Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, on Thursday, literally dragged Governors ‘Seyi Makinde, Dapo Abiodun and Dauda Lawal of Oyo, Ogun and Zamfara states and other eminent personalities to the burial of his late mother.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and his Kwara State counterpart, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, were represented by their Chiefs of Staff, Tayo Ayinde and Kayode Alabi, respectively.
Olugbon, who is the Vice Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, also brought some of his fellow traditional rulers to the final burial of his mother, Deaconess Margaret Oyeronke Alao.
Some of the traditional rulers present at the event included Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oyediran; Okere of Saki! Oba Kalid Oyebisi; Olowu of Kuta, Oba Hameed Adekunle Makama Oyelude; Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and traditional ruler of Edunabon, Oba Olatunde Kehinde, among others.
The agrarian and sleepy town of Orile-Igbon came alive as the first Nigerian music act to be nominated for the Grammy Award, King Sunny Ade (KSA), took to the stage to thrill the gathering with some old tunes from his music repertoire.
Recalled that the late of Olugbon, Deaconess Alao, passed on to glory on 15 November, 2024 at the age of 81.
The burial ceremony was marked by solemn tributes and heartfelt eulogies, reflecting the profound impact the late mother of the Olugbon had on her community and the larger society.
Her legacy as a respected matriarch was celebrated, with many dignitaries praising her contributions to the development and well-being of the people around her.
In his sermon at the funeral service at Majesty Natural Resort, Orile-Igbon, Senior Pastor, Trinity House, Lagos, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, urged everyone to give their lives to Jesus Christ.
Reading from Matthew 18:26, Pastor Ighodalo asked, what will it profit a man if he is the richest man on earth and equipped with all the power in the world, but failed to make it to heaven?
“The soul of a man is more important than all the riches and treasures in this world. Everything we acquire on earth, we will leave them back on earth.
“I have never seen it anywhere that a man will die with his fists clenched. This life of ours that we live is so short. In the next 80-100 years, everyone of us here would be gone.
“As you buy your gold, shoes, wrist watches, mansions, etc., know that this life is temporary. The essential thing of life is to make it to heaven,” he said.
Pastor Ighodalo described as somebody who lived a true Christian life: “Mama was a Christian. She loved her husband to the very end. She loved her children so much and was praying for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, all by their individual names.
“Mama was a great chorister and you can see the musical talents being exhibited by her children. She was a great entrepreneur, supporting her husband with everything she had.
“She did full-time pastoral work with her husband. Mama was extremely intelligent, speaking four languages fluently. She was very fashionable and very accommodating.
“The great thing about her, as far as I am concerned, I believe she made it to heaven. She had virtually all the pre-qualifications and qualifications to make it to heaven.
“I celebrate mama Alao today. I celebrate a good Christian life, a life of focus, a life of peace, a life that was distinguished, a life that was concerned about others.
“This world that we think is all ours is just a very short time. The passage of life is very short. As you pursue your material things, know that everything in life is temporary.
“Those in offices of power are mere tenants. Many have been on that seat long before you. Whatever may be the case, none of us gathered here today will be around in the next 60 to 100 years,” Ighodalo added.
In his goodwill message, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, also described the late Deaconess Margaret Alao as a loving and supporting woman.
“We are here to send forth mama. We give the Almighty God all the appreciation for the life mama lived.
“Mama had a humble beginning. She traded between Nigeria and Ghana early in life. She was an entrepreneur. Mama was a loving and supportive wife, according to account that we read. @
“She was a doting mother to her children. Despite her limited education, she spoke English Language, Hausa, Yoruba and Ghanaian languages fluently.
“The fact that we are all here from across the globe showed the kind of impact mama had. So, the question all of us here should ask ourselves is, what do I want to be remembered for?,” Prince Abiodun asked.
Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, described the deceased as a devoted Christian, a loving wife and dotting mother.
Governor Sanwo-Olu prayed that God will grant the departed a peaceful rest, comfort the family and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.
Also speaking, Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, described his late mother as a great disciplinarian and very hard working woman that traded in anything that she could lay her hands on.
Olugbon said his late mother had a passion for her husband and family, adding that she was a loyal wife that stood by her husband through thick and thin.
“She was a good mother that tried very hard to ensure that her four boys and two daughters (one deceased) turned out right and successful.”
Olugbon added: “She was a great disciplinarian and very hard working woman that traded in anything that she could lay her hands on.
“She stood by her husband and worked very hard to bridge the financial gap while her husband tried to manage the spiritual and moral upbringing of the children.
“Iya Sola was too extremely good to persuade to a fault. She was never a rigid person; she was a very brave and strong-hearted woman that was always ready to face life challenges with a strong hope of conquering.
“She was a fashionable and well-dressed mother ever fitted in dresses. She had this dress senses with combined wears against colour riot.
“I am proud of her person as a mother whom I came out from. She will surely be missed by us all,” the Olugbon said.
Other dignitaries at the funeral included Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu; Mr Sunday Dare; the lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Senator Yunus Akintunde; lawmaker representing Osun Central in the National Assembly, Ajagunla Olubiyi Fadeyi; a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Remi Oseni;
Former first ladies of Oyo, Lagos, Kwara and Ogun states, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, Dame Abimbola Fasola, Mrs Toyin Saraki and Mrs Olufunso Amosun, respectively; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin; a former member of the Senate, Senator Ayoade Adeseun; Alhaji Basiru Akanbi; Nollywood legend, Chief Lere Paimo; a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Saheed Fijabi; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of LAUTECH, Dr Deji Omole;
Former member, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Wunmi Oladeji; Chief of Staff to Oyo State Governor, Hon Segun Ogunwuyi; Professor Banji Akintoye; Dr Saka Balogun; prominent businessman, Dr Tunde Ayeni; some commissioners in the Governor Makinde administration, traditional rulers; state lawmakers; a former Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner, Mr Mutalubi Adebayo Ojo; Iyalaje Oodua, Yeye Toyin Kolade, Prophetess Esther Ajayi! commissioners and lawmakers from the state legislature, among others.
