Mummy, I celebrate you today and will forever do. I grew up to know you as caring, hardworking, quiet but strict. I later discovered your high level of resilience, tenacity, contentment and a very religious person. You were everything to me and my siblings having lost your husband (our father), 45 years ago when I was just 14 and my siblings much younger.
Though not read, you were a lover of education. The only time I would be excused from hawking one of those items like egg, puff-puff and St Louis Sugar right from primary school was when the school examination was approaching. And the easiest way to be excused from house duties was to pretend to be attending to homework from school.
I still remember many times you will get out of the bed before dawn with the help of a hurricane lamp or torchlight to go round your textile materials customers to collect outstanding debts so that I can get enough money to take me back to school at He or ask for early collection of thrift for the same purpose. I thank you.
Mummy, my siblings and I are already missing you in several ways. I am missing your regular phone calls to ask for the well-being of my immediate family, pray for us and deliver or remind me of messages that have been passed through you by relatives, religious groups or political associates.
A thorough family woman, one of the things that bother you most is unity amongst extended family members and ensuring that legacies and family trees are not broken. Mummy, we shall keep this flag flying. And a mother that cares, your last few days were all about us-your concerns, your wishes, your fears and family jokes. May God grant all those last minutes requests you made for us.
My joy is that you came, saw, did your best to humanity and left a legacy in us your children, numerous non-biological children and the Islamic faith within the Imeko community.
My greater joy was that less than 12 hours before you passed on and acting on complete impulse, I was able to thank you via a local song while caressing you. Little did I know that was the last time I will be seeing you alive.
My dear mummy, “Adinni 1″, Agbeke Oye, thank you again for who you were and all you did. May Allah grant you Aljannah Firdaus. o d’arinako, o d’oju ala.
Your Son, Your one and only Akogun & Your Atanda
Gboyega Nasiru ISIAKA
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