•Says, we lost selfless mum

…She was mother-in-a-million –First Lady

From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described his late mother-in-law, Mrs. Charity Oba, popularly called Sisi Mama, as a woman with rare attributes who was willing to share the little she had with everybody. She died in a motor accident last Monday.

He paid the tributes when Vice President Namadi Sambo led members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to condole with the President and First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan over the death of her mother. President Jonathan, who said the family had been deeply pained since the news of her death was broken to them, said his mother-in-law was dear to them and was responsible for upbringing the First Lady.

While thanking Sambo and FEC members for the visit, he said though Mrs. Oba was gone, they will be able to pull through with the support of friends and family, asking for more prayers for the bereaved family to pull through this difficult time. “ I welcome you for finding time to pay this condolence visit.

We appreciate your concern and commitment. Our mother that died is quite dear to us not just today that we are playing politics. The First Lady stayed with her till she grew up.

This lady never complained and even for me as an in-law, I was free with her, she shared with she had. She used her savings from trade to support us. It is very difficult to have somebody with such rare attributes.
“That is why when we heard about the death, we were very pained. So that is the trauma we have been passing through and we thank you for coming to commiserate with us.

Even if she is gone we have friends to comfort us to enable us bear this loss. You will be duly informed about the burial plans. We crave for your continuous prayers to enable us bear the loss,” the President said. Earlier, Vice President Sambo said, as members of one family in the FEC, they were particularly saddened by the death of the mother of the First Lady, and they share in the grief of the first family.

He said: “Your Excellency, we came to console you on the death of our mother and we pray for her soul to rest in peace. We will continue to pray that God grant her eternal peace. We pray God to give you the fortitude to bear the loss.

It is sad for all of us because we are part of the family and we share in your grief. We pray God to give her peace in eternity,” Sambo said. The Chaplain of Aso Villa, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba, led the prayers for the repose of the late Mrs. Oba’s soul.

Meanwhile, Dame Jonathan has paid glowing tributes to her late mother, stating that she was “a mother in a million, who was a devout Christian.”

Mrs. Jonathan recalled that the late Mrs Oba, who was the younger sister of her biological mother, had raised her from a tender age and made her the person who she is today. The First Lady, who was being consoled by her mother-in-law, Mrs. Eunice Jonathan, remarked philosophically that “God knows best.”, when sympathizers including former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Anthony Anenih and some top aides visited the first family.

The residence of the first family has become a Mecca of sort since the First Lady, returned to the country on Wednesday night. Some delegations that have visited include those of Rivers and Bayelsa states. The First Lady also received some governors who commiserated with her over the death of her mother.

Speaking on behalf of the governors, Dr. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, urged Mrs. Jonathan to take heart, while offering the deep condolences of the PDP family to the First Lady and her extended family.

Responding, Mrs Jonathan thanked the governors for their prayers and concern. Governors who have visited include those of Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Kogi, Katsina and Enugu states.

Also present were ministers, heads of government agencies, wives of top government officials as well as Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigerian ambassador to Spain.

Culled from Mp3bullet.com