Two years ago, in 2022, the late Obadiah Orkor, a revered figure in the Tiv community, shared his wishes for how he wanted his death to be handled. In a poignant statement, he expressed his desire for his passing to honor God rather than himself.
Obadiah Orkor stated, “I have told my children that I want my death to glorify God. When a parent dies, the house is usually crowded with people in the name of giving them last respects. In my case, I don’t want the respect for myself, but my death should rather glorify God.”
He continued, “God planned that when someone dies, they should be buried immediately. The very day I die, and they confirm that I am dead, there should be no other program after that. They should take my body to where I’ll be buried.”
Obadiah’s final wish was that if circumstances allowed, he would be buried in his ancestral home in Taraba. However, he also prepared for the possibility of being buried in the Mbayenge area, where his great-grandfather had once settled. He insisted on simplicity, saying, “Even my casket, they themselves can construct. They shouldn’t go looking for luxuries. If they join one wood with another, a casket has been formed already, they should lay me in it and put me in a simple grave.”
He also requested no wake-keeping, embalming, or mortuary storage. “Once I die, I should be buried. After burying me, they should carry my phone, remove the SIM card, and give my phone to my eldest child. They should then inform my friends, ‘We are sorry to inform you that our father is no more alive, but we have buried him. He instructed us not to embalm him, so we have done as he said.'”
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Obadiah was deeply concerned about the indignities that often occur during burial rites, especially the acts that he believed disrespected God. He lamented, “On the day of burial, even Christians drink alcohol, commit fornication and adultery, and there is general lawlessness. It might even be a Bishop that dies, yet these things must happen, and because of this, your death hurts God. So as for me, let my death glorify God. Once I die, I should be buried quickly so that people do not have the opportunity to commit indignities that will disrespect God.”
Now, Obadiah Orkor has fought the hard battle and won. Rest in peace, Uncle Obadiah, as your soul returns to our Creator. May your wish for a God-glorifying death be fulfilled.
