Ekiti Commissioner Olujobi Bids Mother-in-Law Farewell Amid Tributes and Large Turnout
By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Igede Ekiti, headquarters of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State throbbed for several hours on Saturday as eminent guests came from far and near to pay their last respects and witness the burial of a prominent teacher and community leader, Madam Comfort Ajike Otegbola (née Okebiorun).
The remains of the late Mrs Otegbola, who was the mother-in-law of a renowned journalist, author, writer and Commissioner in Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, Mr Wole Olujobi, were committed to mother earth shortly after a funeral service at Araromi Baptist Church, House of Praise, Igede Ekiti amidst torrents of tributes to the late matriarch for the worthy legacies she left behind.
The mammoth crowd trooped to Igede Ekiti in their numbers to honour the legacy of Mama Otegbola in the areas of education, service rendered in the house of God, philanthropy and community service in the town and beyond during her lifetime which brought pride to her children.
Even before the 10am commencement of the burial service, the entire precincts of Araromi Baptist Church, Igede Ekiti had swelled with guests from all over the country who had come to pay their respects within the bowels of the church auditorium filled to capacity with gaily dressed guests with many of them resplendent in the commemorative ankara fabrics designed for the occasion.
Melodious tunes from the adult choir, youth choir and a group of veteran singers known as “the erstwhile choir” paid tributes to the memory of the deceased and also reminded the congregation of the need to make impact on life and also prepare themselves for eternity in Christ.
The service also featured praises and worship, hymnal songs, choir renditions, Bible readings, special parade by the Christ’s Ambassadors, special presentation by Gideon’s International, among others.
Being a wife of a Baptist clergyman, prominent members of the clergy of the Baptist Church from far and near honoured the deceased with their esteemed presence and recalled the sacrifices rendered by the late matriarch in God’s vineyard where her husband, the late Reverend Isaiah Oyedele Otegbola, served meritoriously in his lifetime.
In his sermon at the funeral service, Reverend Olumuyiwa Oke reminded the congregation of the day of accountability before their Maker, stressing the certainty of death and the reality of giving account of how life was spent while in flesh and blood.
Reverend Oke, who is the Pastor-in-Charge of Araromi Baptist Church, Igede Ekiti, emphasized that it is only the wise that will think about their end and adequately prepare for it because human life is very short and rendering account to God follows death.
The cleric charged the attendees of the funeral to know that they are alive for purposes that must be accomplished and there is need to make proper use of potential and resources deposited in them and committed to their care.
He said: “It is the breath you have in your that makes you to be alive but if your breath ceases, that means you are gone, that means you are dead. As long as you have breath in you, you have God with you.
“The reason why we are here is that God wants us to be here. You were made in the image of God and God is your Maker to whom you are going to return after completing your journey on earth. Let us remember the story of the three servants who were given talents by their master.
“The first person was given five talents, the second person was given two talents and the two of them traded with their talents and got the double of they were given. The last person was given one talent but he accused the master of giving him just one talent and went ahead to bury the talent.
“The beauty of life is known when we live our lives the ways God wants us to live them. You will give account of the stewardship of your life, you will give account of the ways you spent your life. Giving account before God exempts nobody no matter the status in the society.
“We shall all give account whether we are in the upper class, middle class or lower class. The people in the upper class, the middle class and the lower class, God loves them all and they are all in the agenda of God. God values human soul more than any other thing in life.
“God expects us to be responsible with all He has given to us and one day, God will call us to accountability. Remember, you will give account of your life, your money, the position you occupy, the influence you have and everything at your disposal.”
The service also witnessed special prayer for the children and family of the deceased and thanksgiving.
Son of the deceased, Chief Ayo Otegbola, who appreciated everybody that attended the burial, also led a fundraising for the purchase of a new drum set. Prominent guests joined in the fundraising to the admiration of the clergy and the choir.
Shortly after the funeral service, the dust-to-dust rites were performed at the graveside after which the corpse was lowered into the grave as emotions ran high on the children and grandchildren of the deceased.
Guests were later entertained at the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government grounds and the setting afforded the children of the deceased to celebrate the life and times of their matriarch.
Apart from serving as a teacher in public primary schools in old Ondo State and later Ekiti State where she moulded the future generations and contributed to manpower development of the nation before voluntarily retiring in 2008, the deceased was also a legend of faith in the Baptist Church.
She served as chairperson of Women Missionary Union in Ogbomoso North Baptist Association between 1966 and 1968; chairperson of Women Missionary Union, Araromi Baptist Church, for many years; coordinator of work, Ekiti Baptist Conference; pioneer Auditor, Ekiti Baptist Conference Pastors’ Wives Fellowship, among other roles in her lifetime.
Some of the notable guests at the funeral included House of Representatives member representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2, Hon Biodun Omoleye; Ekiti State House of Assembly member representing Irepodun/Ifelodun Constituency 1, Hon Femi Akindele; Ekiti House of Assembly member representing Oye Constituency 1, Hon Tope Longe and Chairman, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Council, Hon Gbenga Oluwatuyi.
Others were Federal Commissioner representing Ekiti State on the board of National Population Commission, Mr Deji Ajayi; former Head of Service in Ekiti State, Mr Sunday Komolafe; two Commissioners in Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, Hon Febisola Adewale and Hon Cecilia Dada; former Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor on Ado Ekiti Capital Territory Development, Hon Tade Aluko; a judge in the Ekiti State Judiciary, Hon Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi; Senior Special Assistant to Ekiti State Governor on Print Media, Mr Odunayo Ogunmola; Gbenga Sodeinde, a journalist; top officials of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure Branch; National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Ekiti State, among other guests.