A pall of grief descended on the ancient city of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, on Wednesday, as the corpse of the late Deputy Governor of the state, Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka, arrived the town from Lagos via Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The body was received by the Governor of the state, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, at the Governor’s Office, where the late Olayinka worked as the state’s number two citizen between October 15, 2010 and April 6, 2013.
Speaking shortly after the he had led other senior government officials to receive the corpse, Fayemi said the people of the state must thank God for giving them the late deputy governor.
He said she gave much in ensuring the transformation of the Land of Honour.
The hearse, which brought the body of the late deputy governor, was marked “Moremi Ekiti,” the nickname the deceased acquired in the political circles where she ran as Fayemi’s running mate in the 2007 governorship election.
The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District and a kinsman of the deceased, Babafemi Ojudu, led family members of the deceased, who were conveyed in a Coaster bus.
The atmosphere was sombre at the Governor’s Office where politicians, civil servants, students, youths, journalists and other members of the public gathered in groups discussing the burial activities of the late deputy governor.
Many civil servants waited behind to witness the arrival of the corpse even after they had officially closed from work at 4pm.
At about 5.20pm, sound of music, drumming and trumpeting, which signalled the arrival of the funeral train, were heard around Okesa area of Ado-Ekiti, with the train connecting the Governor’s Office through the Government House.
The hearse was ushered into the Governor’s Office by MIC Undertakers and the governor’s security team while the crowd, which had gathered at the complex, struggled to catch a glimpse of the casket that was not brought out throughout the proceedings.
Many people wept profusely as the hearse arrived the Governor’s Office.
Many of them recounted the good deeds of the late Olayinka during her two-and-half years stint as the state’s number two citizen.
Speaking shortly after the corpse arrived, Fayemi, in an emotion-laden voice, thanked God for the safe arrival of the corpse and the funeral train, describing her late deputy as “our princess and Moremi who gave her life as a sacrifice to the people.”
He added: “We thank God for her sacrifices.
“This was her office where she gave her all to the people.
“All of us, adults, young, male, female we cannot thank Funmilayo Adunni Olayinka enough.
“The wise words of the elderly say that the best tree never lasts in the forest.
“She lived an eventful life, life of courage, life of sacrifice.
“We know that heaven is the recompense of the faithful and we thank God for giving her to us.
“The Bible urges us to thank God for everything and we thank God for taking her to a good place, a safe place where there is no room for these challenges.
“We pray God to give her dear husband, her children -Y eside, Lolade, Olamide – the Olayinkas and the Famuaguns the grace to continue with the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.
“She fought a good fight.
“She did her best and we need to keep fighting for those things she believed in – abundant life for our people, transformation and service delivery.”
The train later departed the Governor’s Office around 5.45pm, while thousands of youths embarked on a candle possession from Fajuyi Park round major streets of Ado-Ekiti.
Earlier in Lagos, people in position of authority were urged to emulate the life of selfless service of Olayinka, who used the short time she spent in politics to create indelible positive impression in the lives of many people.
Rev. Peter Awelewa gave the charge in his sermon at the Commendation Service held for the late Ekiti State deputy governor at the Anglican Church of Ascension, Opebi, Lagos on Wednesday.
Awelewa said most of the problems confronting Nigerians have their roots in the selfish leaders who use their position and office to amass wealth instead of using it for the benefit of the people who entrust and empower to them with the authority to manage the resources for the benefit of all.
Awelewa, who decried various degrees of oppression in Nigeria, called on leaders indulging in such act to remember that one day death will come for them and all their ill gotten will be very useless on that day.
The clergy noted that some of the things that made the late Olayinka famous were her glamour, humility and cheerfulness, which never changed, even when she joined politics and became the Ekiti State deputy governor.
Awelewa, who commiserated with the husband of the deceased, Architect Lanre Olayinka, and his daughters, urged them to take solace in the Lord’s comfort and the hope of resurrection when they are going to meet again.
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