Jonathan, Obasanjo, Mark others eulogise departed diplomat

 

President Goodluck Jonathan and the Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, were some of the dignitaries that poured encomiums on the late former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, whose remains were laid to rest in Lagos on Tuesday.

Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, at the funeral service held at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, said that he owed the deceased a debt of gratitude for his immense contributions to the nation.

The President, while condoling with the family, friends and associates of the deceased, urged them to take solace in the fact that Ashiru had lived a life of service for God and humanity. Amosun was also among friends, relations and family members that took turns to eulogise the deceased.

The Ogun State governor described Ashiru as a seasoned diplomat with more than three decades of experience in Foreign Affairs.

“The pain and loss associated with the death of a loved one like Ambassador Ashiru transcend the immediate family. He was a seasoned diplomat, with more than three decades of experience in Foreign Affairs.

“He was one of those people we proudly look at and say he is from Ogun State. He made us proud,” Amosun said

The late minister’s widow, Kehinde, also used the occasion to give testimony of her husband’s 13 months battle with brain tumour.

The widow said her husband still lived for almost an hour after he was certified dead the first time thus corroborating an earlier report published in The PUNCH on Monday December 22, 2014, where one of the deceased’s sons, Femi, had said that his father died twice.

The late ex-minister’s wife said, “I was crying repeatedly, shaking him continuously. But the cardiac monitor kept ringing, his spontaneous respiration stopped and the straight line persisted. There was no heartbeat, there was no pulse, and it was over. Is this really happening? Am I having a nightmare? I was hysterical and in utter disbelief.

“After two minutes, his heartbeat started again and his pulse and blood pressure re-appeared. What is happening? This was a miracle, he had come back to life and he had come back to me and the children. Thank God was all I could say, thank God for bringing him back. The ICU nurses were amazed. This had 

 never happened before. They wondered how he could come back to life when the time of death had been written and no medication had been given to resuscitate him. They were baffled, but I wasn’t because I knew my God brought him back for a purpose.

“I had another chance to pray for him, to thank him for his love, to thank him for being a wonderful, loving husband and father and to appreciate him for being a generous provider to us. I had another chance to thank God for his life, for his achievements and to pray for a smooth passage to eternal glory.

“After almost an hour of prayer and songs of praise, life started ebbing again. The straight line appeared and the alarm came on, but this time it was final.”

Also, Gbenga junior, one of the sons of the late Ashiru, had said during the Christian wake held earlier on Monday at the Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos that his dad was so generous that he would not allow his children to spend money on him.

Gbenga also said that his father would always refund them whenever they bought him gifts.

“Dad was very generous. He was the best dad and he never wanted anything in return. You would buy him a gift and he gives you back the money you have spent on the gift. He never wanted us to spend money on him, instead he would say to us, ‘Save your money.’

The Senate President, David Mark, in his tribute sent to the family, described Ashiru as an exemplary patriot and a diplomat per excellence who put Nigeria’s interest in the frontburner of foreign policy across the globe

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also sent in his tribute, described Ashiru as a loyal and committed public servant. He added that Ashiru contributed immensely to laying a solid foundation for the present cordial relationship between Nigeria and all the countries he served as Nigeria’s representative.

The old boys association of his Alma Mata, Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, were also on ground to commiserate with the family. After the church service, the remains of the departed diplomat were interred at Ikoyi Volte and Gardens in Lagos.