BEVERLY HILLS, April 10, (THEWILL) – Bayelsa State’s Governor Douye Diri and his Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on Saturday, paid glowing tributes to the late Madam Eunice Tasie, whom they described as a champion of causes related to widows.
Mrs. Tasie, who passed on at the age of 71, was the mother of Mrs. Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo, wife of the Bayelsa Deputy Governor.
Dignitaries at the event included: Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, and other state and national lawmakers, including Senator Moses Cleopas (Bayelsa Central) and his Bayelsa West counterpart, Senator Seriake Dickson, who was represented by Chief Fyneman Wilson as well as House of Reps members –Hon. Steve Azaiki and Hon. Fred Obua.
Others were the state Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Konbowei Benson, the state People’s Democratic Party Chairman, Solomon Agwanana, and members of the state cabinet among other top government officials.
Speaking during her funeral at Ibaa community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Diri described the deceased as a virtuous and devout Christian whose invaluable contribution to the development of her family and community could never be quantified.
His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the Governor as saying that her demise came at a time her community needed to tap from her fountain of wisdom.
He stated that the deceased lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation, having championed the cause of women, particularly widows through her religious activities.
Diri, who noted that Bayelsa and Rivers states were one people with a common heritage, said he led a high-powered delegation to pay their last respects to Madam Tasie.
The Governor prayed God to comfort the bereaved family over the demise of their matriarch and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
Also in an interview with journalists, the Deputy Governor described his mother-in-law’s death as a great loss.
He said death, which was an inevitable end, could come unexpectedly, and urged people to live exemplary lives.
Ewhrudjakpo expressed delight that his wife had positive attributes of her mother, which impacted positively on their union.
In her tribute, Mrs. Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo, the first daughter, described her mother as a role model to women.
Mrs. Ewhrudjakpo also said Mama was a source of inspiration to her educational pursuit and marital life, describing her passage as a hard blow.
In his sermon titled: “Escape for Judgement Is At Hand,” Venerable Eugene Nicholas encouraged people to turn to God in all situations as there would be no hiding place for evildoers on the Day of Judgement.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
