The family of late Obadiah Mailafia said they had yet to overcome the shock of his death one year after.
Speaking at the inaugural lecture series and announcement of the Obadiah Mailafia Foundation and forthcoming memorial service, the wife of the late politician, Margaret Mailafiya said the family was yet to assimilate his death and at a loss on how to mourn him.
Mailafia, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and 2019 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress party died last year September 19, 2021, at the Gwagwalada General Hospital under some controversial circumstances.
Margaret said the family was launching the foundation in memory of her late husband.
She said she had already sought for the blessing and advice from elder statesmen, Edwin Clarke, and Dan Suleiman.
“This time last year, I was not like this, and even one year after the demise of my husband who was my pillar, brother, colleague, adviser and the best father to our children, we are still in shock and still do not know how to mourn him.
“His legacies live on and are worthy of emulation,” she said.
In his speech, the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said documentation of the lectures and speeches of Mailafia will empower all, especially the nation’s teeming youthful population.
Mustapha, who was represented by the permanent secretary, Jeff Sule, said “We celebrate the deceased as a shining star in the history of this nation. Surely, we cannot allow all these good works to end because Obadiah is not here with us anymore, so launching this foundation in his honour today is a huge step in the right direction.
“As you are aware, foundations all over the world are known to help in advancing causes, organisations and programmes which are laudable initiatives, a vision the departed would love to be remembered for.
“I am particularly excited that the Obadiah Foundation has been conceived by the family to document his public lecture notes, promote and propagate the vision, ideas, views and values that the deceased held most dear to his heart.
“I believe the foundation will empower all, especially our teeming youth to maximize the opportunity of inculcating the values of good governance through our collective efforts to enable them succeed in a global economy and for citizenship in a complex world.”
In the inaugural lecture titled “Dr. Mailafiya’s life, legacy and lessons to Nigerians” the brother to the late politician, Luka Mailafia said his late brother had planted a seed in the hearts of several people and the seeds will germinate into many Mailafia.
He said the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria was prophetic in most of his statements and several of them have happened and are still evolving.
“He was a voice for the masses. He was prophetic in most of his statements. Most of the things he said actually happened. So I believe it’s a situation where I believe we actually as citizens of this country should be concerned about.
“I believe he lives on because he has set a vision and his spirit lives. By what has happened, so many Mailafia will spring up it’s just a situation where a seed is been planted and that seed will germinate” he said.
