One of the cardinal injunctions of Christianity is to always give thanks — in moments of trouble, in moments of woe, in moments of death. Perhaps, these words strum softly at the heart of respected cardinal, politician and social high-flier, Cardinal James Omolaja Odumbaku.
Even as tears fight for space with vision, songs of praise with wails of sorrow, and gratitude with grief.
The eminent Man of God and Manager of Men is, at the moment, simply a man distraught. His much-loved mother has become his much-missed mum. She has spread her wings and flown the world’s nest. She has gone to join the convocation of the immortals.
Madam Jimaima Ajike Odunmbaku, neé Dasaolu has gone to join her ancestors, throwing her descendants into a state of mourning. Which of her numerous children, grandchildren and great grandchildren did not love her, and will not miss her? Which of them will not cry for her?
And what better way to leave than in her sleep. Madam Ajike departed this earth the same way she lived on it — peacefully. On the night of Friday, December 19, she closed her eyes for the final time, having painted a masterful portrait of womanhood and motherhood for almost a century. She was 95.
Duringg the final years of her life, it could be said Madam Ajike was as ripe in wisdom as in age. One needed only look at her pride and joy, Cardinal James Omolaja Odunmbaku, the Visioner/President, Christ Ambassador Soul Winners Ministries Int’l, for the point to hit home. She taught him everything from an early age, nurtured the dedicated man, the generous hand, the tranquil spirit, the visionary mind.
Little wonder the news hit him like an arrow would a distracted soldier on a medieval battlefield. Deadly in its accuracy and deadly in its pain. Baba Eto, as the grassroots mobilizer is popularly known, is still trying to come to terms with the sudden hole in his heart. The Odunmbaku home lies sombre, like a lone, silent house in a ghost town.
All in all the MD/CEO of Highway Managers Ltd and the rest of the Odunmbaku clan are getting ready to give the matriarch of the family the send-off she richly deserves. For now, funeral arrangements are still being figured out and will be made known to the public in due course.