By Odimayo Olatunde Fredrick
It was a thing of joy as crème de la crème gathered in Lokoja the Kogi State capital to celebrate the 60th birthday of the wife of the lawmaker representing Ogori/Magongo State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly Princess Yemisi Ogunmola.
Princess Ogunmola who recently retired from the Federal Civil Service as a Director thanked God almighty for making her to see this glorious day.
The highly elated Princess Ogunmola disclosed that since she was born, She has the desired to work for the people and serve God till her last breath on earth.
Princess Ogunmola, while thanking her husband for the love shown to her since they both tied the knot averred that, She married the Man of her dream who have contributed positively for her success in life.
The celebrant who is prominently known for her hospitality and service to humanity said “I feel very elated and grateful to God. It has been God all the way that I have been able to overcome all the obstacles in life. God has been my strength and my helper. I must say a big thank to my husband who is my friend. He is my everything. My husband has been my friend before he became my lover. I always admire him before he became my lover. He is somebody I can tell anything and get away with it. He is every Woman dream”.
Speaking on the auspicious occasion, the member representing Ogori Magongo State Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly Hon Bode Ogunmola described his wife as the pillar of his family and the world.
His words” Honestly speaking, I am a happy Man because it is happening in my presence and by the grace of God she will have long life and good health. We have come of long way and she has been the Woman that keeps my family Strong till this moment”.
The serving lawmaker, who spoke on the the way to move the Country forward in view of the societal ills in the Country wants Nigerians to believe in God for things to get better.
“My wife is a Catholic and I am an Anglican. The fear of God is the ultimate. If you trust God, honestly, you will succeed. My advice for Nigerians is to do the right thing. Cutting corners is not the way out. What goes around comes around. By the grace of God, don’t believe in cutting corners. Hard Work pays. It might not be immediate. Whatever it is, let us trust in God and do your best. God will crown it all” he added.
In his speech, Fr. Philip Ogirima Ogori of St. Andrews Parish Ogori who was represented by Fr Osheidu Gabriel Afote of St Theresa Parish Ganaja eulogized the celebrant for her good work in the Country adding that, there is need for Nigerians to emulate the celebrant Godly life style.
Representatives of the National Population Commission, (NPC) where the celebrant worked before She retired noted that, Hon.. Yemisi is a wonderful colleague who has been up and doing in her job.
They all emphacized that, the celebrant is a peace loving individual who is very supportive towards the development of the Commission.
The organization maintained that, the celebrant is very honest and transparent in all her dealings adding that, her simplicit life is worthy of emulation.
“Yemisi is a very blunt person. She does not hold anybody in mind. We are all proud of her. We at the National Population Commission is admonishing Nigerians to emulate this good virtues of this Woman who have contributed immensely for the development of our great Country Nigeria”.
On her part, Mrs. Josephine Ayu, wife to the former national Chairman, People Democratic Party, (PDP) who is a younger sister to Hon. Yemisi Ogunmola described the celebrant as wonderful and loving.
Continuing, Mrs. Ayu said “She is the one that holds our family together. She is a goal getter. If you want something done and wants it to be perfect, you can rely on Yemisi and forget about it. One of her quality that I admired most which I want to take away is her ability to put people together.
“She has this ability to put people together. If you go to her house, she don’t have a biological grand child, but many children are called her grand children. If you go to her family, especially, her house, the love that radiates is a function of how she treats people. She doesn’t differentiate. She has an ability to put people together. That is one of her quality i admire.
Mrs Ayu admonished Nigerians to inbibe the culture of loving one another. “Always be your brothers keeper wherever you finds your self. That is what Yemisi has exemplified wherever she finds herself. She has friends from the north, south east and west. Wherever she goes, she is comfortable. I think is a spirit if we imbibes, Nigeria will be better for it”.
A former Chairan, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kogi State Chapter, Emmanuel Bolaji Boro JP described the celebrant as a Mother whose impact on the family can not be over emphacized.
Boro posited that, “She came in as wife to our family some years back. As at today, she has become a mother and a sister because she brought in positive locks unto us. For instance, in her place, she delve into politics briefly, and became a honourable commissioner in this state. After that, she went back to her work. She is a very hardworking and accommodating woman. This are some of the quality that has been exposing her to the good things in life. We are all proud of him”.
He advised Nigerians to be positive in whatever they are doing.” We must always try to carry people along because prayers works alot. Saying God bless you that we take simple is not that simple. I want to believe that the prayer of people she touched their lives also contributed to ths progress she has recorded so far.
The immediate elder brother of the celebrant Edward Lawani who showered encomium on the celebrant noted that Princess Yemi is the engine room of their family adding that, She keeps piloting the affair of the family for good.
“She coordinates everything including the family. She is the engine room of our family. Her life style is very simple. She is a very serious person who doesn’t take anything for granted. She is God fearing and very social to the core. I must tell Nigerians that she is a very accomplished Woman. My advice is for Women to respect their husband, do everything well and fear God. This are the attribute I know Princess Yemisi is having at the moment” he stated.