Agagu was finally committed to mother earth weeks after his death and
some 24 four hours after a plane conveying his remains crashed
yesterday in Lagos leaving his coffin intact.
The body which arrived his Iju odo hometown in Okitipupa local
government area of Ondo state around 1: 40 pm from Lagos was received
by a large crowd.
Sympathizers, family members and dignitaries, traditional rulers as
well as religious leaders both within and outside the state graced the
burial ceremony.
An aircraft carrying the remains of the former governor crashed
yesterday at the perimeters of the Murtala Mohammed international
Airport in Lagos shortly after takeoff, killing 13 people.
Agagu's body was taken to his hometown today by road.
Several officials, clergy and party stalwarts at the burial includes,
Minister Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade who led the Federal
Government delegation; Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola
Johnson, former Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo, former
governors of Oyo and Ekiti States, Adebayo Akala and Segun Oni; Osun's
ex-governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ogun State's ex-governor Gbenga
Daniel, controversial businessman Jimoh Ibrahim, Agagu's former deputy
Omolade Oluwateru, former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, PDP
Chairman Ondo State Chief Ebenezer Alabi, member House of
Representatives , Raphael Nomiye, , Dr. Tunji Abayomi, and Chief Tai
Lawal, among others.
Speaking at the church of Ebenezer Anglican Cathedral in Iju-Odo ,
Archbishop of the Anglican Archdiocese of Ondo , Revd. Ebun Ogundele
described the late Agagu as a man whose contribution to the world is
"countless."
Ogundele said the deceased left the world of sin to join his ancestors
urging Nigerians to be mindful of eternity.
He said that most people of the world have forgotten that there is
life after death saying things of the world will always perish with
the world.
"We came to this world with nothing and surely shall we go back with
nothing. Let us remember God in anything we do. No matter how highly
you are. No matter your position and level in life. Death is what each
and every one of us must taste. Death knows no bound. Agagu has gone
and we will surely miss him. He did what he could do and let go at the
end".
The Bishop said people obsessed themselves with wealth driven by
greed, selfishness and corruption which has eaten up the root of the
Nigerian nation. He warned that if such continues many people might
not make heaven as the end time is drawing nearer.
Other clergymen that presided over the ceremony include, Bishop of the
Diocese on the Coast, Rt. Revd. Goke Akinbuluma, and the Lord Bishop
of Irele Diocese, Bishop Ajiboye of Igbobini.
In his words, President Goodluck Jonathan described the late Agagu as
a 'party motivator' who will be greatly missed by all, not only his
family members but his close associates.
Jonathan whose message was delivered at the venue by the Minister of
Police Affairs, Navy Capt, Caleb Olubolade said the deceased wealth of
experience had helped the party both at the local and national level
to formulate ideas that the party now enjoy.
He commiserated with the families of those that died in yesterday's
plane crash and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the
loss of their loved ones.
In his response on behalf of the family, the younger brother of the
deceased who was also his Chief of Staff (COS), Mr. Femi Agagu
commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the
plane crash yesterday.
He said the family of the late governor decided to cancel the
traditional Christian wake keeping to reduce the glamour that would
have attended today's event. stating that the burial was done in a low
key because of those who died in the Lagos plane crash yesterday.
"It was because of the Lagos crash that we cancelled the traditional
Christian wake yesterday to with those people that died in the plane.
On behalf of the entire family, I commiserates with all the bereaved
families and prays fervently for the repose of the souls of all the
dead, even as the family continues to remain in close contact with the
families of persons affected by this tragedy". Mr. Agau's first and
only son, Feyi could not attend the burial as he remained hospitalized
in a Lagos hospital after surviving the plane crash yesterday.
At the Manuwa Memorial Grammar School and Civic centre, guests were
entertained by musicians.
It was learnt that the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko did not
attend the funeral ceremony due to fears that he might be attacked by
people in the area. The Governor has become unpopular in Ondo State in
general due to declining performance in office.
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