As remains of the late Publisher of the Nigerian Tribune titles, Chief Oluwole Awolowo were committed to mother earth in a public cemetery in Ikenne, few hours after his remains arrived Our Saviours Anglican Church in Ikenne, Ogun State in a Hearse led by a Chariot, there were elegies, eulogies, encomiums, and grief.
Bishop of Remo Anglican Diocese,Rev. Micheal Olusina Fape in a sermon before the interment on Friday didn’t hide his feeling about politicians in the country who use public offices to enrich themselves to the detriment of their people who they claimed to be serving, just as he eulogized the late Awolowo for his simplicity, philanthropy and humility. Political office holders, he believes should learn from his life and bear good fruits to be talked about when they die.
Bishop Fape spoke without mincing words how unfortunate it is that some of the so-called Christians in high places are adding to the problem of the nation.
“There are so many Christians today but they are not fruit-bearing ones. Unfortunately today, many Christians are morally bankrupt, reckless and they have nothing to show for being identified as Christians.
“Unfortunately, Christians are adding more to the problems of our nation today. There are Christian contractors in the nation today. handling some of our road constructions, they bear Christian names and then why are our roads becoming death traps.
“In the present political dispensation, politics has become a thing of personal enrichment as against the tool for serving humanity. Insincerity is the bane of this country, if God could only open our eyes as we are sitting here today and help us to see what we concealed within us, people will run for some people and they will not stay close to them,” Bishop Fape said.
Present under his sermon were the Federal Government delegation led by Minister of Information Mr. Labaran Maku, the Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, governors of Ogun, Osun, Lagos, Delta and Ondo states; Ibikunle Amosun,Rauf Aregbesola, Babatunde Fashola, Emmanuel Uduaghan and Segun Mimiko respectively.
President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by Mr. Maku said, “I can say as the President of this Republic that I cherish the good ideals of Chief Oluwole Awolowo and his good examples of not using his family name and tradition for self aggrandizement throughout his life, in spite of the privileges that the family name could have opened doors to the corridors of power.”
Also speaking at the service, Governor Ibikunle Amosun described Awolowo as awesome, colossus, saying, “Uncle Wole did very well and achieved so much and, the few times I met with him, I know he was a good man, very humble.”
Also present at the funeral service were two former governors of Ogun state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and their Osun and Ekiti counterparts, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Segun Oni respectively.
