President Goodluck Jonathan and Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun were part of the dignitaries that converged on Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital Friday to give the last respect to Madam Maria Taiwo Abati, the mother of the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the President, Reuben Abati.
The Funeral Service which was held at the Saint John’s Anglican Church, Igbehin in Abeokuta, also had in attendance Vice President Namadi Sambo who was represented by Mallam Umar Sanni and former Secretary General of Common Wealth, Emeka Anyaoku.
Dr. Abati publicly betrayed emotion when he was paying tribute to his mother who he said did everything to make him succeed in life.
Abati could not hold his emotion again anymore when he recalled the two most loving songs his mother liked singing every time.
But, President Jonathan who was represented by his Chief of Staff , Chief Mike Ogiedomhe said the deceased lived a fulfilled life, evidenced in the life of Dr Reuben Abati, adding that she didn’t just produce an intellectual who according to him, later turned a journalist,she also produced a geologist, chartered accountant and civil servant.
The President further said that Mama Maria Abati’s life showed how much she was dedicated to her family life and upbringing of children which he said is the primary responsibility of parents which according to him, parents are failing in that “ is responsible for crimes and all forms of social ills that bedevilled our country, today.”
He said “the deceased has led a life of example, a life that needs to be emulated so we are here today to celebrate because God did not just give her 70 years but gave her an additional 11 years . We have every reason to celebrate and I can understand why my brother Reuben started with those celebration songs that are wonderful.
”You can see today,that there are no political differences. All political representations are here, even religions. We have muslims right here in this Church.”
Governor Amosun in his remarks said,”we are here to celebrate Mama because Mama lived up to 81. Yes, we would have wanted mama to live beyond 81 to be with us till probably 100 years, but I think Mama lived well.”
In his sermon tittled ‘Motherhood’, the Diocesan Bishop of St John’s Anglican Church, Emmanuel Adekunle traced many of the problems in the country to the product of the evils in the home . Adekunle urged women and mothers to be careful in the upbringing of their children and put them on the right part in order to benefit the society.
While citing examples of good and devilish women in the bible and how their actions and inactions shaped the society, the cleric urged mothers to continue to be truthful to the society by producing offspring that will make the country proud but not the ones that will destroy it.
The cleric said “the testimony for the deceased is the legacy she left behind which is evidence in the success of her children adding that a true mother just like the late Madam Maria Abati should be a good house wife, house keeper, matron”.
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