They both strolled into the venue, Church of Worship in Zone Three Abuja as Papey Kabirwa a retired Warrant Officer(WO) wheeled his wife on a wheelchair into the venue at about 4.30om with a standing massive ovation from all the guests who continued to clap until Pa Kabirwa and his wife of over 60 years in matrimony were gallantly seated.
Pastor Kinu Kabirwa, his siblings and their wives formed a choir and a praise and worship session ensued followed by prayers, it was a sight to behold indeed.
The climax of the event was when “Papey’ Kabirwa declared that he could still do up to 50 press ups at 85 and the bewildered guests could not believe when he started the press ups.
After the count of ten all the guests stood up to beg’ papey’ Kabirwa to stop as nobody actually believed he could even attempt five press ups, the old man baffled all the guests.
In a chat with TNG Pastor Kabirwa, an astute administrator with a chain of business in school administration and agriculture revealed that”I got this whole idea in 2016 when my friend invited me to Lagos to celebrate his 90-year old mother.
“Initially I thought the old woman had passed on but he explained to me that my friend is it not better to celebrate her while she is still alive after she’s gone will she enjoy anything in her burial ceremonies.
“I saw a lot of sense in what he said and there and then I made up my mind that once my parents hit 85years I must celebrate them.
“Honestly my brother when they die I won’t send invite to anybody but as long as they live I will continue to celebrate them.
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