Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has paid an emotional tribute to her late husband, Adeniyi Adeosun, saying she would like to die peacefully in the same manner he did.
Adeniyi, who died on August 5 at the age of 62, was buried following a funeral service held in his honour on Thursday.
Speaking at the service, Adeosun recalled the couple’s plans to spend more time together and enjoy life after years of being financially cautious.
She said the couple, who would have celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary this year, had recently agreed to travel every three months and make the most of their time together.
“This year would have been 33 years of our wedding anniversary. We had a meeting, two of us, and we said now every three months, we’re just going to be travelling, we spend all the money,” she said.
“We’ve been so sensible that it’s time for us to enjoy ourselves.”
The former minister said she was devastated by her husband’s sudden death, adding that she had found it difficult to come to terms with the reality of his passing.
“I’m heartbroken, I’ve found it difficult to believe that this actually happened. But at the same time, I’m very thankful,” she said.
Reflecting on his final moments, Adeosun said her husband had shown no apparent signs of illness before his death.
She said she was particularly struck by his appearance when she visited the mortuary, describing him as having a broad smile.
“On Friday, I went to the mortuary and when I saw him, he had the biggest smile on his face. He wasn’t sick. He simply went to sleep and didn’t wake up… that’s the way I’d like to go,” she said.
Despite the pain of losing her husband, Adeosun expressed gratitude to God for his life and the years they spent together, while also appreciating their children, relatives and friends for their support.
She described Adeniyi as a playful and mischievous person whose personality brought laughter into their home.
“He was a mischievous human being,” she said.
Recalling one of her fond memories of him, the former minister narrated how he once devised an unusual way to avoid a long immigration queue during a trip to the United States.
According to her, Adeniyi pretended to be disabled and obtained a wheelchair to bypass the queue.
“He declared himself disabled and got a wheelchair,” she recalled.
“The kind of things that were coming to his head. That’s Niyi for you.”
Adeosun said her husband’s playful nature had made their home a place filled with laughter and that his absence would be deeply felt by everyone who knew him.
“He’s going to be very much missed by everybody that knew him,” she said.
