*AS JONATHAN LAMENTS DEATH

By SIMON EBEGBULEM AND GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE
PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, Friday, led no fewer than 10 State Governors to the burial of the wife of the Edo state Governor, Mrs Stella Oshiomhole. While President Jonathan lamented that what he initially planned to attend was the wedding ceremony of Oshiomhole’s daughter, Jane and not burial, Oshiomhole described his late wife as a very beautiful woman even at death.

The over four hours funeral mass which was conducted by the Catholic Bishop of Auchi, Bishop Gabriel Dumia, took an emotional diversion when Oshiomhole and his daughter Winnie, recalled life with Clara. Oshiomhole broke down in tears as the body was finally interred.

Speaking at the Funeral Mass, President Jonathan said I least expected that she was going to pass away at this time. Just like Oshiomhole said, he mentioned to me about the wedding of their daughter, that the wife was already around for that marriage. I promised that I would be there for the church programme but I would not be able to attend the reception but my wife would be there.  Some how, instead of the wedding, we are doing a different ceremony today.

“We know that all of us came on earth to play our own role, we will one day leave. Death is inevitable but when it comes matters so much. I know the challenges a Governor face, because I am one of them and I am still there. When they finish the challenges in their offices, when they get back to the house, they want to see smiling faces that will give succour and reduce the anxiety. Oshiomhole has been a very active man as a labour leader now a Governor but still you need a wife that will comfort you.

“Today, he is going to be alone, but we are grateful to God that this lady within the short period that she lived on earth that she made her mark. Oshiomhole told me that the wife made him a strong Catholic and that is very significant. Luckily for us, they have beautiful sons and daughters that will carry on the good work. Let me join the Oshiomhole family to thank you. And on behalf of the Federal Government, I commiserate with your family, the community and Edo state. And we pray that God will give the family to bear this irreparable loss” he stated.

In his remarks, Oshiomhole said “my marriage with Clara was a miracle of God because without her many things would have been impossible in my life. I will always remember what my wife told me, that once I am with God nothing evil can come to me. Today Mr President you have put this village on Nigeria’s map.

“You can see that Clara brought to this village for the first time, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The presence of many governors, Ministers, Senators. Mr President I can never thank you enough. May God bless you and reward you. My late wife led me towards the path of Christ. There have been different insinuations about my religion. I want to say that I am a Catholic, I was baptized by Father Miliham in Kaduna who also joined us in marriage and my baptismal name is Eric.”