Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, have paid glowing tributes to the late Chief Jacob Obua.

The 92-year-old father of the Ogbia Federal Constituency member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Fred Obua, was laid to rest on Saturday in his Emeyal 2 community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Speaking during a commendation service at the St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Emeyal 2, former President Jonathan said the late Pa Obua lived a fulfilled life and as such the family had reasons to celebrate and not mourn their departed patriarch.

He said those alive should learn to leave a worthy legacy so that they can be remembered on the positive side of history when they are gone.

Dr. Jonathan praised his selfless service to humanity and urged his family and friends to sustain his legacy.

He said: “We are here because our father has left us. People came from Abuja and other parts of the country to celebrate his death. Yes, death is a sad event but for this our father, we are celebrating. He withstood 92 winters, which is not easy. These days even to live one year is a problem.

“It is still sad that we lost such a person. But we are happy that he was able to produce nine children, 35 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. That means he replaced himself very well.”

In his remarks, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, urged the Obua family to take solace in the good life lived by their departed father.

Hon. Gbajabiamila, who was represented by Hon. Gideon Wani, thanked Hon. Obua and people of the state for the warm reception accorded the Reps members, saying the occasion was also an opportunity to build friendship.

Also speaking, Governor Douye Diri described the late Obua as a blessing that impacted positively on society.

He noted that the blessing of long life the late Obua enjoyed was as a result of his selfless lifestyle, which virtually everybody that came in contact with him benefited from.

Governor Diri urged the Obua family to be strengthened by the legacies of their father and strive to sustain them.

He stressed the need for Bayelsans to exude love at all times, saying that it was the only way the state could move forward.

His words: “We came to celebrate the life and times of a man who impacted and contributed in his own way to community service, to the service of his people, to the service of his state and to the old Rivers State.

“We all gathered here to bid him farewell and to tell ourselves that life is about adding value to your community, to your local government, to your state and to your country.”

In his vote of thanks, Hon. Obua thanked those that supported them to ensure the success of the burial, saying the family was strengthened by the show of love.

•PHOTO: L-R; Ex-President Jonathan, Governor Diri and other dignitaries singing during the commendation service for late Chief Jacob Obua … on Saturday at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Emeyal 2, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State

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