In spite of the Thursday plane crash which delayed the funeral programme organized by the Ondo state government for the late Olusegun Agagu, the former minister was given a benefiting burial yesterday in his home town, Iju- odo.
At saint Paul’s Anglican Church, Iju-Odo,Osooro, dignitaries across the state and beyond paid their last respects to the former governor, who died on september 13, in Lagos.
The ill- fated aircraft which conveyed the remains of the former governor, his son, Feyi , state government officials, crew members and others crashed three minutes after take off.
His corpse remained intact, his son and four others survived the crash while others including the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and son of former secretary to the Federal Government (SFG) Chief Olu Falae, Mr. Deji Falae died.
However, scores of party members , supporters and other members of the community were at the residence of the late former governor waiting for his remains to arrive.
Some of the people who were at the residence waiting for the arrival of the corpse were the wives and former governors of Ekiti, Osun and Ogun state, Engr. Segun Oni, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Gbenga Daniel.
Others were; Minister of Information Communication and Technology, Mrs Mobolaji Johnson, business tycoon, Jimoh Ibrahim, former Deputy Governor of the late Agagu, Omolade Oluwateru, former speaker of the state, Taofeek Abdusalam.
The former Governors and other dignitaries were seen discussing the ill fated air craft.
The church service which was scheduled to start at 10:00am did not commence until 1:50pm when the corpse arrived the church.
The body of the late former governor was laid to final rest in a purple casket substituted for the golden casket that was damaged in the ill fated plane crash.
In his sermon, Bishop Joshua Ebunoluwa Ogunele said the gathering was not only meant to commit Agagu to mother earth, but also to praise God.
Bishop Ogunele said the late governor’s widow decision to travel from Ibadan to Akure changed many things.
He said the decision of the window with other children of the deceased not to join the aircraft that was conveying the remains of the body of the late former governor called for extreme praises.
The cleric described the late Agagu as father, brother and friend.
Taking his message from the book of Genesis Chapter 42:36, Bishop Ogunele said looking at it from the human point of view, the death of Agagu and his burial was against the wishes of the people.
He noted that only God’s will can be done always.
The cleric said God’s ways were not the ways of men, stressing that people blame God when things happen because they are short-sighted.
“Our short-sightedness has blocked our views to see things of heaven and focus on earthly things”
“Today we are committing Agagu to mother earth. I want to assure you that none of his property will be buried with him”
The cleric said “the day Agagu died, his certificate expired”
He emphasised that nothing will be buried with Agagu, stressing that if he had millions or billions in the bank, it can not be buried with him.
Bishop Ogunele reminded the people that all that is for the world and transient, affirming that after death, the only thing that remains is faith.
He said if one dies without having faith in God punishment awaits him..
The cleric however charged the people to think of what to leave behind when they are finally gone, saying that nobody can be richer than Solomon in the bible.
The Bishop said Agagu did not know that he was going to die , saying he was working on some projects in the area.
In his own message, President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Minister of Police Affair, Mr. Caleb Olubolade described the late Agagu as an intellectual man of great achievement and diligence.
The President said he received the sad news of the plane crash yesterday.
The president on behalf of his family and Nigerians offered his condolence on the death of the late Agagu and indeed all those who died in the thursday crash.
The President said the incident had brought another grief upon the people of Ondo state and the entire nation, and thanking God for the survivors.
President Jonathan thanked all Nigerians who had traveled down to Ondo state to commiserate with Agagu’s family.
Dignitaries at the event were,Former governor of Oyo state, Chief Aloa Akala and his wife, Senator representing Ondo Central senatorial district, Boluwaji Kunlere, governorship candidate of PDP in the last election, Chief Olusola Oke, Mr. Saka Lawal, Mr. Akin Aduwo, Hon. Akintoye Herbert and Hon. Jumoke Akindele.
However, Governor Olusegun Mimiko was not seen at the service and did not send a representative to the burial ceremony either.
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