Agagu buried without fanfare

The remains of the former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, were buried in a new casket in his home town in Iju Odo, Ondo State, on Friday in a sombre atmosphere devoid of any form of pomp and pageantry. Though there was a reception at the Civic Centre in the village, most of the guests shunned the reception.

The entire village wore a mournful look with villagers discussing the tragic plane crash that led to the death of 13 people in Lagos on Thursday. Though there was a large turnout of the villagers and dignitaries, the church service was solemn.

The Associated Airline with registration number SCD 361 conveying the corpse of the late former governor,  some family  members  and close friends, crashed in Lagos on Thursday on its way to Akure less than two minutes after  its take-off from the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, killing 13 persons on board while seven others survived.  News of  the crash  led to the  abrupt cancellation of the governor’s lying in state  previously scheduled to hold in Akure, the state capital.

The state government had earlier constituted a burial committee in conjunction with the Agagu family. But the plane crash of Thursday resulted in the cancellation of all the burial arrangements leading up to his interment.

The family issued a statement early Friday stating that the family would made it a private affair. The statement signed by Femi Agagu, said in spite of the family’s bereavement, it still had the fortitude to mourn all those who lost their lives in the crash.

He said, “ Even in its own bereavement, the family deeply mourns the death of all those who lost their lives in the ill-fated plane crash which occurred when Dr. Agagu’s body was being taken home for burial.

“In deference to all the families who are in bereavement, and out of respect for the memory of the departed, the Agagu family has decided to scale down the details of the funeral to its barest and basic minimum.

“Accordingly, the funeral will now be a private family affair, shorn of all the pomp and pageantry of a state funeral.’’

He explained that the traditional Christian wake was entirely cancelled on Thursday because of the crash incident.

“The Agagu family deeply commiserates with all the bereaved families and prays fervently for the repose of the souls of all the departed, even as the family continues to remain in close contact with all the families affected by this tragedy,” he added.

Tears flowed freely on Friday from the eyes of relatives and sympathisers as the body of former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Agagu, was laid to its final rest.

Agagu’s body arrived the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, in Iju Odo at 1.50pm after a long wait for the corpse which arrived the venue by road from Lagos.

His wife, Mrs. Olufunke Agagu, who was clad in a dark blue lace with head tie to match and  her daughters, Solape and Omowumi, could not hide their emotions as the casket followed the procession in the church for the funeral service.

The crowd was unprecedented and the church hall was just too small to accommodate the dignitaries, invited guests, sympathisers and mourners who thronged the occasion in their numbers.

Many had to stand outside the hall, while others stood looking through the windows as the procession went on.

President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Nav. Capt. Caleb Olubolade, said the death of Agagu coupled with the air mishap was a pain too heavy for his family to bear.

He said, while regretting the crash and those that perished with it, “We must thank God for those who survived.”

Jonathan prayed that such tragedy should never happen again, praying that God would grant the departed a resting place.

Rt. Rev.Joshua Ebunoluwa, the presiding bishop of the diocese, called on the mourners and other members of the congregation to seek the Lord and turn away from sin so that they might find a place with God at their death.

He said Agagu had died and would be going away with none of the things he acquired, admonishing the people to work for the afterlife instead of labouring so hard to get the world without God.

Agagu was finally lowered to his grave at the premises of the church at about 3.30pm, with members of his family paying their last respect.

Those in attendance included  former Governors Gbenga Daniel, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Segun Oni, Alao Akala and other PDP chieftains.

The Minister of Communications, Mrs. Omobola Johnson and  Senator Boluaji Kunlere, (Ondo South) were also in attendance.

PUNCH