The remains of Madam Dorcas Aina Fayemi, mother of the Ekiti State governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, were laid to rest in Isan-Ekiti yesterday amidst calls for a change in parental values.
Madam Fayemi died on April 15 at the age of 83.
Delivering a sermon at the funeral service, the Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, said recent crises in the country were not unconnected with the loss of good parental values, saying that parents were too concerned with material things rather than social values that upcoming generations could inherit.
The clergy, who described the roles of parents in nation-building as indispensable, said the tides of insecurity and corruption in the country could have been stemmed if parents had handed their wards lasting values.
He said Madam Fayemi was immensely blessed with good children, including the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Fayemi, adding that “mothers have great privileges, especially when they train their children and give them good education and good social values of discipline and selfless sacrifice”.
While expressing optimism that Nigeria was not beyond repair, the Catholic priest canvassed a shift from the culture of celebrating mediocrity, brigandage and corruption to selfless sacrifice and honesty, stressing that God would soon bring every act to judgment.
Badejo reminded leaders that they too needed to use their offices to better the lot of the masses rather than personal aggrandisement, saying that “the power of the people is greater than the people in power and posterity would catch up with anyone who embezzles public funds”.
Describing the deceased as a devout Catholic who never wavered in her faith till death, he lamented that “church has now been adulterated with people who do not stand on their faith, but use it like ‘a walking stick’ and throw it away when they feel they do not need God’.
Advocating for recognition of parents not only on parents’ days, the bishop said “when Nigeria begins to honour good parents for what they do, then our values will change. “The memory of people who take care of their children will be sweet long after their demise”.
At the event were the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola; Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; his wife, Kemi; River State governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi; his wife, Judith; Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; his wife, Funso; Kwara State governor, Ahmed Abdulfatah; Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda; and his wife, Abiodun.
President Goodluck Jonathan was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Inter-party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi.
Also in attendance were former Lagos State governor and National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; National Chairman of the ACN, Chief Bisi Akande; former Ekiti State governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; his wife, Erelu Angela; former Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba; former Benue State governor, Senator George Akume; Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Funmi Olayinka; her husband, Arc. Lanre Olayinka; former Ekti State governor, Ayodele Fayose; and former Kwara State governor, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Others were Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Senator Ajayi Borrofice, senators representing Ekiti State, Babafemi Ojudu, Olubunmi Adetumbi, Tony Adeniyi as well as their counterparts in the House of Representatives.
Business mogul, Aliko Dangote, legal icon and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola, Chief Wole Olanipekun, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, Prince Julius Adeluyi-Adelusi, Senator Bode Olajumoke and Otunba Biyi Durojaye were also in attendance.
Former Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Wale Omole, Speaker , Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin, Prof Julius Ihonvbare, Senator Gbenga Aluko, Chairman, Access bank, Mr Gbenga Oyebode, Chief Wole Olanipekun, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, Dr Olu Agunloye, Dr Olu Abraham, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose, Mr Tokunbo Ajasin, Mr Muyiwa Ige and Mr Gboyega Adefarati, among others, were also present.
Officiating ministers included the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocece, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaiye; Bishop of Kaduna Diocese, The Most Revd Bishop Matthew Kukah; Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo; Emeritus Bishop Francis Alonge; and Archbishop of Ondo Diocese and Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Communion, Bishop Adedayo Abe.
Read more here:
Tinubu, Akande, Amaechi, others bid Fayemi’s mum goodbye