Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has disclosed that his failure to take his mother’s last telephone call was his major regret in the passing away of his mother, Mrs. Abigail Makinde.
Governor Makinde, while receiving the University of Ibadan delegates who paid him a condolence visit in his house, narrated his last encounter with his mother, saying his regret in his mother’s demise was his failure to answer her telephone calls when the 81 years old woman was calling him on phone.
According to Engineer Makinde, “My mother was calling me during the Ondo state election, saying, leave Ondo people alone and come back home if they don’t vote for your party. I assured her that there was no problem. Immediately after Ondo’s election, I went to Port-Harcourt. She started calling me again while I was in Port-Harcourt, I just felt I would come and listen to her when I returned.
“But on Thursday, I received a call that Mama had passed on in her sleep. They knocked her door in the morning, when there was no response , they had to break into her room where they discovered that she was no more”, he stated.
Gov. Makinde asked rhetorically, “what do I do? I am supposed to be mourning, but as I began to express emotions, some people started telling me that they lost their own mothers at far younger age. Before I knew what was happening, they have started killing cows and making merry”.
Earlier, the University of Ibadan Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka who led the institution’s delegates had commiserated with the bereaved governor, pointing out that Mama led an impactful life with his son becoming a Governor before she left.
Prof. Olayinka who encouraged the governor to take heart, remarked that though Mrs. Abigail Makinde lived up to 81, the governor would have loved her to live up to 100 years.
The UI boss expressed the readiness of the University to participate in the burial arrangements.
In the same vein, Prof. Olayinka led the delegates to pay similar condolence visit to a one-time Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olukayode Oyediran who lost his wife of 57 years, Reverend Mrs. Tola Oyediran recently.
Prof. Olayinka hinted that the news of Mrs. Oyediran death came with a rude shock to the university’s community, pointing out that she would have been 80 in the next 23 days.
“On behalf of the University of Ibadan, we are here to condole with you and pray that God will uphold you at this trying moment.
Responding, Prof. Oyediran thanked the delegates, describing the death of his wife as dream-like.
The UI’s delegates included the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Adebola Ekanola, DVC, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships (RISP), Prof. Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo, the Registrar, Mrs. Olubunmi Omobolanle Faluyi, the Bursar, Dr. Micheal Alatise.
Others were the Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. Olayinka Olusola Omigbodun, her Deputy, Prof. Fatai Adeniyi, the Director, Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, Director Advancement Centre, Mr. Debo Adeosun and the Deputy Registrar, Vice Chancellor’s office, Mr. Oluwole Dada.
