The coffin of Rev. Dr. David M. Nabegmado being carried by the pallbearers
The extended family of Francis Nabegmado, who allegedly murdered his uncle Rev. Dr. David M. Nabegmado, the former Head Pastor of Central Assemblies of God Church at Community 4 in Tema, has ‘banished’ the suspect and his nuclear family even before the conclusion of his trial.
The suspect, his father and siblings have been told that they are no longer part of the Nabegmado Family of Yankaza, a village in the Saboba-Chereponi District of the Northern Region.
The decision, which is seen as retribution, was reportedly taken on January 26, 2019 during a general family meeting at Yankaza.
It was contained in a tribute by the family to the late Rev Dr. Nabegmado, the Head Pastor of Central Assemblies of God Church at Community 4, Tema during his funeral over the weekend.
The family said it had no knowledge of the dastardly act by the suspect.
“It’s our hope as a family that every natural person with soundness of faith, caution and observation will agree that unfortunately the behaviour of some of our family members may be unacceptable but it does not reflect the general behaviour of our family.
“Dada, Rev. Dr. David Nabegmado Nyimanyi, you see us but we don’t see you, you hear us but we don’t hear you. The family, in a meeting held on 26th January, 2019 in our hometown, excommunicated the accused, his father and his suspected siblings from our family.”
They urged the public to ‘judge’ them by “the persona and traits of Rev. Dr. Nabegmado who epitomized the family values.
“If you were a bad man, then you came from a bad family,” they said, adding “May our Lord and your Lord, who you served unreservedly forgive you of all your shortfalls as a mortal and grant you eternal rest till we meet again.”
During the burial service, the General Superintendent of Assemblies God Churches, Rev. Prof. Paul Yaw Frimpong-Manso, pleaded for forgiveness for the suspected murderer, asking the family, church members, friends and gospel ministers of the church to pardon him and pray for him to repent from his ‘sins.’
“Please family, friends and church, I will plead with you, let’s forgive this person,” he said in a solemn sermon that attracted a lot of applause from mourners.
“I want to say something to the family, all things work for good for those that love God and those who have been called for His service. I am pleading with you, and the chief and the leadership of the family to forgive that brother because God has forgiven you so you too forgive him. David’s death is not a waste.”
Wife’s tribute
Rev. Mrs. Comfort Nabegmado, wife of the Deceased, in a brief tribute said, “You’ve turned the light to shine out of darkness. We were joined together but now you have departed from my life, oh what great sorrow!”
Rev. Dr. David Nabegmado was reported to have been killed while preparing to leave his private office in the church premises to the main church auditorium to preach on December 30, 2018.
He died a few hours after being rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Francis Nabegmado, his nephew, who reportedly killed the pastor, was almost lynched by the mob after he was apprehended at the scene.
The suspect has been taken to the Pantang Psychiatric Hospital for assessment.
The funeral attracted high profile personalities such former President John Dramani Mahama – a member of the church, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Organiser, Sammy Awuku, ministers of the gospel, members of the Pentecostal and Charismatic Christian Council and other politicians.
Rev. Dr. Nabegmado left behind four children who also expressed sorrow in a tribute to their father.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema