By Banji Ayoola
The cloak of the departed mother of Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Lady Evangelist Grace Bosede Akeredolu, will be buried today in Owo, Owo Local Government Area of the state, hometown of the governor.
Already, there is heavy security in the ancient town, ahead of the burial.
She passed on in her sleep on September 15 in Ibadan, Oyo State, her base.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to represent President Muhammadu Buhari at the burial.
Security formations made up of the Department of the State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Amotekun Corps, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Police Force, were seen patrolling major streets leading into and outside Owo.
Amotekun Corps commander in the state, Chief Adetunji Adeleye, who spoke in Akure while parading suspects arrested in its ‘Operation Gba’le Gba’ko,’ said the heavy security presence was to ensure visitors coming for the burial are not molested.
He said security would also be beefed up in other parts of the state to ensure no security gaps were created; adding that over 100 suspects were arrested one week after the launch of ‘Operation ‘Gba’le Gba’ko.
He said: “We encourage residents to see something and say something. We assure 24 hours coverage of the expressway and around the town. The army, police, and Amotekun are in constant patrol of roads linking all border towns.
“The function of bringing dignitaries to Owo is being taken care of security-wise by all security agencies in the state. A joint patrol team comprises men of the NSCDC, DSS, Amotekun, army, and the police on the ground. We are to ensure visitors can come in and out without being molested. We will not create any security gaps in the towns.”
Eminent dignitaries across all walks of life are expected to storm the ancient town of Owo today to join the Governor and his siblings in the celebration of life of his departed mother.
Vice President Osinbajo; Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors, ministers, members of the National Assembly and leaders of the APC and friends of the governor across political parties as well as members of the inner and outer Bar are all expected to grace the ceremony.
The week long burial event commenced in Owo on Wednesday with the Ajabue traditional procession round the ancient town.
Akeredolu’s immediate younger brother, Prof Wole Akeredolu and his sibling, Femi led the people of Owo at the Ajabue procession.
The burial arrangements continued on Thursday with the Service of Songs which held simultaneously at both Jacob and Grace Chapel of the All Saints’ Church, Ido- Ibadan and St. Matthias Anglican Church, Orogun, Ibadan.
Yesterday, a commendation service also held for the late Grace Akeredolu at St Anne’s Church, Molete, Ibadan, of Ibadan Anglican Communion Diocese, in Oyo State capital.
It was followed by another Service of Song at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Imola Street, Owo. The Christian Wake held at the Jacob and Grace family residence in Oke-Ogun, Owo.
Earthly cloak of the deceased had arrived in Owo yesterday preparatory for the final phase of the one-week funeral programmes, which will climax today with the burial.
It was received by a crowd of specially dressed festive people of Owo, in their hundreds, singing and dancing jubilantly on the streets of the ancient town.
They received the motorcade conveying the casket containing the body of the deceased from her Ibadan, Oyo State capital’s base, at Emure-Ile junction on the Akure-Owo-Benin Road.
Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, leading other members of the State Executive council, Heads of Security agencies, political leaders and other dignitaries joined the people to receive the cloak.
Fom Emure Ile junction, the long motorcade headed to Akeredolu’s Jacob and Grace residence in Oke-Ogun area of Owo.
Earlier, a commendation service had held at St Anne’s Church, Molete, Ibadan, of the Ibadan Anglican Communion Diocese in Oyo State capital.
Earlier, a Service of Songs held for the departed at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Imola Street, Owo; attended by the Wife of the Governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu and the spouses of other siblings among other dignitaries.
Other dignitaries at the Service included Aiyedatiwa; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun; Judges in the state High Court led by the Acting Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, President of the State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Eunice Alade; former Justices; members of the Bar and the Bench; former PDP Governorship candidate in Ondo state, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN; APC chieftains including National Vice chairman (South-West), Mr Duerimini Isaacs Kekemeke; Ondo State chairman, Engineer Ade Adetimehin; Chief Olusola Oke, SAN; Mr Femi Adekanmbi; Local Government Chairmen; religious leaders; representatives of traditional rulers; and top government functionaries among several others.
Archbishop of Ondo Province and Bishop of Akure Diocese of Anglican Communion, Most Rev (Dr.) Simeon Borokini, who led the service, described the deceased as a child of Grace who served the Lord till the end.
He said the children should be comforted and consoled with the fact that ‘Mama has gone to heaven, the home of the righteous.’
The Archbishop explained that heaven has been prepared for the departed soul, even as he described Heaven is a prepared Place of worship for the righteous.
He equally congratulated the children led by the Chancellor of the church, Governor Akeredolu for surviving their mother.
His words: “Heaven is the future hope of the believers. Heaven is a Place of holiness, a Place of glory. Heaven is a Place of worship, Heaven is a Place of eternity.”
Prof Wole Akeredolu who gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the family, appreciated the Bishops, the church and all the guests for honouring the family with their presence.
In their separate tributes, Mrs Abigail Adewole and a daughter-in-law, Justice Alero Akeredolu, described the deceased as a humble, prayerful, loving and hardworking woman. They said she was a faithful, dedicated, prudent, and caring mother.
Simultaneously in Ibadan on Friday, a Commendation Service held for the deceased at the St Anne’s Church, Molete, Ibadan of the Diocese of Ibadan Anglican Communion in Oyo State capital.
Akeredolu led his siblings and other family members to the Service.
He was joined by his wife, Betty; members of the State Executive Council led by the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu; and several other dignitaries.
The expansive Church auditorium of St Anne’s, Molete, Ibadan, was filled to the brim as friends, political associates, colleagues and other dignitaries joined the Akeredolu family for the service.
Remains of the departed had arrived at the Church premises before 9am, accompanied by Akeredolu and his siblings with their spouses, who were decked in beautiful white attires while the grandchildren and great grandchildren were all decked in lovely uniform ‘Ankara’ attires.
Anglican Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, the Most Rev (Dr) Joseph Akinfenwa, who led several other Bishops at the service, expressed joy that the deceased lived a fulfilled Christian life till the end.
In his sermon titled “Which is Your Choice”, he particularly congratulated the Governor and his siblings for surviving their aged mother.
He equally extolled the virtues of their late father, Rev’d Jacob Akeredolu, who also served as a Reverend in the church.
Bishop Akinfenwa told Akeredolu and his siblings that their father and mother have passed the baton of faith to them, adding that they must be ready to take over from where their parents stopped.
Noting that the late lady Evangelist Akeredolu had chosen the appropriate time to go, the Bishop said the nonagenarian succeeded in raising successful children.
He described both Rev’d Jacob and Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu as a man and woman of good characters who loved, feared and served the Lord and humanity in their lifetime.
“She was a Lady Evangelist and that means a lot. She served the Lord to the end,” the Bishop stressed.
He also admonished the children of the departed to continue in the good ways of their father and mother.
The Burial arrangements continue later today with Service of Songs at St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Imola Street, Owo.
The Christian Wake followed immediately at the Jacob and Grace residence in Oke-Ogun, Owo.
