Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on Nigerians to pray for his mother, Eunice Jonathan, who lost eight of her children.
The ex-president made the call on Friday during the funeral service of his elder sister, Obebhatein Jonthan, at the Dame Patience Jonathan Square.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has penned an emotional tribute to his late elder sister, Obebhatein Jonathan, who died on 11 January 2024 at the age of 70yrs, after a brief illness.
In a tribute published in the funeral brochure presented at last Friday’s burial ceremonies in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Jonathan described the death of her only surviving sibling from his aged mother as traumatising. In the two-page tribute, the former President also noted that he shared a special bond with his late elder sister, adding that he would continue to carry on her legacy with honour.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he received the news of the death of his elder sister, Madam Obebhatein Jonathan, while he was in London, adding that the death of Obebhatein traumatised her mum.
He stated this at her funeral at Otuoke in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Friday.
Jonathan noted that Madam Obebhatein, who died at 70 on January 11 2024, was his only surviving sibling from his aged mother, Mama Eunice Afeni-Jonathan.
He said his sister left at a time when a huge gathering of high-profile personalities from all over the country could come to Otuoke to pay their respects, adding that the sad part was that it was her aged mother who was mourning her.
The former president, therefore, called on the clergy and all people of goodwill not to relent in their prayers for his traumatised mother, himself and the entire members of the Jonathan family.
Jonathan said, “Death, as they say, is something we all pass through. But the time it comes also matters. Yes, we will all die womeday but the time matters.
“My elder sister died at a time that we can gather these celebrities to celebrate her, but that our mother is to mourn her is the nasty aspect of the whole thing.
Jonathan, now the only surviving son of his mother, urged Nigerians to pray for his mother, saying that since the death of his sister, the woman had not been the same again.
He thanked Nigerians who came for the burial.
On his part, Dogood Qkpufu, second son of the deceased, urged women to emulate his mother.
He recalled that his mother was determined to be a graduate and achieved that which qualified her to be a teacher.
Also, Omonibele Azibanyeluan, daughter of the late Obebhatein, said that her mother led a simple life and was generous.
“She was a good woman, peaceful, patient and God-fearing,”she said.
