While President Goodluck Jonathan was gracing the funeral rite of the former President of Ghana, Atta Mills, his wife Dame Patience Jonathan led top government functionaries to the funeral rite of the Mother-in-law of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday.
Among the dignitaries that grace the occasion were former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, Kaduna State Governor, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa and his wife, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, Wife of Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, erstwhile governor of Edo State, John Oyegun.
Others were publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Elder Sam Amuka, Publisher of Thisday, Uduka Obaigbana, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa, Sen Bukola Saraki, wife of former PDP National Chairman, Mrs Maryam Ali, Sen James Manager, outh Senatorial District, Hon Ndidi Elumelu, Josephine Anenih, veteran actor, Justus Esiri.
Also present were captain of industries, several Banks Executives, Secretary to the State Government, Ovouzorie Macaulay, civil commissioners, top government functionaries among others.
Uduaghan’s mother-in-law was earlier driven in a motorcade from her family house in Ugbaugwu along the NPA expressway, Warri where she was laid-in-state around 10: am before the corpse in a procession was taken to First Baptist Church, Warri for a funeral church service.
Officiating priest at the church service included Rev C .F Ugbege, pastor incharge of First Baptist Church, President of Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor , State Chairman of CAN, Rev Gideon Oyibo, as well as Pastor Timothy Ayomike of Soul Harvester Church Warri.
The First reading from Job 19:25-26 was taken by, Emmanuel Tuoyo first son of the deceased, while the second scripture was taken from 1st Corinthian: 15-23 by Mrs Orode Ryan-Okpu, a grand daughter of the deceased and daughter of Governor Uduaghan.
Sermonizing during the service, Pastor Oritsejafor pondered on the mystery of death saying death is inevitable and all mankind have to prepare for it because no one however knows when it comes.He therefore admonish Christians to be steadfast to God at all times saying that being poor does not make one a candidate of heaven.
He noted that poverty is not an automatic ticket to heaven citing the example of Nicodemus and Lazarus in the Bible as a guide for all who seek heaven. Oritsejafor said that those who leave worthy life are the only ones who would make heaven and still leave a legacy on earth.
Speaking briefly at the church, wife of President Jonathan eulogize the motherly role of the deceased to her children and the society at large.
Dame Patience Jonathan said that she has had personally encounter with Madam Ayomike while alive and find her as a women of good virtue.Late Madam Ayonmike, mother of Delta State First Lady, Deaconess Roli Nere Uduaghan was born on the 10th of November 1931 to the family of late Chief Oritsemogho Ayomike of Ugborodo in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.She passed on at the aged 81 on Monday 9th of July, 2012.Until her death, she was a devout Christian, a hard working woman and a caring mother.She is survived by six children, grand children and a great grand Child.
