Nigerians from all walks of life including President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday gathered to bid farewell to the immediate past governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, as he was committed to mother earth.
Politicians across political parties, administrators, clergymen, academics among others were all present at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Iju-Odo, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The burial service slated for 11 am did not commence until at about 1.45pm , as the corpse did not arrive the church as planned.
It was gathered that the remains, which were supposed to have been brought to the town on Thursday were eventually brought by road from Ondo town where the casket was said to have been changed to a new one following the damage to the earlier one in the plane crash.
The motorcade was however said to have had a hectic time in Ondo, Ore and Okitipupa towns as people of the towns mob the entourage to catch a glimpse of the body of the former governor.
However, immediately the casket bearing the body arrived in a Bell Hearse, the clergymen, who had waited patiently for over three hours for the arrival of the corpse, commenced the service.
The church that is located in the heart of the town could however not contain the people that thronged the premises for the burial as crowd in their hundreds were outside, while some stood on the fence to have access to activities in the church.
Delivering his sermon at the service, the Bishop of the Coast of the Anglican Communion, Right Reverend Joshua Ogunele, admonished Nigerians against acquisition of material wealth.
He noted that none of Agagu’s wealth and properties would be buried with him and thanked God that the corpse of Agagu was not burnt in the plane crash.
He said “ none of his properties will be buried withhim. What remains with him is his faithin Jesus Christ. He was a lucky a man, if his corpse had been burnt yesterday, none of us would be here today.
“If you don’t have time to serve. God but have time to acquire wealth, you will perish one day. Your faith must reach God before you can be recognised by Him. God does not recognise your title. “
Speaking, the president, who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, described Agagu as a pillar of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) and the country in general.
Jonathan described the late Agagu as intellectual of great commitment and a man of honour.
He noted that Agagu contributed immensely to the development of the state as a governor saying the Party, the people of the state, and the nation as a whole will miss him
He commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the Thursday plane crash in Lagos and prayed for the deposed soul of the departed soul.
The service was attended by dignitaries like former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Gbenga Daniel, Segun Oni, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, former Chief of Naval Staff, Akin Aduwo, the Group Managing Director of Global Fleet, Jimoh Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, the family of the late governor on Friday symphatised with the victims of the plane crash that occurred in Lagos on Thursday.
The family in a statement signed by the junior brother of the late governor, Mr. Femi Agagu said, “ the family of the late Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, even in its own bereavement, deeply mourns the death of all those who lost their lives in the ill-fated plane crash which occured when Dr. Agagu’s body was being taken home for burial.
“In deference to all the families who are in bereavement, and out of respect for the memory of the departed, the Agagu family has decided to scale down the details of the funeral to its bearest and basic minimum.
“Accordingly, the funeral will now be a private family affair, shorn of all the pomp and pageantry of a State funeral.
It is also instructive to note that the traditional Christian wake was entirely cancelled yesterday.
“The Agagu family deeply commiserates with all the bereaved families and prays fervently for the repose of the souls of all the departed, even as the family continues to remain in close contact with all the families affected by this tragedy”.
His lying state was aborted by the plane crash on Thursday.
The programme had started well with the Day of Tribute, held at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan. Thursday, October 3rd was slated for the lying-in-state and every stake holder was ready to be involved and catch a glimpse of the former governor’s body for the last time.
To first arrive at the airport in a private plane were the widow, Olufunke, the two daughters and some family members. And the waiting game for the arrival of the body started. However, at about 10 am the news filtered to town that the plane conveying the body and 20 other persons had crashed.
The dignitaries, family members and the party supporters at the airport immediately dispersed one after the other as it was obvious that the body will not come again.
Upon hearing the news of the crash, anxiety and pandemonium enveloped the entire state with the people trying to ascertain the identity of the passengers in the ill fated plane. When the names on the manifest were released, it showed that the state and the country in general have lost a set of young men that can be leaders of the nation.
Prominent among the names were the first child of the late governor, Feyi, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the state, Deji Falae, a son-in-law of the Agagus, a protocol officer in the state, Bernard Daji, two liaison officers of the state, Deji Afolabi and Mrs. E O. Alabi among others.
The state government secretariat that was always full of activities with high rate of traffic of people wore a mournful look as complete silence like that of the graveyard enveloped the entire vicinity. The initial reaction of the people was a reflection of a great loss suffered by the state.
At the governor’s office, some people, particularly women, publicly betrayed emotion as they broke into tears upon confirmation that four state officials lost their lives in the crash.
The scene at the Government House was more pensive and mournful as government functionaries trooped to the ground dejected and downcast over the development. Some of the commissioners could also not hold themselves as they burst into tears over the unfortunate incident. The state governor, who hurriedly left the airport went straight into inner chamber of the Governor’s lodge and was said to have wept openly over the loss.
On getting to the streets and roads of Akure, even if one was a first caller in the town, the person will easily know that something tragic has befallen the state. It was indeed a dark day for the state.
The family house of Chief Olu Falae, father of the late commissioner, located along Oba-Ile road, Akure was in grief. The old man, who turned 75 two weeks ago was speechless as symphatisers trooped in to console the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The old man was surrounded by Akure chiefs, clergymen, friends and symphatisers, however for almost all the time spent with him, neither him, nor the people around him could alter a word.
A family member described the death of the junior Falae as a devastating blow for the mother and the father.
He said, “Deji was among the few friends of baba, he was so close to him, particularly since he became commissioner in the state. We don’t know why this is happening at this time, we have lost a shining star in our household, his place cannot be replaced by anybody, it is devastating and tragic”.
Among those on hand to console the former Minister of Finance was a retired Bishop of Akure (Anglican Communion), Revd. Bolanle Gbonigi, Afenifere chieftains among others. The mood at the family house was that of grief as it became obvious that Deji, a lawyer by profession was no more.
The situation was not different at the house of the protocol officer, who many people, including journalists knew as a complete gentleman. Daji, as fondly referred to by his friends and associates was a committed civil servant that was never over zealous despite being attached to the governor as a protocol man.
He dealt with people politely and courteously.
Family members and friends that were in the house in Ilekun area of Oda town, a suburb of Akure were crying profusely over the death of their bread winner, who was survived by his wife, three children and an 85 years old father. One of his junior sisters, who was sighted rolling on the floor, said she didn’t believe her brother was dead.
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