Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor of
Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, their wives, and Judges from across the
country, on Wednesday, bid farewell to the husband of the Chief Judge of
Bayelsa State, Elder Freeman Ayemieye.
At the funeral service held at the Saint Peter's
Deanery, Yenagoa, the former president and the Bayelsa governor paid tributes
to the late Anglican Layreader.
In his tribute, Dr. Jonathan charged political leaders
to live lives worthy of remembrance, warning that no one owned the world or
even his own family.
He said from his biography and the testimony of the
church’s Men's Fellowship, Elder Ayemieye lived well and was a pillar of the
church.
The former Nigerian leader said one of the striking
lessons from burials was that everyone will die one day, and asked: when we
leave, what will people remember us by?
Addressing political leaders, Jonathan queried if
people would remember them for the number of people they killed or the number
of houses they burnt down because they wanted to win elections.
He warned that as elections approach, Nigerians will
listen to speeches by politicians, some of whom talk as if they owned the
world, but in reality, they were just individuals.
According to him, "no matter how powerful you
are, if you got lost today, nobody will remember you; nobody cares. Nobody
should think that he owned the world, Nigeria or even his own family.
Sometimes, you will be surprised that some of your children might not even vote
for you. That is the funny thing about politics."
In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri recalled how the
late Ayemieye came to him and stood by his wife, Justice Matilda Ayemieye,
during the period of her appointment as Chief Judge.
He said although he did not know the deceased before
then, from the brief period of their interaction, he heard nothing to the
contrary about him from every encomium poured on him at the service.
He said under Justice Ayemieye, the executive has had
a peaceful relationship with the judiciary, stressing that the achievements
recorded by his government were because the three arms of government in the
state worked together.
The governor equally attributed the successes recorded
by the Chief Judge to the support and peace from her late husband at home,
stating that if there was no peace in the family, it would have reflected in
her actions.
His words: “We know that at times like this, even when
a wicked man dies, nobody talks about his wickedness. Everybody talks about the
good side of the dead. But for the man lying in state here, from all the
interactions we had, I have not heard anything to the contrary.
?”Since that appointment, I
have worked in peace and synergy with the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State and with
the Judiciary. Any achievement of this government is because we have worked
together. It is not I as governor alone. It is because we have worked together
– the executive, legislature and the judiciary.”
Preaching on the theme: “Seeking God’s kingdom,”
Bishop of the Niger Delta West Diocese of the Anglican Church, Rt. Rev. Nexon
Enekeme, warned Christians against chasing titles, positions and material
wealth, saying none of them followed a man to the grave.
?Rev. Enekeme urged Christians to seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and that every other thing shall be added
unto them.
Speaking on behalf of the deceased family, immediate
past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack,
described the late Ayemieye as a very peaceful man, whose life attracted people
from across Bayelsa State to his funeral.
Walson-Jack, who said it was an honour to speak on
behalf of the Ayemieyes, described herself as a member of the family because of
the close relationship between both families, having lived with them.
She stated that through her prodding, the deceased
became president of the Port Harcourt branch of the Full Gospel Businessmen
Fellowship because of his love for God.
She appreciated Jonathan, Diri and their wives for
their support, prayers and encouragement during the trying time of the family
as well as the Niger Delta West Diocese, Chief Judges of other states, and
others that travelled to the state to honour a colleague.
At the funeral service were former First Lady, Dame
Patience Jonathan, Dr. Gloria Diri, Justice Patience Diri, the Deputy Governor,
Dr. Peter Akpe, members of the National Assembly, Deputy Speaker of the state
House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Ogbere, the Chief Judges of Rivers, Delta
and Oyo states and other top government officials.
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