society
By Paul Ukpabio
NIGERIANS from all works of life, defied Thursday rain to be at Grailland in Iju, Lagos to pay their last respect to late Tony Momoh, former minister of information and culture, who died on Ist February 2021 at the age of 81.
Despite the strict protocol put together by officials at Grailland to restrict crowding of persons, the usual quiet and serene, flower festooned acres of land that makes up Grailland, was besieged by family members and well-wishers of the deceased, who deemed it honourable to witness first-hand, the burial of the great man.
“Tony Momoh was different things to different people,” said his son Abdulrasheed Momoh, “I am not surprised that so many people came out today to honour him. The other day, I marveled when I saw streams of students from different schools coming to render their condolence on the loss of our father. I just shook my head. You see all these days it had been sunny even till this afternoon. Then suddenly it started raining. That is the sign that he was a good man. It is a rain of blessings,” he said.
Abdulrasheed recalled how his father used to take care of different people and groups when he was alive.
“My dad used to keep money at home for people who were in need, despite the fact that he didn’t have much himself. When they came, he usually had something for everyone. Many will miss him. I miss him too. But I know that his going away, is just a transition.”
Philip Shaibu, the Deputy Governor of Edo state, who was also at Grailland, had glowing words for late Tony Momoh.
“He was a good man, a man of letters. I recall that if you invited him to present a lecture, Tony Momoh will get there early with a clean lecture ready for presentation and photocopies for everyone. He was always a reliable person.”
Marian Immaculate Momoh, a granddaughter of late Tony Momoh also spoke well of her grandfather. “We will all miss him,” she said repeatedly.
Ebenezer Oyetakin, Activist and executive director at Corruption Network said that late Tony Momoh was very much loved by social activists because “he stood by his word”.
A calm, smiling Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State was also notably at Grailland along with other dignitaries.
The sky had turned dark grey as the rain continued to pour down. And soon the massive bell at Grailland rang, and all paths suddenly led to the massive temple on the hills of Grailland. We walked in the windy rain solemnly towards the temple for the funeral worship.
It turned out to be a solemn worship with men in suit, or full traditional attire, while the ladies were in white, with white gloves. However, visitors, family members and well-wishers who didn’t know about the protocol at Grailland, and who wore conflicting clothing, were not allowed to go into the temple.
For those, who did not meet up with the strict protocol, they were allowed to remain at the collection point, which like every other place at Grailland had a peaceful atmosphere.
The entire atmosphere at Grailland was serene despite the crowd that was there and the flowers and trees embraced you as if to keep you company within the loneliness you feel.
The formal worship commenced and you could hear the sound of a pin drop in the wholesome quiet! The cross bearers as worshippers at Grailland are called, were there as seekers! No pastor, no Reverend father. You perhaps could have been standing or sitting next to the one who would lead the worship, while at the collection point before going into the temple.
A solemn worship in which a new seeker could only but observe! But the spiritually of the moment was not lost on anyone.
An hour passed and the funeral worship was over.
In a procession, the hearse rolled away to the graveside, followed by the ladies and then the men, the body of former federal minister of information and culture, Man of letters, Father and Grandfather of many, Patron of many clubs and associations was taken to the graveside, at a cemetery in Grailland, where it found a final resting place.
-Feb, 12, 2021, @ 11am
Tags: Tony Momoh laid to rest at Grailland
