By Ovie Okpare
The remains of prominent Itsekiri leader and former commissioner representing Delta State in the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), Chief Isaac Jemide, has been interred.
Chief Jemide, a renowned lawyer and receipt of the prestigious Papal Knight award, passed on Dec. 12, 2021 in Warri, Delta State at 88.
However, dignitaries from across the country on Friday paid their last respect to the late Itsekiri politician at a church service held in his honour.
Among top dignitaries at the Funeral Service at St. Cyprian Catholic Church, Effurun near Warri, included Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, former governors James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, Deputy Governor of Delta, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro and former Minister of Information, Professor Sam Oyovbaire.
Speaking at the funeral service, Governor Okowa described the deceased as a courageous man who spoke truth to power at all times.
The governor stated that the late Jemide was an embodiment of honesty, diligence and upright leader who contributed to the development of his Itsekiri people, Deltans and Nigerians in general.
He, therefore, charged Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of humility, honesty, diligence and integrity in the discharge of their duties for which the late octogenarian was known for.
“He was a man I didn’t meet so frequently. But the few times I met him, I truly fell in love with him because he was a man of strength on the inside.
“Though very humble, he was a man that was very courageous and spoke truth to power at all times. And those are the kind of people that can shape a nation and a community.
“A song writer said ‘when we are gone, we would only be remembered by the things we have done and I do know that he has impacted very strongly on our society, the Itsekiri nation and Delta state as a whole, because he was truly a leader.
“In the church, he played his role and rose to become a Papal Knight. Not so many people get to that level and I know that he was a very strong voice for the Itsekiri nation that we must continue to appreciate”, Governor Okowa noted.
Earlier in his homily, Rev. Fr. Peter Medugu, admonished Christians not to be afraid of death if they live right as death was a gateway to eternity.
The cleric said man should learn to live right and see life as a preparation for eternity.
While describing the late Jemide as a great community leader and an epitome of humility, the priest said man could accomplish anything with humility.
