AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Encomiums poured in torrents as dignitaries in the political and religious circles eulogized the virtues of late Mrs Elizabeth Oke, mother of Bishop Francis Wale Oke, who was laid to rest at Kasumu Village, Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday, June 14.
The sleepy community was awake as an unusually long convoy of vehicles conveying a large number of who-is-who from across Oyo State and other parts of the country snaked in.
The roll call included Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, represented on the occasion by the state Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Corporative, Pastor Olusegun Aiyedun; a former governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanue; a former Military Administrator of Ondo and Oyo states, Maj. Gen. Oladayo Popoola (retd.); the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal; and other top government functionaries in the state.
Also in attendance for the celebration of life of the deceased who slept at the age of 97, were the National President of Christians Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh; the Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo; National Vice President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, John Praise; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria in Oyo State, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju; and his PFN counterpart, Rev. Samson Ajetomobi; Primate Emeritus, Sunday Akinmakinde; and gospel artist, Evang. Bola Are, among others.
The large congregation that graced the burial ceremony of the mother of Bishop Wale Oke, who doubles as the Presiding Bishop of Sword of the Spirit Ministry, converged on a large expanse of land spanning from the James Oke Memorial Anglican Church, up to the premises of Wale Oke Secondary Group of Schools and School of Mission, worshipped God in songs and prayers in acknowledgement of the grace upon the deceased.
The Bishop of Ibadan North Anglican Diocese, Dr Williams Aladekugbe, while delivering his sermon, extolled the virtues of the deceased. He urged the people to live in the fear of God, stating that everybody would give record of their stewardship while on earth.
On what the judgment day will look like, Bishop Aladekugbe said that as exemplified with the story of Lazarus and the rich man in the Holy Bible, everybody will stand before Christ to give account of their lives.
According to him, the current situation in the world is a pointer to the fact that end is imminent. He stated that for believers, death is not the end but a transition to the realm of eternal bliss prepared by Christ himself.
In his remarks, Governor Makinde said the occasion was not to mourn but to celebrate the virtuous life by the deceased.
He said, “This is not time to mourn; it is time to celebrate a life well spent. It is time to celebrate mama. So, I’m glad that I’m here to be part of this celebration. Even those who don’t know our late mother agreed that mama lived a well fulfilled life.
“She was a fruitful woman, she had impact in her environment. I’m from a community across the expressway. Our village and this village were once in one local government before it was cut into two. Now, we are in Ona Ara Local Government which is on the other side of the expressway. We used to be same people, so I know a little bit about this place and the impact mama had made. I’m happy to be here today to be one of those celebrating a life well spent.
“It’s God’s blessing that mama got and we are grateful that mama didn’t use herself anyhow. She stayed in this environment and she became everything in life and she returned to this environment in a glorious manner. On behalf of my elder brother, the immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State and the government and people of Oyo State, I want to congratulate all of us that we are witnessing the celebration of a life well spent by mama. My prayers is that all of us will surpass our aged parents.”
In a vote of thanks, Bishop Oke recounted how he left the village in 1973 like a rejected stone that the builders abandoned after giving his life to Jesus Christ but later became Chief Cornerstone as God used different people to help him during his life sojourn. He also talked about how the virtues that he imbibed from his mother helped to shapen his life.
The Bishop lauded Governor Makinde for his support to his community crowned by the ongoing road construction from the city to Kasumu Village.
