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Grand Farewell: Alhaji Otunba Abubakar Omoluabi buries Mother amidst glowing tributes
It was a day of splendour and deep emotion, a gathering of Nigeria’s elite and various distinguished groups, as the esteemed Alhaji Abubakar Adeshina Omoluabi, Chairman of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) Alumni Association, Abuja Chapter, laid his beloved mother, Lydia Silifat Abubakar, to rest in a ceremony that will be remembered for its grandeur and heartfelt tributes.
The air was filled with a sense of celebration and reverence as the people of Ikare Akoko came together to honour a woman whose life had touched so many in diverse ways.
The event, hailed as the talk of the town, was a fitting tribute to a matriarch whose positive impact on the community will be cherished for years to come.
On 12th July 2024, the burial ceremony took place at St. Thomas’ Ese Ikare Akoko, Ondo State.
The sun shone brightly, casting a warm glow on the throngs of attendees who gathered to pay their respects.
The atmosphere was thick with poignant memories and the sound of heartfelt eulogies, as friends, family, and dignitaries alike shared their stories of the late Lydia Silifat Abubakar.
Lydia Silifat Abubakar, who passed away at the Federal Medical Centre in Owo on 7th June 2024, was a native of Ikare Akoko and had been married to the late Prince Abubakar Anthony.
Her legacy was evident in the diverse array of attendees, each one a testament to the lives she had touched and the community she had helped shape.
As the ceremony unfolded, it became clear that this was not just a farewell, but a celebration of a life well-lived, a tribute to a woman who had left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew her.
The ceremony attracted various personalities, among whom were the event’s Special Guests of Honour, His Royal Highness Oba Omotunde Alaba Adako, the Oliyere of Iyere Owo Kingdom; Erelu of Ikare Land; Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo; and Global President Engr Chief Adeola Adesina Victor of the National RUGIPO Alumni Association.
Also in attendance were family members and friends of the Alumni Association of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, including the Abuja Chapter, Akure Chapter, Owo Chapter, Ikare Chapter, Emure Ekiti Chapter, Ado Ekiti Chapter, and Kaduna State Chapter of the noble association.
The Royal Family of Olukare and Owa-Ale of Ikare were also present at the ceremony, tagged “The Celebration of an Icon.”
Additionally, Agolo High School’s set of 1996/97 was in attendance, as well as the 2007 set of Accountancy from Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo.
Other dignitaries who added glamour to the ceremony included the representative of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Hon. Ife Ehindero, a member of the House of Representatives for Akoko North East and West Federal Constituency, who were fully represented.
The long list of personalities who honored Alhaji Otunba Abubakar Adeshina Omoluabi included pressure groups such as Erelu of Ikare, Mrs. Akinleye Yetunde, Adegbokun Kehinde, Tafa Opeyemi, and Mrs. Jumoke.
The office of the Auditor-General of the Federation was fully represented by Director Dr. Abe Oladayo James, Deputy Director Mr. Michael, Mr. Rafiu Leken, Mr. Abel, Mrs. Folashade, Mrs. Malomo, Mrs. Aisha, Mr. Ifeanyi, and others.
Continuing, he thanked his ever-supportive and loving wife, Yeye Otunba Abubakar Latifat, and her family for their unquantifiable support.
The Director of Finance and Accounts of the Federal Fire Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Sanni, and the family of Akadri Saliu, Makusota, as well as the Olowu family in Ikare Akoko, were also in attendance.
The Mature Wibe group was not left behind, and he thanked Ikare Akoko General for their funeral support.
“The best that I cannot forget is the Deputy Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ondo State Chapter, Ezekiel Ademola, a.k.a. Rote, who represented Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa.”
Alhaji Otunba Abubakar Adeshina Omoluabi, however, thanked all who attended his mother’s burial, praying that the celebration of good things will not cease in their families.
“I thank you all for your support in various ways and for standing by me. I am indeed very proud of you all,” he said.
