From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and the Member representing the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Fred Agbedi, have urged Nigerians to make necessary sacrifices to touch lives amidst difficult times and uncertainties in the country.
The duo spoke while delivering tributes as part of funeral activities in honour of late Chief Clement Ligha, an uncle to the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei in Ekeremor Town, headquarters of Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state, over the weekend.
They eulogized the deceased, who was the father to the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Bayelsa Medical University, BMU, Prof. Aloysius Ligha, as a man of impeccable character and promoter of education that contributed to the development of Ekeremor and humanity in general.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor opined that the essence of living is to create value, stressing that everyone alive should be able to positively touch the lives of others in one way or the other before death.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, however, particularly urged the well-to-do in society to look beyond their immediate families, emphasizing that a life lived without making positive impact on others, is only miserable and meaningless.
The Deputy Governor, who recounted late Chief Ligha’s contribution to the education of Hon. Christopher Enai, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei and several others, encouraged the bereaved family and the entire people of Ekeremor not to mourn, but to celebrate the deceased octogenarian for leaving behind a legacy life that has become shining example of selfless service and development.
His words: “When we come for a funeral like this, I always insist that people should not be carried away because the takeaways they get. Rather should study the life of the man or woman they have come to celebrate, because in every biography, there is a clear message conveyed. From his biography, I am happy that Pa Ligha made impact in life.
“What we are in life only make meaning when we impact the lives of others. When we don’t impact the lives of others, we are as miserable as misery itself
“And so, we are happy that our father whom we have come to lay to rest today (Saturday ) touched lives beyond his immediate family. We have all heard how he trained Honourable Christopher Enai, and my Deputy Chief of Staff, Gowon Toruyouyei, who are not his direct biological children.”
Also speaking, Chief Fred Agbedi, paid glowing tributes to late Ligha, pointing out that while the deceased lived, he made remarkable contributions to the development of Ekeremor LGA and Bayelsa State at large.
Chief Agbedi, remarked that to have a Professor who is a deputy vice chancellor, among his children in his lifetime, speaks volumes of the good legacy Pa Ligha had bequeathed to his family, and called on the children to sustain the legacy.
In his vote of thanks on behalf of the Ligha family, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor’s Office, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei, appreciated everyone who sacrificed time and resources to support and identify with the family.
Gowon Toruyouyei particularly thanked his boss, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, for the unparalleled support he offered to give the departed patriarch a befitting burial, and prayed God to reward everyone who had contributed to the success of the funeral.
Earlier in a welcome address, the first son of the deceased, Professor Ligha Aloysius Ebi, who is Deputy Vice Chancellor at the Bayelsa Medical University, also expressed gratitude to everyone for their material, moral and financial support and prayed God to reward them accordingly.
The late Chief Clement Samuel Ligha, who died at the age of 89, had served as a principal in several schools, and later appointed education secretary in Ekeremor LGA in 2000, where he recruited and mentored hundreds of teachers.
The late Chief Ligha also played a paternal role in the lives of three notable foster children whom he raised up like his own biological sons, namely Hon. Christopher Enai, a one-time Chairman of Ekeremor LGA and former Member of the House Representatives; Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei, a retired Permanent Secretary and currently, Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Governor’s Office, and Frederick Tua, an Assistant Inspector General of Police.
