Posted by From Omon-Julius Onabu in Benin-City on
Fears in certain quarters that relations of late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo in Iruekpen, Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, might raise dust over the decision to bury their daughter outside their homestead, may not be founded afterall.
Fears in certain quarters that relations of late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo in Iruekpen, Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, might raise dust over the decision to bury their daughter outside their homestead, may not be founded afterall.
THISDAY investigation revealed that the community had been so touched by the death of Stella that the least issue that bothered them was where she would be buried.
It is customary among Esan people in Edo State for their departed sons and daughters to be brought back to their ancestral roots for burial unless it was impossible to do so.
Two local elders yesterday at Iruekpen and Eguare, both in Ekpoma, including a chief who wished to remain anonymous said "ensuring that our daughters who passed away is brought home for burial has important advantages."
They said "people, especially those from places unfamiliar with our custom and tradition have learnt to treat our daughters well. Nobody can expect to treat our daughters badly or even kill them and then think they would go scot-free.
"We Esan people receive strangers with open arms and ensure that we treat all strangers well; it fosters love, mutual understanding and partnership between communities, even within Esanland."
However, several other people who spoke with THISDAY maintained that the Iruekpen elders and community are not likely to question the decision to bury Stella in her husband's place in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Also, because her father and patriarch of the Abebe family was himself a respected elder in the community, would not be expected by tradition to watch his biological children being buried.
Some argued that it was an abomination to have an elderly man or woman burying his or her children, so it would be better to save the old man the agony of such experience but the community instead would join the bereaved family to pray and do everything to avert such calamity.
When THISDAY visited the family home of the Chief Christopher Abebe last Sunday, the mournful relatives of Stella and people of Iruekpen and Ekpoma said they were so shocked at the news of their daughter's death that they could hardly believe it was true.