Eminent Nigerians flocked Ikere Ekiti, in Ekiti State, on Friday to pay their last respects to the late Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye.
Afuye, who died on October 19 at the age of 66, was buried in the town following a funeral service at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Oke’kere, Ikere Ekiti on Friday amid tears and wailing as eminent Nigerians paid tribute to the late lawyer, lawmaker, and politician.
Among those in attendance at the service were Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji; his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu, represented by his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa; and former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
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”.
