Olusegun Obasanjo gives kudos to late father-in-law, Abebe

The father-in-law of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Christopher Abebe, was on Friday buried in his hometown, Iruekpen, in Esan West Local Government Area of Edo.

The late Abebe, who died on March 22 at the age of 99, was the father of a former First Lady, Mrs Stella Obasanjo.

Present at the ceremony were Obasanjo, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo and his Oyo State counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi, who was accompanied by his wife, Florence.

Others included the senator representing Edo Central, Clifford Ordia; the member representing Esan North-East/Esan South-East in the House of Representatives, Sergius Ogun; former Edo governor, Sen. Oserheimen Osunbor; and a former chairman of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Dr Felix Ohiwerei.

Obasanjo said that his late father-in-law would be fondly remembered for his courage and submission to God’s will in many strange circumstances.

“I recall how he bore with equanimity the death of my wife, Stella, his daughter, and that of four other of her siblings.

“For anyone at the twilight of his life, these irreparable and calamitous losses would have shattered anybody.

“But papa faced life and soldiered on till he was almost 100 years, remaining focused, patently honest, forthright and down-to-earth and as a great Christian.

“I believe that the Almighty destined my amiable father-in-law to impact generations the way he did,” he said.

The late Abebe served as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Councils of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Calabar, and University of Benin.

He joined the United African Company Nigeria Limited as a young clerk and rose to become the first Nigerian Chairman and Managing Director of the company.

Abebe on his retirement became the first Nigerian chairman of the Nigerian Breweries.

The deceased was also a Papal Knight of the St. Gregory’s and Supreme Knight of St. Mulumba.

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