BEAR WITH US, APC LEADERS APPEAL TO CITIZENS …AS WIFE OF OYO CHAIRMAN OF PARTY IS BURIED
The attendance was a roll call of who is who in the South-West chapter of the All Progressives Congress as the Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the party, Chief Akin Oke, buried his wife, Felicia, in Ibadan, on Friday.
The burial service for the foremost politician’s wife, who died on April 16 at the age of 72 during a brief illness, was held at Oke-Ado Baptist Church (Liberation Center), Ibadan.
The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Alake Adeyemo, who represented his boss, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at the occasion, used the opportunity to plead for greater understanding of the citizens about the biting economic indices in the country.
He expressed optimism that there would be light at the end of the tunnel of the state and the country at large given the commitment of the Ajimobi-led administration, as well as President Mummadu Buhari to turn the economy around through diversification of revenue sources.
The deputy governor described the deceased wife of the APC chairman as a devout Christian who stood firmly by her husband during the thick and thin of the struggle by the party to reclaim the state from the Peoples Democratic Party.
Adeyemo said, “We today gathered here in large numbers to bury Mama Oke because of her unrelenting support for her husband; a support that translated to strong uphold of the party’s tenets.
“She gave her all to ensure the success of the APC and her loyalty has reflected in our victories over time. We condole with the children for this loss but it is pertinent to say her life has shown positively in the lives of the children.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to our people to show greater understanding of the poor economic status of the state, which is a reflection of the national economic recess. Our administration is working hard to turn things around through diversification. I’m optimistic that things will get better soon.
In an interview with journalists, the Chairman of the APC in Lagos State, Chief Henry Ajomale, also called for deeper understanding of the current economic situation in the country, stressing that the party at the federal level was dispassionately working to put smiles back on the faces of the citizens.
He described the late Mrs. Oke as a caring mother who used the biblical teachings to instill discipline and fear of God in her children.
The APC stalwart said the deceased support for and dedication to her husband’s career was naturally a support for the ruling party, which, he said, had been of tremendous benefit to the people of the state.
Ajomale said, “Nigerians should understand the efforts of the government in uprooting the financial challenges in the country from the base by declaring war on corruption and re-engineering our economic dealings.
“You don’t expect all those to start yielding fruits immediately; we must endure a bit. We have a leadership that is trustworthy. We shall all laugh at the end of it all.”
In his homily, the President, Ibadan Baptist Conference, Rev. (Dr.) Stephen Adekunle, said that the certainty of the coming of Jesus was not controvertible, urging the people to be prepared for the last day in all their endeavours.
He told the congregation that although many things in life would certainly not go round, but that every living soul shall die at their appointed time, which presupposes the certainty of death of all mortals.
The cleric called on the husband and children of deceased to be steadfast in their doings and emulate the good deeds of the late matriarch of the Oke family.
In a brief interview, the widower, who described his late wife as a priceless treasure, said he would learn to adjust to life without her, lamenting that the beautiful memories she left behind would ever be indelible.
Oke said, “I’m still struggling to adjust to living without my physical Amoke, but her beautiful memories and reflections of the indelible imprints she left behind are all over me. The vacuum created by her transition to the great beyond will be impossible to fill.”
Other dignitaries at the event were the Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo;, former Governors of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala and Dr. Omololu Olunloyo; former Governor of Ekiti State and Deputy National Chairman of the APC (South), Mr. Segun Oni; as well as former Deputy Governors of the state, Chief Iyiola Oladokun and Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.
The roll call of the eminent personalities that graced the occasion included retired Generals Oladayo Popoola, Raji Rasaki and Olagunsoye Oyinlola; as well as a former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo; Secretary to Osun State Government, Chief Moshood Adeoti; Chairman of Ekiti State chapter of the APC, Chief Jide Awe; and Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland was represented by his High Chiefs: Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Lekan Balogun; Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakuleyin; Asipa Olubadan, High Chief Eddy Oyewole and High Chief Biodun Kola-Daisi.