By Lucky Isibor
It was glitz laced in elegance when the Agwinede Family of Eguare Ebelle joined their in-laws and family of Akhilemegbe Olumese of Iruekpen on Sunday, Easter day to remember their matriarch Pa. Joseph Akhilemegbe Olumese who joined the Saints Triumphant on 27 March 2019.
The ceremony which commenced with a Thanksgiving at St. James Anglican Church, later shifted to the home of the eldest daughter, Mrs. Onolen Agwinede and wife of a Benin based legal luminary, Sunny Agwinede (Esq).
The duo of Mr and Mrs Agwinede did not disappoint their guests as they ensured they were lavishly entertained in their usual hospitality.
Eldest daughter of the late octogenarian, Mrs Onolen Agwinede described her late father as a peace loving man who gave his all to the family and would not take sides in the event of dispute but will come resolve it by speaking the truth no matter whose ox is gored.
“My father was a peace loving father. When there is dispute between members of family, community members and even the children he would never take sides, but would bring the junior before the senior. He would always speak the truth in the resolution of these disputes and would speak the truth at all times no matter whose ox is gored.
“He was well known for for this his truthfulness and uprightness in our Idumoza community Iruekpen. He was a loving and caring father, a loving husband and am pained he’s not alive to see this celebration, I wish it is his birthday. I’ll continue to remember him because he’s worth celebrating”.
Speaking in the same vain, husband of the eldest daughter, Sunny Agwinede (Esq) described his late father in-law as a disciplinarian, hard working and prudent man who gave his all to his family and brought up his children to imbibe education, good morals and discipline, adding that his memory will remain indelible in his heart and that of the entire family.
“My father in law was a peace loving man, he was an author, a community leader, I fact he would have been the extent Odiham of Iruekpen if not for his demise. The man was always there for the whole family members, just as the family prescribed and stated in his anniversary announcement, he gave his all to the family and his children. He had twelve children, he was able to raise them up and trained them, even with his meagre resources as a teacher. All of them went to school and they all graduated before his exit at a very ripe age of 88 years.
“We always remember him for his goodness and religious activities. When you go to his house on weekends, everyday is opened with a family alter and he’s always the priest that leads the alter. We are very grateful for the legacies and the faithfulness he left for us and we’ll always praise him and honour him for that. We’ll continue to honour him and we pray that after the 5 years remembrance, the next ten years we’ll always remember him too”.
One of his sons, Obhokhan Olumese pointed out that their father inculcated the virtue of love in him and his siblings adding that it is their guiding principle till date
“My father was a man of peace who brought us the children up in love and unity as a family and that’s what is guiding us in life today”.