Letters to the Editor

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NigerianNews
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor 

January, 2012
NigerianNews Letter to the Editor

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January 29, 2012

Tributes to a Beloved Mother

Mrs. Rachel Eréziovo Ogula

By Dr. David Ogula

Ogul1@optonline.net

Mrs. Rachael Eréziovo Ogula, age 90, passed on Monday, September 19, 2011. The following are personal tributes by one of her sons, daughter-in-law and some of her grandchildren.

First, a word or two about all mothers:

 

Our journey on earth begins with a mother; in her we form and draw life

for nine months till she brings us forth. She is the locus of our first life

experiences. She situates us in the family nurtures and lays the foundation

for a rich personal identity.  This foundation gives us the chance to be persons, leaders, professionals, philosophers, wealthy or even presidents. 

Dr. David Ogula, Son:    

Imagine a world without people of character, integrity, and virtue; people who uphold families, communities, and civilized societies; people who are beacons of our moral and spiritual values. Because the traits of such people transcend the narrative and descriptive limitations of language, and labels, the term “hyper virtue” has been adopted as the closest signifier of their superlative attributes. The persona of the hyper virtuous is palpable; it can be felt or beheld. It is an extraordinary blessing to be born by one such person as the locus of my values.

Mama was a woman of hyper virtue who perceived life only in humane terms. Her humanity was defined by an abiding faith in God, selflessness, and boundless love.  Mama’s long-habitual life of selfless service, faith, and loyalty, distinguished her as a hard working woman; a great provider, an innocuous perfectly ordinary human being. She sold groceries, engaged in subsistence farming to support her children and complement her husband. Mama was an embodiment of a mother’s intrinsic and volitional love for her children. She supported us emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, and financially. Mama had a warm, kind, and generous personality, but she was by no means a push over. When confronted with adversity, she stood her ground. She had a brilliant mind that approached conflict with the philosophy that winning the war was more important than wining a battle. “Korokpo Olotu!!!” [Down, but still the champion]. Mama shared her wisdom, mentored young women, comforted the despondent, and gave hope to those in despair. Mama touched and inspired many lives by simply living her life.

Mama signified love in its purest, warmth, in its coziest, and cared from the heart. She gave me a life and legacy of faith, selfless service, sacrifice, and love. It is a privilege to have been born by Rachel Ogula, and I’m profoundly grateful that she gave me the gift of life. 

Like all human journeys, mama’s journey came to an end on September 19, 2011. This dreadful reality stimulated in me the feeling of exposure and vulnerability.  However, I found comfort in Paul’s admonition in Romans 14:7, which reminded me that “. . . both if we live and if we die we belong to Jehovah.” Mama truly lived to Jehovah and we honor her life and legacy, for she has passed on to Jehovah. As a testament to mama’s generosity she cloned herself in Lucia who is an enduring evidence of her love, kindness, and generosity, and Eden who exemplifies her simplicity and authenticity. My deepest thanks to Eden Ogula and Lucia Ayaoge.

I will miss mama dearly but she will always be my inspiration and my pillar of strength. Mama’s life and my memories of her are vivid, profound and eternal. 

 

Vera Ogula, Daughter-in-law:

How do you say goodbye to a woman who loved generously, gave unconditionally, and exemplified a near perfect personality. She was simply as accomplished and graceful a human being as God saw fit to create. Comfortable in her own skin and with her own nature, my mother-in-law was able to open her arms to the world. When her son told her he loved me, well … she did too and accepted me whole-heartedly into her family. Summer 2009 was our last meeting, I took my children from New York USA to see mama in Yenogoa Bayelsa State Nigeria. Her joy was palpable, Powei!, Enitare! She was blissfully happy. That memory will be forever etched in our minds. Mama, you may be gone but your memory will live with us forever.

 

Enitare Ogula, Granddaughter:

Grandchildren can only hope to create a special bond with their grandparents as they do with their parents. Although I did not have as many opportunities of sharing that wonderful bond because I live in the United States, I am grateful that my grandmother gave me one of the best gifts a person can have which is my father. I know my father has the impeccable traits my grandmother displayed, and as an adult, I can only hope to reflect those traits to make them both proud. My brother and I will surely miss our grandma Rachel.