Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in company of other top government functionaries, on Tuesday, attended the funeral mass of the wife of the senator representing Oyo Central senatorial district, Senator Teslim Folarin, Barrister Angela Folarin, who passed on last month.
The funeral, held at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ilupeju, Ibadan, also had in attendance the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.
Presided over by the Archbishop of Ibadan Catholic Diocese, Most Rev’d Gabriel Abegunrin, the homily of the funeral mass was delivered by the Dean, North Deanery of the Catholic Church, Diocese of Ibadan, Very Rev’d Father Felix Ethapeme.
Barr Folarin was described as a God-fearing woman, who “contributed immensely to the advancement of the church and the society during her lifetime.”
Rev-Father Ethapeme charged the congregation to be God-fearing, live to serve God, and be exemplary in life towards achieving a better society and at the same time, glorify God, adding that in achieving a better society, parents also have a significant role to play, by raising their children to know God’s love, know God and serve Him only.
He said, “If we do this, we will have our two eyes closed and live in a better society. Let us stand up to our responsibilities as good parents, and train our children very well, so that we can have a society that is devoid of rancour and trouble. We all have a role to play in making Nigeria a better place.”
Barr Folarin, who was also the Yeye Ayingun Olubadan, was given a private interment ataorivate cemetery after the service.
Paying tributes to his late wife, Senator Folarin, said, “I am still in a state of shock and disbelief. But who am I to question Allah, who knows all and owns all? I wish this was just one of your many pranks, wishing you would suddenly call me to say it was all a joke.
“Angie, having you in my life, was my dream come true, all I ever desired. Words cannot describe the emptiness I have felt since you left me and our boys alone in this sinful word. But I take comfort in the belief that we shall again reunite in aljana. I miss a million things in you: your mind, body, advice, encouragement, calls, your meals! I miss everything about you. I forever will.
“We had dreams we prayed to achieve together. I promise not to let go of those dreams. I shall achieve them for you and our boys. They say only the good die in their prime. You were certainly the best of the good. Good night, my darling wife, most loyal friend, co-strategist, pillar of support and caring mother.”
Other Principal officers of the Senate who attended the funeral include: the Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice; Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; Senate Spokesman, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru; the senator representing Ondo Central senatorial district, Senator Ayo Akinyelure; and the senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district, Senator Yakubu Oseni.
Others who graced the funeral service included: Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare; Ouo State Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan; two former deputy governors of the state, Iyiola Oladokun and Moses Adeyemo; and the incumbent Secretary to Oyo State Government, SSG, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun; as well as the Oyo State Head of Service, HoS, Alhaja Ololade Agboola.
Also in attendance at the funeral mass were: former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro; Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, Prof Abiodun Otegbayo; the 2019 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, Chief Bayo Adelabu; and a chieftain of APC in the state, Joseph Tegbe.
