..Sweet Memories At Princess Fayemi’s Funeral
By Wole Olujobi
It was another moment of glory for the Fayemis of Isan-Ekiti at the weekend when the matriarch of the family, Madam Dorcas Aina Fayemi, was committed to the mother earth after years of eventful sojourn on the surface of the earth. It was also a symbolic glory because the Fayemis seem to have covenant with the months of April and May , as the event drew memories of great moments in the Fayemi family in these months.
Madam Fayemi, the mother of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Princess of Omu-Ekiti, who succumbed to the tricks of biology on April 15, 2012, bade farewell to this sinful world on May 18, 2012, in a blaze of pomp that saw all the segments of the Nigerian society converge on Isan-Ekiti in Oye Local Government of Ekiti State to share in the moment of fulfillment for a woman who, without holding out a pen, became a record breaker, nay a book writer of sorts.
Before she left, Madam Fayemi wrote a book for the nation and Ekiti State in particular. That book is Dr Kayode Fayemi, for Fayemi is a study in resilience and perseverance.
Princess Fayemi it was who gave birth to the first Nigerian to pursue an election case for three and half years in court using forensic technology to retrieve a stolen mandate to become the first elected governor from the North Senatorial District of Ekiti State.
And as April is associated with great writers, she joined other legends in the art of making history whose births and deaths marked an epoch in the history of their societies, thus making the journey between the earth and heaven a tricky and tempting race.
Great writers, such as Halldor Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Maurice Druon and Manuel Mejia Vallejo were all born in the month of April. Williams Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Joseph Pla, also great writers, died in April but created a world of living memories through their evergreen works.
But the earth-mother Dorcas Fayemi, like the biblical Dorcas who lived a life of charity, left her book in the minds of the people she gave succuor, including her son Kayode ‘Folorunso’ John, the security expert who rallied Ekiti people, nay Nigerians, in a battle to make history in electoral integrity in the nation’s political firmament.
As Madam Fayemi’s dews dropped in April on the parched remains of March, the month the World began; the month when the world began for the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo (March 6, 1909) and also the month the world began for Mrs. Bisi Fayemi as the Erelu of Isan Kingdom (March 15, 2011), Pa Francis Fayemi, the governor’s father, also died in March and interred in April.
Remember also that it was the month of April that the “book” the princess wrote began his journey to political salvation of Ekiti people.
It was on April 14, 2007 that Dr. Kayode Fayemi contested Ekiti State governorship poll and won but the audacious poll bandits would not allow him to savour that victory. It was also in April through May, 2009, that the rerun poll was held but still poll robbers were on rampage to deny him of his victory. A lunar conspiracy or solidarity in memorable concatenation you would say!
The Princess of Omu-Ekiti no doubt proved a universal princess on the day of her exit. And as in the death of princes and princesses, comets blazed forth across Isan-Ekiti skyline, as the cream de la cream of Nigerian society competed with the pedestrian rabble in their thousands to savour the scent and grandeur of clement weather of the new-look pot town of Isan-Ekiti. Even the fiery Phoebus, the god of the Sun, who ought to have set the whole Orient ablaze on his burning expedition to the Occident, ran his furnace at half-mast, thus putting his tongue of fire in check against the force of baking shafts.
In her picture at the back of the church programme, Princess Fayemi bade farewell to every guest at the event. And she did so in a broad smile, waving her hand as if she mocked the world.
In his sermon, the Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Badejo, spoke on the need for parental care, stressing that failure of this was responsible for many social ills in the society.
His words: “Mothers have great privileges, especially when they train their children and give them good education and good social values of discipline and selfless sacrifice. This is what the deceased stood for.”
Bishop Badejo said Madam Fayemi was blessed with good and successful children, including Governor Fayemi, who drew top Nigerians to the event marking the end of the passage of their mother. His other epithets for the deceased drew resounding applauses in the Kirk. No wonder, the children of the woman who lived a selfless and generous service have a gene that makes service to humanity their first charge.
And the star host, Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was all thanks to God for making it possible to bury his mother, in one moment of emotional uppercut, remembered his “mentor” who urged him during the struggle for his mandate to “be bold, courageous and not betray Ekiti people”. He succumbed to the force of nature. The power of the Executive Red Pen melted away from the steely heart of a daring activist (remember Radio Kudirat). And he wept. Yes, this former Altar Boy wept. It is an unmistakable trademark of a veritable full-time orphan. That I can confirm, but it was too late for the cup to pass over.
With Ayinde Wasiu and Yinka Ayefele entertaining, the humble Erelu Bisi Fayemi in her full radiance and natural grace was the chief hostess exuding the courtesies of debuting air hostesses on a royal flight to the Court of Rome. A lot to eat and drink as nature could permit.
It was also a day a flock of iron birds flew to Isan-Ekiti with some top Nigerians in their bellies. They included Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and wife Angella, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dr. Ben Obi, Senator George Akume, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Governor Isa Yuguda, Chief Afe Babalola, Chief Aude Ogbeh, Prince Julius Adeluyi-Adelusi, Prof Wale Omole, Aremo Segun Osoba, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Otunba Biyi Durojaye.
Others are Governor Segun Mimiko, Senator Bode Olajumoke, The Nation Editor, Gbenga Omotoso; Mr. Soji Omotunde, Mr. Femi Ajiniran, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Mr. Sesan Ogunro, Mr. Sanmi Omiata, Mr. Kayode Afolabi, Senator Olu Adetunmbi, Rep Lanre Odubote, Reps Bimbo Daramola and Bamidele Faparusi, Senator Borrofice, Prof.Julius Ihonbvare, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Deputy Governor Funmi Olayinka and her husband, Arch Lanre Olayinka; Kwara Governor Ahmed Abdufatah and Senator Bukola Saraki, Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin; his deputy, Hon. Adetunji Orisalade; the Clerk of the House, Mr. Tunde Famoyegun; and other members of Ekiti State House of Assembly.
Others included Prof. Akin Oyebode, Dr. Femi Orebe, Seye Adetunmbi, Yemi Adaramodu, Hakeem Jamiu, Mojeed Jamiu, Egghead Seun Odewale, Gbenga Agbeyo, Taiwo Olawuyi, Deji Adesokan, the Governor’s Chief Supporter, Kayode Ogundana; and yours sincerely, among others.
Olujobi is Special Adviser (Media) to Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker
(Madam Fayemi died on April 15, 2012 and buried on May 18, 2012)