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By Seyifunmi Odunuga
IBADAN – The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde on Thursday, December 3, 2020 revealed how he missed the opportunity of a last moment with his late mother, Madam Abigael Olatunbosun Makinde.
Governor Seyi Makinde who said the news of the death of her mother is still very hard for him to believe spoke in a tribute at the Service of Songs held at the Archade of the Oyo State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan as part of the funeral rites of his late mother.
The event was attended by former Governor Rasheed Ladoja, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, former Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, President Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr Olasupo Ayokunle, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, Arch Bishop Segun Okubadejo among other notable dignitaries.
Gov. Seyi Makinde who recounted that he had promised to see his mother the weekend after the Ondo election, but was unable to pick her calls for the fear of not been able to grant her ‘suspected’ wish of stopping by to see her before the agreed time.
He added that he was shock to be woken up the following morning only to receive the news of the death of his mother, adding that what the deceased would not take is for any of her children not serious with their studies or education.
In his words, “It is still very hard for me to believe. The relationship that I shared with my mother is like a no other one. I spoke to her on Monday immediately after the Ondo State elections and I told her that I will see her over the weekend, then, I left for Port-Harcourt on Wednesday morning.
“And throughout Wednesday she was calling me and I was saying to myself that even if I pick the call, since we were out of town, it wont make any sense because I kind of guess why she was calling me, she wanted me to stop by and see her, so I didn’t pick the call.
“By Thursday morning, they came to wake me up and said, they were knocking on my mum’s door and she wouldn’t answer and then maybe about 15 to 20 minutes later, they forced the door open and they met her, she was gone.”
He said further, “I can only say that, it is hard to question God. I thought before we would start talking about Mama even going, she should be about 85, but that did not happen.
“My mum was a tough woman. She came to Ibadan with nothing, according to her. She was just looking for a green pasture and Ibadan then happened to be the capital of Western Region, so she came just like anyone would come.
“And she met my father, I think she came when she was 18, one year later she was pregnant with my eldest brother.
“She had him at slightly above 19. So, I started thinking to myself that this woman started early, she knew that she wont go anymore to school, she would only have the children, take care of them and probably they will be her own degree.
“So, she started working as an interpreter at UCH and later as a telephone operator and what she wont take from you is for you not to take your education or studies seriously. Because, according to her, it would be double jeopardy if she refuses to go to school because she was having us and we that she had will also refuse to go school and so who is going to save who.
“It was an experience for me to have spent a little above 52 years of my life with my mother. I will forever cherish that relationship.”
In his short exhortation at the event, the Vicar, St Pauls Anglican Church, Yemetu, Dr Samuel Osungbeju stated that the good deeds of the late mother of Governor Seyi Makinde calls on others to ake a cue from her.
