If Agagu’s corpse had been burnt in crash, we wouldn’t have been at burial –Cleric AGAGU ...

Nigerians from all walks of life including President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday gathered to bid farewell to the immediate past governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, as he was committed to mother earth.

Politicians across political parties, administrators, clergymen, academics among others were all present at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Iju-Odo, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The burial service slated for 11 am did not commence until at about 1.45pm , as the corpse did not arrive the church as planned.
It was gathered that the remains, which were supposed to have been brought to the town on Thursday were eventually brought by road from Ondo town where the casket was said to have been changed to a new one following the damage to the earlier one in the plane crash.
The motorcade was however said to have had a hectic time in Ondo, Ore and Okitipupa towns as people of the towns mob the entourage to catch a glimpse of the body of the former governor.
However, immediately the casket bearing the body arrived in a Bell Hearse, the clergymen, who had waited patiently for over three hours for the arrival of the corpse, commenced the service.
The church that is located in the heart of the town could however not contain the people that thronged the premises for the burial as crowd in their hundreds were outside, while some stood on the fence to have access to activities in the church.
Delivering his sermon at the service, the Bishop of the Coast of the Anglican Communion, Right Reverend Joshua Ogunele, admonished Nigerians against acquisition of material wealth.
He noted that none of Agagu’s wealth and properties would be buried with him and thanked God that the corpse of Agagu was not burnt in the plane crash.
He said “ none of his properties will be buried withhim. What remains with him is his faithin Jesus Christ. He was a lucky a man, if his corpse had been burnt yesterday, none of us would be here today.
“If you don’t have time to serve. God but have time to acquire wealth, you will perish one day. Your faith must reach God before you can be recognised by Him. God does not recognise your title. “
Speaking, the president, who was represented by the Minister of Police Affairs, Caleb Olubolade, described Agagu as a pillar of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) and the country in general.
Jonathan described the late Agagu as intellectual of great commitment and a man of honour.
He noted that Agagu contributed immensely to the development of the state as a governor saying the Party, the people of the state, and the nation as a whole will miss him
He commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the Thursday plane crash in Lagos and prayed for the deposed soul of the departed soul.
The service was attended by dignitaries like former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Gbenga Daniel, Segun Oni, Adebayo Alao-Akala, Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, former Chief of Naval Staff, Akin Aduwo, the Group Managing Director of Global Fleet, Jimoh Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, the family of the late governor on Friday symphatised with the victims of the plane crash that occurred in Lagos on Thursday.
The family in a statement signed by the junior brother of the late governor, Mr. Femi Agagu said, “ the family of the late Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, even in its own bereavement, deeply mourns the death of all those who lost their lives in the ill-fated plane crash which occured when Dr. Agagu’s body was being taken home for burial.
“In deference to all the families who are in bereavement, and out of respect for the memory of the departed, the Agagu family has decided to scale down the details of the funeral to its bearest and basic minimum.
“Accordingly, the funeral will now be a private family affair, shorn of all the pomp and pageantry of a State funeral.
It is also instructive to note that the traditional Christian wake was entirely cancelled yesterday.
“The Agagu family deeply commiserates with all the bereaved families and prays fervently for the repose of the souls of all the departed, even as the family continues to remain in close contact with all the families affected by this tragedy”.
His lying state was aborted by the plane crash on Thursday.