When Epe stood still for Madam Adedeji’s final journey home

It is naturally a difficult task to say a final good bye to a mother. It is even harder to give an eulogy to a loving and caring mother who gave you life and ensure that you live a meaningful life.

That was the story in the ancient and historical town of Epe, Lagos State, last weekend when the prestigious Ademuyiwa family bid theit final farewell to the matriarch of the family, Princess Victoria Oyinade Adedeji.

The carnival-like ceremony left no one in doubt about the pedigree of the Ademuyiwas who have long been noted for leaving no stone untouched in such matters.

Signs of what to expect began to manifest as early as Wednesday when the town began to witness a never-before seen influx of gaily-dressed crowd.

By Friday, the town was already agog with large traffic of beautiful and gaily dressed men and women heading towards the home of former Executive Chairman of Kosofe Local Government, Omoba Ademuyiwa Adedeji, one of the sons of the late Madam Adedeji.

For the real estate giant and politician, it was one last opportunity to give his mother a very befitting farewell honour.

Sure, the burial ceremony of Princess Victoria Oyinade Adedeji may have come and gone, but it’s memory will linger for a long time to come in the minds of the people.

OMOBA ADEMUYIWA ADEDEJI

Fondly called Mummy shop by all those whose lives she touched in her memorable lifetime, the nonagenarian, according to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all those who had the opportunity to know her, lived a self-less life that was dedicated to putting smiles on the faces of people and making sure that no one went to bed with an empty stomach.

Expectedly, her three-days journey of ceremonies to eternal rest kicked off on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, with pomp and pageantry with a well-organised Service of Songs at her residence in Gbagada, Lagos.

The second leg of her journey commenced on August 26, with a Christian wake service with beautiful and soul-inspiring songs rendered with Anglic voices by the choir of the First St. Anglican Church, Epe,

Saturday, August 27 was the high point of the three-day. Activities began at about 10am when the remains of the deceased arrived the church in a beautifully-decorated white casket driven in a in a white 4Matic Mercedes Benz R350 hearse.

The Post realibly gathered that the casket, which cost a few millions, was made by BCFS, a Lagos-based firm of undertakers.

The funeral service at the First St. Anglican Church, Iraye Oke, Epe, Lagos, commenced with A-list guests, that include Lagos State Assembly lawmaker, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon, popularly known as OKLA and Lagos State Child Protection Network General Secretary, Rasheed Awofeso among several others.

Thereafter, the children of the late Madam Ademuyiwa led her remains to her residence in the white 4Matic Mercedes Benz R350 hearse, where it was final laid to rest amid eulogies by children and relations.

With the final honours done to a loving mother by the children, all attention shifted to the large compound of UPE Primary School, along Adedeji Road, Iraye Oke, Epe town, where the guests were hosted to a lavish party.

With the tables filled with assorted shades of champaigne, wines and beer, the guests, who turned out in their colourful aso ebi, were treated to sumptous meals that were washed down with chilled drinks.

On the band stand was popular juju music star, Mega 99, who churned out beautifully composed songs that accompanied the late Princess Ademuyiwa as she made her way to heaven.

Roll call of guests:

Hon. Dayo Alebiosu, Lagos State Assembly lawmaker, Hon. Femi Saheed; Kosofe’s former Executive Secretary, Hon. Gbemisola Ketiku; Lagos State APC Assistant State Secretary, Hon. Jumoke Animahun, Kosofe Local Government Vice Chairman, Oluwole Sasanya and Mr Yemi Olowolabi, former commissioner for information, Ondo State among several others.