Vigil held in Newry in memory of Anu Okusanya
A vigil has been held in Newry in memory of Anu Okusanya.
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00:00All right, folks, so you're all very welcome here this evening.
00:14So if everybody, first of all, wants to step in, come on in closer.
00:22Thanks very much.
00:25All right, so there was a few sheets going about there with the words of the three songs
00:33that Janice is going to lead with us tonight.
00:35Before we do the opening remarks, Janice is going to open with Because He Lives,
00:41and Benga and the family, and most importantly, Ola, is here with us this evening.
00:47It would be much appreciated if everybody could join in.
00:53God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus
01:03He came to save, heal and forgive
01:12He bled and died to part my pardon
01:21An empty old grave is there to call my sacred names
01:30Because He lives, I can praise tomorrow
01:39Because He lives, all fear is gone
01:48Because I know He holds the future
01:57And life is worth living just because He lives
02:06How sweet to hold a newborn baby
02:15And feel the pride and joy He brings
02:24What greater still the calm assurance
02:33That child can face uncertain days
02:38Because He lives, because He lives
02:46I can praise tomorrow
02:50Because He lives, all fear is gone
02:59Because I know He holds the future
03:08And life is worth living just because He lives
03:17And then one day
03:21Because He lives again
03:25I'll fight my scar
03:29No more in pain
03:33And then as death
03:38He'll sway to victory
03:43And in the light of glory and I know He lives
03:51Because He lives, I can praise tomorrow
04:00Because He lives, all fear is gone
04:09Because I know He holds the future
04:17And life is worth living just because He lives
04:29Wow, beautiful.
04:34So you're all very welcome here this evening
04:39as we gather to remember our sister Anu.
04:43I'd like to particularly welcome Anu's family
04:47and especially her son Ola
04:50who arrived in Neary today
04:54to join his mum in honourably serving all of us
04:59our community, our elderly and our loved ones
05:03in Ashgrove Home.
05:06Never in a million years did he or any of us expect
05:17to instead be standing here tonight
05:20in memory of our sister Anu.
05:23Whilst it would be remiss of us all here tonight
05:26not to note the disgusting facts
05:29that surrounded Anu's tragic death
05:33we remember most importantly why we are here this evening
05:37and that is of course to remember
05:39and to pay tribute to Anu.
05:42We're going to hear shortly from Anu's union family
05:47who over this past number of weeks
05:49have been an absolute outstanding rock of support
05:53not only to the family
05:56but to their colleagues, union members
05:59and the wider community
06:02and in particular Ola.
06:05We've been joined in song already this evening
06:09with our three songs
06:10Janice is leading us from Neary Christian Centre
06:13in praise and celebration to our Lord for Anu.
06:16But without further ado
06:18I'm going to pass you on to Anu's family
06:21starting with her brother Benga
06:25who many of you would have seen
06:27across your radios and TV screens
06:30who so so bravely told of Anu's story
06:34and made sure that the truth was told.
06:38So Benga I'll pass over to you now
06:41and maybe perhaps you could tell us a bit about Anu
06:44and her journey through life
06:46and here in Neary
06:48and maybe a wee bit about the recent events
06:50that led up to her passing.
06:52Benga.
07:00Thank you so much everyone for coming here tonight.
07:10Just a few weeks ago
07:13Anu and I were looking forward to today.
07:18We're looking forward to today
07:21because today
07:23was supposed to be the first time
07:25that she would have seen her son
07:27since the last 15 months.
07:32Today was the day
07:34that she was supposed to reunite with him.
07:37We planned
07:39that we would go to the airport this morning
07:42to pick him up and spend the whole day together.
07:47That cannot happen.
07:51But
07:53I think Anu is looking down here tonight
07:56and she's proud that her son is not alone.
08:02She can see each and every one of us
08:05and I'm sure
08:07she's happy
08:09knowing
08:11that Ola has got a lot of uncles and aunties
08:16and parents and brothers and sisters.
08:19I want to say
08:21you are not alone, Ola.
08:31Anu was born on the 29th of April 1978.
08:37She was the last of five children
08:41Ola is the first
08:43I'm the second
08:45and we have two boys
08:48and Anu
08:50now men, sorry
08:52in their fifties
08:54but Anu was the last.
09:00She was a very dear one to us all.
09:04We were a very, very, very close family.
09:07Every single day
09:09we would chat.
09:11Every single day
09:14we would be in touch with one another.
09:20My evenings would never be the same again
09:23because when I go for walks in the evenings
09:27for about an hour and a half
09:30I'm on the phone talking to Anu
09:32almost every day.
09:35So
09:37Anu went to primary school
09:40in a place called Ikeja
09:42in Lagos, Nigeria
09:44and she went to secondary school
09:47and then she went to Ogun State University
09:51to study mathematics
09:54and education.
09:55She was a brilliant person.
09:58Highly, highly intelligent.
10:01And
10:03she graduated and became a teacher.
10:07She taught so many young people.
10:10She was good in teaching younger children
10:14and she did a fantastic job.
10:17I'm not going to call names
10:20but one of the celebrities that we know
10:23out there today
10:24was a student of Anu's.
10:27So she was a brilliant teacher
10:30and
10:33there was a time
10:35our mom fell ill with dementia
10:39and she needed care.
10:42Anu decided to change her career
10:46from a teacher to a carer.
10:49She went, studied all about care
10:52and she became a carer to her mom.
10:57She did a fantastic job.
10:59She was excellent.
11:01She was really, really excellent.
11:04Our mom was so happy to have her.
11:08She cared for our mom until she passed
11:11some years ago.
11:16Since then, Anu has remained a carer
11:19to elderly people
11:22and on the 15th of May
11:25just last year
11:27Anu came into this country
11:29to work in Ashgrove Nursing Home
11:31as a carer.
11:33She's done a fantastic job there
11:35from what we've heard.
11:38Everyone in the home is quite devastated
11:42but proud of what she achieved.
11:48So I will start by saying
11:51on the 24th of August
11:53was the day that
11:57things turned around.
12:01It was the day...
12:19It was...
12:22It was the day we got a phone call
12:27It was the day we got a call
12:30that no one would ever dream of getting.
12:35It was the day
12:37that she finished her shift
12:40as usual
12:42and she was walking home
12:45and she witnessed an altercation
12:51and she...
12:55she...
12:57she called the police immediately, of course
13:01but
13:03she feared for her life
13:06because of the experiences she had
13:09the preceding months
13:12where she had been attacked by youths
13:15on the streets
13:18on various occasions.
13:21I...
13:23I could only remember two other occasions
13:27but
13:29in the last few days
13:31we were going through her records
13:33and we saw that there was much more
13:37and we saw
13:39that she was scared for her life
13:43and she wrote...
13:45you know, she actually spoke it out.
13:49She said that she was scared for her life
13:53the normal routes to the shops
13:56she couldn't take those routes anymore
13:58she said she had to go through a long route
14:02she said even some evenings
14:04on the way back from work
14:07these same youths
14:09would come at her and start throwing bottles at her
14:13you know
14:15it was traumatic for her
14:17and she said it, that she was scared for her life
14:20so on the 24th of August
14:23we can imagine what she was going through
14:26and she ran, she thought she was running for her life
14:29but she ran to her death
14:32she had to run to a colleague's house
14:35and that's when she suffered a cardiac arrest
14:40actually she suffered four cardiac arrests
14:43within two hours
14:46and
14:48she had to be put on
14:50the life support for
14:53for some days and on the 28th of August
14:57she was declared dead
15:06I know it's very difficult
15:08to take
15:10extremely difficult
15:15but
15:18I just want to say
15:20thank you so much for your support
15:23nevertheless
15:26I want to pray
15:29for those youths
15:33my prayer for them is that the Lord will have mercy
15:37upon them and show them His grace
15:41that the Lord will bring them out of that darkness
15:44that they are in
15:46into His marvelous light
15:49that the Lord will deliver them
15:52from that bondage
15:54and that life of chaos
15:57and lead them to true peace
16:01and take away the foolishness of this world
16:06and give them Godly wisdom
16:09thank you very much, God bless you
16:16Thank you
16:24Well
16:26how Benga had the
16:28strength not only to go through this past few weeks
16:32but to stand here this evening
16:35and to pray
16:38for unused attackers
16:40and for their forgiveness
16:42I think that just shows the type of family
16:46that they are
16:55So we're going to
16:57very shortly
16:59Janice is going to lead us on her second song
17:01I did three for this evening
17:03but just very quickly I want to invite up
17:05Hannah from Unison
17:07So I spoke briefly earlier
17:09about a unused family in Unison
17:12and upon hearing
17:14the tragic passing of Anu
17:17and the circumstances that surrounded it
17:19Hannah
17:21immediately reached out to ourselves
17:23and offered not only
17:25very substantial support
17:28in the main ways
17:30but was determined to support Ola
17:33in his journey over here
17:35to work in the health sector
17:37So I'll pass you over to
17:39Hannah from Unison
17:45Thank you
17:57Hello everyone
17:59I'm Hannah McElveen from Unison
18:01and it's great to see you all here this evening
18:03as we come together in solidarity
18:05and remembrance to honour a remarkable woman
18:07Anu
18:09who arrived in Ireland
18:11just over 18 months ago
18:13with high hopes of a new life
18:15and better prospects for her and her family
18:19It says a lot about Anu's character
18:21when she bravely went to the aid
18:23of a person being attacked by a gang
18:25who had previously attacked her
18:27Anu paid a high price for her bravery
18:29and we stand together this evening
18:31with her family
18:33her friends
18:35and the people of Newry
18:37to offer our sincere and heartfelt condolences
18:39to all those who loved Anu
18:41We honour her memory
18:43and pledge that we will continue to
18:45fight against racism in our communities
18:47and we'll send a clear message
18:49that all are welcomed here
18:51Rest in peace to Anu
19:11How deep the father's love for us
19:23How vast beyond all measure
19:29That he should give his only son
19:35To make a wretch his treasure
19:41How great the pain of sinning loss
19:47The father turned his face away
19:53This wills which mother chose him on
19:59To bring many sons to glory
20:13Behold a man upon the cross
20:19My shame upon his shoulders
20:25And I hear my mocking voice
20:29All out and on the scarface
20:35It was my sin that held him low
20:41Until it was accomplished
20:47His dying breath has brought me life
20:51I know that it is finished
21:05I will not boast in anything
21:11No gifts, no pride, no riches
21:17I will boast in Jesus Christ
21:21His death and resurrection
21:27What should I gain from his reward?
21:33I cannot give an answer
21:37But this I know with all my heart
21:43His wounds have paid my ransom
21:49What should I gain from his reward?
21:55I cannot give an answer
21:59But this I know with all my heart
22:05His wounds have paid my ransom
22:13Thank you Janice
22:43Caring for others was in Annie's DNA
22:57and the love and care she received from her healthcare colleagues will never be forgotten
23:05Thanks to our trade union community and in particular Hannah from Unison
23:11who I spoke of earlier upon hearing of Annie's passing
23:15reached out to offer any support she and the union could offer
23:19and I'm under no doubt that Ola as you begin your new career here in Neary
23:25that support will remain unwavered
23:31Thank you to our local press and in particular Neary Reporter
23:37and their editor Michael Scott who even this evening is still behind the camera
23:43Michael first highlighted Annie's story which led to not only national coverage
23:49but commanded direct dialogue which had not existed before
23:53between the police and Annie's family
23:57You may have seen also that Michael and the Neary Reporter
24:01started a GoFundMe campaign
24:05which has now raised over £9,000
24:17This will give Ola the secure and safe button that he can start his life here in Neary
24:23and one that he absolutely deserves
24:27and just a brief word to say given the Neary Reporter was under threat of closure not too long ago
24:33it shows the priceless contribution that our local press make to our community
24:37so again another round of applause please for Michael and all our press
24:47Finally a word of thanks to you
24:51the people of Neary and further further afield
24:55ever since the tragic news of Annie's passing
24:59you've wrapped your arms around the family and shown nothing but love
25:03you've spoken of Annie's story, supported the family
25:07shared, commented, donated
25:11and shown most importantly that hate will never ever win
25:15love will always conquer fear
25:19To the community of Dumuli in particular
25:23who have been dealing with the scourge of anti-social behaviour
25:27for several years now
25:31you are to be commended in your response to Annie's passing
25:35and to Ola
25:39whether you choose to stay in Dumuli
25:43or live elsewhere in our city or across our district
25:47you are in safe hands my friend
25:51what happened to your mum has never happened before
25:55and we and every single person here tonight can guarantee you
25:59it will never ever happen again
26:03applause
26:11As you may have guessed by now
26:15Annie was a devout Christian in faith
26:19not only in her faith but she was a Christian
26:23in her daily life and actions
26:27Mark chapter 10 verse 45 reads
26:31For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve
26:35and that Annie did each and every day
26:39Finally
26:43before we depart on our closing song
26:47the blessing
26:51and I think appropriately on the Lord's Prayer
26:55just a quick reminder that Annie's funeral celebration will take place this Saturday
26:59at one o'clock in Monk's Hill Chapel of Ease with burial afterwards
27:03and enjoying a sandwich and of course you are all most welcome to attend
27:07Our Father who art in Heaven
27:11Amen
27:29Amen
27:59Lord turn His face toward you
28:03and give Him peace
28:11The Lord bless you
28:15and keep you
28:19make His face shine upon you
28:23be gracious to you
28:27Lord turn His face toward you
28:31and give Him peace
28:39Amen
28:43Amen
28:47Amen
28:51Amen
28:55Amen
28:59May His presence be before you
29:03and behind you and around you
29:07ease with you ease with you ease with you
29:11ease with you may His favor be upon you
29:15and a thousand generations you follow me
29:19and your children and your children
29:23and your children in the morning and the evening
29:27and your coming and your going
29:31your waking and your tossing is for you
29:35is for you
29:39Amen
29:43Amen
29:47Amen
29:51Amen
29:55Amen
29:59The Lord bless you
30:03and keep you
30:07make His face shine upon you
30:11be gracious to you
30:15Lord turn His face toward you
30:19and give Him peace
30:31For the Lord has promised to always be with us
30:35If I knew He is with Him and He is with us
30:39then She is never far away
30:43Go raibh maith agat. Thank you