Members of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) stole the show, on Saturday, at the burial of former president of the union, Professor Festus Iyayi, who was laid to rest in his hometown of Eguare-Ugbegun, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State.
Virtually all ASUU chapters in universities across the federation were represented at the burial ceremony that was solemn and devoid of fanfare.
Among those who were present at the event were Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State; a member of the Senate Committee on Education, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Attahiru Jega; two former ASUU presidents, Dr Dipo Fashina and Dr Abdullahi Sule-Kano and incumbent ASUU president, Dr Nasir Fagge.
Others who attended the burial included a former vice-chancellor of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Professor Richard Anao; Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Professor Michael Ibadin; Dr Ordia Ofeimun, Dr Ogaga Ifowodo, Dr Osagie Obayuwana and members of UNIBEN academic community.
The body of Professor Iyayi was laid to final rest at about 11a.m. in the presence of his immediate family members and others at the occasion after a short funeral talk that was delivered by a clergyman, Peter Omigie, of the Saint Matthew Catholic Church, Eguare-Ugbegun.
In his homily, the Catholic clergy told those present at the burial to think more of their spiritual destiny and live a godly life “because everything does not end here,” charging members of the Iyayi family and associates not to cry over his death as they had the hope of seeing him again.
“We will on resurrection morning rejoice with him. Living our physical body is not the end of our lives,” he said.
Chairman of the INEC, Professor Atthiru Jega, who spoke with journalists, said the death of Prof Iyayi was a big loss to the nation because of his tremendous sacrifice for the development of the country.
“I worked very closely with Festus Iyayi. He was like a brother to me. He was one of the few Nigerians that I have known, who had tremendous integrity and passion for progress and development of our country. This country has lost a gem,” Jega said.
Speaking at a reception held at the Ugbegun Grammar School, Governor Oshiomhole said the school would be rebuilt and renamed Festus Iyayi Memorial Grammar School. He also said a water scheme would be constructed at Ugbegun and named after the late Festus Iyayi to remind the people who he was and what he fought for.
Oshiomhole said, “Some of the things we can remember about the late Iyayi was his consistency, commitment and doggedness and he paid the ultimate sacrifice. He lived and died in the struggle and, therefore, we can in truth say that the struggle was his life.
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