Tope Oke, Akure
Tears and encomiums trailed the burial on Friday of former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Agagu whose remains were laid to rest in his hometown in Iju-Odo, Okitipupa local government area of the state.
The remains of the late governor were committed to mother earth at exactly 3:30 pm at Saint Paul Anglican Church, Iju-Odo.
The corpse of the late former governor did not arrive the town until some few minutes before 2:00pm, as it was gathered that it brought to Iju Odo from Lagos by road.
However, it was observed that the undertaker service which brought the corpse of in its hearse had been changed to the Bells Funeral Services, from MIC, which was originally contracted. The coffin had also been changed.
The development might not be unconnected with the death of the Managing Director of MIC, Tunji Okusanya, who along with his son, was among those who lost their lives in the ill fated plane crash of Thursday.
Speaking during the sermon, the Bishop of the diocese on the coast of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Bishop Ebunoluwa Joshua Ogunele admonished Nigerians against acquisition of wealth, saying all wealth acquired will be left behind after death.
He noted that none of Agagu’s wealth and properties would not 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 with him. What remains with him is his faith in 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 recognized by Him. God does not recognise your title. ”
President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubayode described the late Agagu as an 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 People’s Democratic 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 departed souls.
The church premises was full to capacity while some hundreds were seen hanging around the church premises, though provision was made for some seats under a tarpaulin within the church premises.
Dignitaries at the burial ceremony included former governors of Ekiti, Osun, Oyo and Ogun states, Segun Oni, Olagunsoye Oyinlola,and Adebayo Alao Akala and Gbenga Daniel respectively.
Business mogul, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, Former chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo (Rtd), Joseph Makoju, former Deputy governor of Ondo state, Omolade Oluwateru, and PDP governorship candidate in Ondo state, Olusola Oke and many others attended the ceremony.
