Politics
By Paul Ejime
Friends, colleagues, and well-wishers converged in London on Wednesday 26 July to accompany the family of Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, to pay the last respect and final goodbye to his son Abdel-Fatau Musah Jr, who passed on recently aged 29, after a brief illness.
The solemn programme started with a Requiem Mass at St. Mary’s Willesden London’s Ancient Shrine of our Lady, officiated by the Vicar, Rev. Fr Christopher Phillips SSC, who paid glowing tributes to the deceased, whom he described as “a young man with a great vision and ambition.”
In his homily, Fr Phillips said that while Abdel-Fatau Musah Jr also known as Dovedas, was greatly loved by his family and those who interacted with him on Earth, it was God’s will that he accomplished his dreams in Heaven.
He admonished the attendees, especially Davedos’ parents and his younger brother Michael to take heart for his death was not in vain.
Ambassador Musah and Davedos’ mother, Audrone Sileryte took turns to recall the undying memories of their son’s relatively short but eventful life.
They expressed their profound love, noting that he would never be forgotten.
The Mass was followed by a procession to West London’s Crematorium for interment, and then a reception.
Dignitaries at the occasion included diplomats from the Ghana High Commission, the Guinea Envoy to Britain Ambassador Aly Diallo, Dr Alex Vine, Head of Africa Progamme at the Chatham House, London, Dr Babatunde Ahonsi of the UNDP, Sierra Leone, and Dr. Ikem Chiejine a former UNICEF senior official.
Others were ECOWAS serving and former staff members, including former Commissioner for Finance and Administration, Ada Okwuosa, former Ag Director Florence Iheme and Global Affairs Analyst Paul Ejime.
