My Late Wife Was My Spiritual Guardian -Gov. Oshiomhole

By Alltimepost.com

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says he misses the spiritual guidance and intercessions of his late wife Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole, which according to him were instrumental in building the family and making him a more compassionate person.

At a Memorial Mass held in her honor on Sunday at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Iyamoh, Uzairue, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, Comrade Oshiomhole said Clara was his spiritual guardian who was humble to a fault.
The Governor led his children and other members of his family to mark the 4-year anniversary of her departure from this world on December 7, 2010.

At the memorial mass, he paid glowing tributes to her, reminiscing on what she meant to him: “My late wife was my spiritual guardian. When I met her and proposed to her, she said, I know you are a Christian, but are you baptized?”

“I listened to the Bishop talking about the most important title as being the baptism name, I realize even the more what she helped me to accomplish by insisting that I must formally get baptized. She encouraged me to study catechism which I needed to be baptized and I was baptized with the name Eric.”

According to the Governor: “Coming to this particular church is more than symbolic because Clara’s interest in this church was something I may not be able to describe. While she was alive, she was constantly reminding me on the need to support the community to build a church and even as a labor activist, she would always remind me to be certain that we had provision for the church”

“I believe in all we have done, what would excite Clara most is the effort that we have all made to build this church to this level and I imagine how she would have felt to begin to worship in this church”, he said.

Governor Oshiomhole stressed that the family agreed to celebrate the anniversary on a low key with thanksgiving and prayer at the church as this was the first time the anniversary would fall on a Sunday.

“We are not arranging any big ceremony, we are not inviting the whole world, we are not setting up big canopies to do celebration, to dance nor are we crying because if Clara were with you and you ask her how she would want to be remembered, I know she would say, let’s go to church and pray”.

In a homily, the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Auchi, Rev. Dr. Dunia extolled the life and times of late Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole and admonished all Christians to live a holy and righteous life.

Bishop Dunia said, “Clara Oshiomhole during her life time focused on heavenly things. She lived a fulfilled Christian life and that is what Christianity entails”.

Prayers were later offered at the graveside for the repose of the late Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole while the Governor placed a wreath at her grave side.

Clara Oshiomhole answered the call of God on December 7, 2010 after battling cancer. She was known for her care, love and compassion, education of the child, charitable work and the fight for women and children’s right, among others.