Children need to rededicate themselves to caring for their parents while they’re still alive – Senatorial C

By Jimoh Sulyman

The Kwara Central senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has urged children especially the youths to embrace filial piety by rededicating themselves to taking care of their parents before they exit the world.

Abdullahi said this during the one year anniversary prayer he organized in memory of his late Mother Alhaja Rafat Ajeigbe Abdullahi , held at Olunlade area of Ilorin on Thursday.

He noted that the young should do all their possible best to take care of their parents while they’re still alive because there would be a time they would wish they had done more but it would be too late.

“Some of us have lost our mothers, what I tell young people is that they should take care of their mothers because most of us wished we could have done more because everyday we miss them and we keep seeing moments that remind us that we could have done more.

 “When you take care of your mother, because we’ll realize that no matter how old ones parents are, you would sometimes forget that they’re mortals and that they will go one day.

“They will call you sometime, you will be groaning but later you would wish they can call you 20 times a day but that won’t be possible, I think everyone should rededicate themselves to taking care of their parents.” He said.

Fondly known as Omoluabi among his teeming supporters, Bolaji shared exclusively with our reporter One his fondest memories of his late mother.

He said, “I don’t have a moment I can call my fondest memory of her, I have a lot of fond memories of her, I mean a mother to a child, there has to be a lot of remarkable moments but the one I’m about to share is not even the most remarkable.

“I remember those days when I was in the University of Lagos, I had this small box that contain my books under my bed and the house next to ours caught fire, then everybody was rushing out because the fire was spreading so everyone had to run for safety including my mother.

“All of a sudden she remembered that I have a box that contains my books, she ran back into the house, shouting, “Iwe Gani, Iwe Gani”(Gani’s books, Gani’s books) and people were screaming after her, she didn’t mind them, she ran into my room and dragged the box after her.

“Eventually the fire didn’t get to our house but if the fire had got to house, she would have still saved the box and from that day, I started collecting books which I dedicated to her.

“Today I have one of the biggest private books collection in this state of not this country and it all started with that small box, how would I ever forget that, this is a woman that didn’t attend school but she knew that whatever that is in that box were important to me.” Omoluabi stated.

Family, friends and associates gather to remember and offer prayers for the repose of the soul the late Alhaja Rafat Ajeigbe Abdullahi during her one year remembrance.

Notable faces seen at the prayer include the Managing Director and editor-in-chief of National Pilot newspaper, Alhaji Billy Adedamola; General manager of SBS FM, Alhaji Mas’ud Adebimpe; ex Council chairman of Ilorin west LG, Alhaji Sulu Oloje among others.

The prayer was led by Sheikh Alaye Anifowoshe along with Sheikh Folorunsho Erubu.

Anifowoshe in his remark said that, it is important for those that are still alive to offer prayers for the respite of the departed souls, adding that, the dead often see the affairs of those still alive but the only way those alive can see them is through the dream.

The cleric also prayed for former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for his gesture towards Abdullahi ,beseeching Allah to guide the political juggernaut aright in his political journey.

Anifowoshe also prayed for success in Omoluabi’s senatorial bid come 2023.

Erubu in his own statement admonish people to be conscious of the certainty of death and they should amend their way for good.