On the fourth anniversary of the passage of his wife, Clara, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says he misses her spiritual guidance and intercessions, which were key in building the family and making him a more compassionate person.
Speaking at a Memorial Mass held on Sunday at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Iyamoh, Uzairue, Etsako West Local Government Area, when he led his children and other members of his family to mark the fourth year anniversary of the call to glory of his wife, who died on December 7, 2010, Oshiomhole said his late wife was humble to a fault.
He said: “My late wife was my spiritual guardian.
“When I met her and proposed to her, she said: ‘I know you are a Christian, but are you baptized?’
“I listened to the Bishop talking about the most important title as being the baptism name.
“I realize even the more what she helped me to accomplish by insisting that I must formally get baptized.
“She encouraged me to study catechism, which I needed to be baptized, and I was baptized with the name Eric.
“Coming to this particular church is more than symbolic because Clara’s interest in this church was something I may not be able to describe.
“While she was alive, she was constantly reminding me of the need to support the community to build a church and even as a labour activist, she would always remind me to be certain that we had provision for the church
“I believe in all we have done, what would excite Clara most is the effort that we have all made to build this church to this level and I imagine how she would have felt to begin to worship in this church.”
Governor Oshiomhole stressed that the family agreed to celebrate the anniversary on a low key with thanksgiving and prayer at the church as this is the first time the anniversary would fall on a Sunday.
He added: “We are not arranging any big ceremony.
“We are not inviting the whole world.
“We are not setting up big canopies to do celebration, to dance or are we crying because if Clara were with you and you ask her how she would want to be remembered, I know she would say: ‘Let’s go to church and pray’.”
In a homily, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Dr. Gabriel Dunia, extolled the life and times of Clara Oshiomhole and admonished all Christians to live a holy and righteous life.
Dunia said: “Clara Oshiomhole, during her life time, focused on heavenly things.
“She lived a fulfilled Christian life and that is what Christianity entails.”
Prayers were later offered at the graveside, while her husband laid a wreath.
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