…..As burial rites of her adopted mother begins in Ikere-Ekiti
From Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
The First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has advocated good care for the elderly by relatives and well meaning people in the State. She advised residents not to look away from the conditions of old people in the state.
Erelu Fayemi stated this in Ikere-Ekiti at a brief ceremony to commence the burial rites for her adopted mother, Princess Jolaade Rachael Osho, who passed away on Monday at the age of 110 years.
Mama Osho was one of the beneficiaries of the monthly food bank programme for elderly citizens in the state tagged : “Ounje Arugbo”, an initiative of the Office of the First Lady in Ekiti.
READ ALSO:http://Buhari, Jonathan meet in Aso Rock
Erelu Fayemi advised relatives and people in the state to make deliberate efforts at caring for the aged in the society, adding that age is usually responsible for their fragile nature, hence, the need for the society and relatives to support and provide succour for them.
She frowned at the idea of avoiding old people and tagging them with negative names, citing Mama Osho’s story as an example.She said: ” l celebrate the passing of my adopted mother, Princess Rachael Jolaade Osho. Mama lived a very long life and a fulfilled ending.” Erelu Fayemi said: “Mama Osho was singled out during the verification exercise for ‘Ounje Arugbo’ in Ikere-Ekiti. Mama was found living in a very poor condition which nobody pray for, we took her and cared for her until her last day on earth. Mama died with a song in her mouth.”
The First Lady advised that: ” We should be on the lookout for the elderly ones who are in the same condition where mama Osho was found and take care of them, especially those who have nobody to look after them.”
Erelu Fayemi danced along with other women to the family home of Mama Osho with the photograph of the late mother. She was accompanied by the State Woman Leader, Ikere Local Government Chairman and Vice Chair as well as State Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Aare Muyiwa Olumilua.
