The General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church, Prophet Samuel Abiara, has lost his wife, Prophetess Christiana Abiara.
A statement from the church on Sunday said Prophetess Abiara was aged 70 and that she died on Saturday in a hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State, where she had been receiving treatment.
She is survived by her husband, children, among whom are three sets of twins, and a large Christian family.
Daughter of the deceased, Taiwo Abiara-Omokore, said her mother died in the presence of family members at the hospital, adding that she waited for her husband to get to the hospital before she died, praising God.
She said, “My mother was a special woman. She was specially created by God to bring joy and happiness to others. If everyone in Nigeria could be like her, this country would be like a paradise. She never offended anyone and she was a true mother to us and a great wife to our father.
“She died with a pure heart and what amazed me was that she did not die until my father arrived at the hospital. They had the last prayer together and the last word in her mouth was ‘Halleluyah’, which she sang several times.
“When I tried comforting her and told her that we would soon return home with her in good health, she called my name and said it was time for her to go home. I said that was not the wish of God for her, but she said she knew better than I did. At exactly 9pm on Saturday, she breathed her last in front of family members.”
One of the aides of Prophet Abiara, who identified himself simply as Pastor Oshati, said she spent one week at the hospital.
“She died in a hospital in Ibadan, where she was being treated for slight ailment. She was there for one week but remained strong. We have taken solace in the fact that she served God till her final moment in life. She died at a time appointed by her Creator because she looked strong until the final moment. The church will surely miss her motherly role,” he said.
