Gbenro Adesina
Friends, family, and well-wishers joined the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde to bid his mother, Madam Abigail Omojolagbe Amope Makinde farewell today, Friday December 4, 2020 as she was buried in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State.
Governor Makinde, who could not hold back tears as he recounted how influential his mother was at every point of his life, said for 53 years, his mother moulded his life by teaching him contentment, discipline, love of God and the imperativeness of bringing the best gifts to God.
In the emotion laden service at the Cathedral of St Peter, Aremo, Ibadan, the Governor noted that his mother initially did not want him to join politics. He said: “She lived for me and for all of us. Mama Seyi, I will never forget you. She taught me contentment. Mama’s discipline made me what I am today.
“Mama, you taught me to love God. You taught me to always bring my best gifts to God. Mama, you were right.
“Mama Seyi, you are irreplaceable. Mama, today I chose not to be sad because you passed away; I prefer to rejoice.
“She didn’t want me to go into politics but I stubbornly refused. I remembered that day in 2007; she cried because policemen invaded my house when I was contesting to be a Senator, and I had to be rescued by the Army.
“She then reminded me of her position not to go into politics. But in 2019 after I won the election and became the governor, she laughed and said, now, I am the governor’s mother and I deserve all the privileges that go with that,” Makinde said.
Delivering the sermon, the Diocesan/Archbishop of Ibadan Province of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev’d Segun Okubadejo, urged all and sundry to live Godly life and train their children with the fear of God. He advised everyone not to allow themselves to be corrupted by the world such that they are not found worthy to be at the feast of Jerusalem. He noted that those who will be eligible for the feast are those who serve God with all their heart, mind and strength and use their material resources for the welfare of their fellow human beings.
The interment followed immediately at the church’s cemetery.
Dignitaries in attendance include Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta).
Former governors present include Raji Rasaki, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Rashidi Ladoja, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Ibikunle Amosun, Segun Oni, Gbenga Daniel, Peter Obi while former deputy governors in attendance were Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Taofeek Arapaja, Moses Adeyemo.
Also in attendance at the church service were the wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola; representatives of the Ooni of Ife, the Olubadan of Ibadan and the Soun of Ogbomoso land.
Mama Abigail omojolagbe Makinde ( Nee Omoregie) died in the early hours of Thursday, October 15, 2020, at the age of 80.
