Mimiko absent as ex-governor Agagu buried amid tears

GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN

Amidst tears and wailings, and despite the tragedy that befell the family as a result of a plane crash yesterday, the immediate past Governor of the western Nigerian state of Ondo, Dr. Olusegun Agagu was today buried exactly at 3:50pm beside his late father at his home town, Iju Odo in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo state.

Althout, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State was absent at the ceremony, some of his executive members graced the occasion.

The body of the late governor who died on 13 September in Lagos arrived his town at about 1:45pm.

As the body arrived the town in a convoy, people trooped out en masse and held a possession from the entrance of the town to St. Paul Anglican Church in the town where the funeral service was held.

Among the dignitaries in attendance was the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy captain Caleb Olubolade, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan.

Other notables at the ceremony were the Minister for Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, former Governors of Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and Oyo States, Prince Olagunsoye oyinlola, Engineer Segun Oni, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and businessman Jimoh Ibrahim.

Some traditional rulers, and religious leaders also attended.

In a sermon, the Bishop of the diocese of the coast, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Bishop Joshua Ogunele who stressed that the things of the world will perish with the world urged people to be mindful of eternity.

He equally warned Nigerians against greed, selfishness, adultery, idolatry if they want to make heaven

He described late Agagu as a simple man who did not use the office to amass wealth nor waste public funds, revealing that he did not have a house either in Akure, the state capital of Ondo State, or in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

For President Jonathan, Agagu would be missed in the party and the country describing him as a committed party member whose wealth of experience had helped the party in various forms.

He commiserated with the families of those that died in yesterday’s plane crash and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss of the loved ones.

Speaking on behalf of the family, the younger brother of the deceased, Mr. Femi Agagu consoled the family of those died in the yesterday’s plane crash adding, “In deference to all the families who are in bereavement, and out of respect for the memory of the departed, the Agagu family has decided to scale down the details of the funeral to its barest and basic minimum. It is also instructive to note that the traditional Christian wake was entirely cancelled yesterday. The Agagu family deeply commiserates with all the bereaved families and prays fervently for the repose of the souls of all the departed, even as the family continues to remain in close contact with all the families affected by this tragedy”.

There was a light entertainment for the guests at the Civic Centre and Manuwa Memorial Grammar School in the town.