Eminent Nigerians on Friday thronged Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State, hometown of the late Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye, to pay him their last respect.
Afuye, who died on October 19 at the age of 66 years, was buried in the town after a funeral service at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Oke’kere, Ikere Ekiti on Friday amid tears and wailing as the eminent Nigerians paid tributes to the departed lawyer, lawmaker and politician.
Among dignitaries at the service which had in attendance, Afuye’s widow, Titilayo, and children were Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji; his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, represented by his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa; former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, and his wife, Bisi.
Others were Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Niyi Adebayo; Minister of Science and Technology, Senator Olorunnibe Mamora; and National Assembly members – Senators Opeyemi Bamidele and Olubunmi Adetumbi.
Also at the service were former National Assembly members Senators Dayo Adeyeye and Ayo Arise; House of Representatives member, Femi Bamisile; former Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Tale Omole, members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, politicians and the academia, among others.
The Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Anglican Communion, Olusola Ajayi, in his sermon, urged Nigerian leaders to reflect on the fact that “it is not the number of years you lived that matters, but how you lived it and who exactly you are when you are on earth.
“Hon Funminiyi Afuye didn’t live long, but he was positively impactful. As a politician, he started from the lower cadre and rose to become a lawmaker and Right Honourable Speaker,” he said as he charged those in attendance “ask yourself today; how are you living your life? It is better you change your ways for you to make heaven”.
