Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, said his relationship with his late mother was very healthy and cordial.
Agba said on the occasion of the tenth year remembrance of his late mother, Dame Philomina Fatima Ikhanade-Agba, that she was a mother to reckon with.
Read him: “But I believe Heaven needed her most than we needed her. She was not just kindhearted but her generosity while she was alive could not be overemphasized.
“She was a symbol of kindness and very religious. She was a great philanthropist who lived an exemplary life and her great inspiration to many including my siblings and I especially was extraordinary.”
He said his mother touched so many lives positively before her demise on November 29, 2012.
Rtn. Simon Ogie said Dame Philomina Fatima Ikhanade-Agba, was a very religious and great philanthropist whose life was a great inspiration and a symbol of kindness to many.
Ogie said that the Minister, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba “who is touching the lives of many positively within the state and Nigeria at large, and who is commonly described as the uncommon minister is a replicate of her good heart.”
According to Victor Oshioke, a childhood friend of the Hon. Minister, “Mama was an exceptionally good woman who gave all of us the same care and attention she gave to her biological children.
“When she was alive, there was no time I visited her son Clem that mama would not insist that I eat something.
“Whenever I claimed that I was full, she would still give me fresh or dry fish pepper soup to eat, which was always so delicious. It all seems like yesterday. We miss her greatly and pray that her soul continue to rest in peace.”
For Ignatius Aigbokhaode who grew up in the same neighborhood with the Hon. Minister, he exclaimed:“Oh oh. How time flies? Our Mama was an epitome of motherhood. She was a good mother to us all that grew up around Idonije, Egbeadokhai and Inu Umoru street in Auchi.
“May her soul continually rest in perfect peace. Amen”
Dr Philip Ugbodaga also exclaimed: “Already 10 years! May her soul continue to rest in peace. She must be looking down on all her children with pride and admiration seeing the progress they have all made in their various endeavors.”
Habibah Oyarekhua, a journalist, expressed surprise that it was already 10 years, recalling how she covered the funeral ceremonies then.
She prayed for the continued peaceful rest of her soul.
Ben Oshioke, another childhood friend of Clem Agba wrote ”Today, like always, since her departure 10 years ago, we remember Mama, a pious, kind and devoted mother who lived an exemplary life of service to God and humanity. We are forever grateful to God for giving us the opportunity to have her as a mother and comforted with the knowledge that she will forever live in our hearts.”
Perhaps the most touching tribute came from Dr (Mrs) Rosemary Oshiomah-Ogedengbe, a niece to the late Dame Philomina Ikhanade-Agba who grew up under her tutelage.
She wrote: ”I have been able to come this far largely because of the values you taught me by the way you lived. By your life, you taught me that a woman can pay her own bills, raise her children and become whatever she aspires to be through hard work.
“You may have been gone since 10 years but you live on because I see you in my life as I continue to enjoy the beautiful rewards of the values with which you empowered me.
“An angel and a beautiful woman, a lover of children. My aunt and role model. You taught me by your actions that nothing is good enough in exchange for a woman ‘s body.
“Several times, you warned our customers to stop coming to the restaurant because you suspected they were coming to “toast” me.
“Unlike most other parents or guardians, you would rather lose your business than “trade” with me. It is impossible to say all the positive things you stood for in one day. Rest on mama” (report edited and adapted from afemaiworldview.com.ng)
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