Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, alongside their wives and judicial officers from different parts of the country, attended the burial ceremony of Elder Freeman Ayemieye, husband of the state’s Chief Judge, on Wednesday.
The funeral, which took place at Saint Peter’s Deanery in Yenagoa, featured tributes from the former president and the governor in honour of the late Anglican Layreader.
Speaking at the gathering, Jonathan urged public office holders to consider the legacy they would leave behind, cautioning that political power and personal influence were temporary.
Drawing from the late Ayemieye’s biography and accounts shared by the church’s Men’s Fellowship, the former president said the deceased had made meaningful contributions to his community and served as a dependable figure within the church.
Jonathan noted that funeral ceremonies often remind people of the certainty of death and the importance of living in a manner that earns lasting respect. He challenged those in positions of authority to reflect on what society would say about them after their departure.
He particularly cautioned politicians against pursuing electoral victories through violence, asking whether their legacies would be defined by lives lost and properties destroyed during election campaigns.
The former president also observed that political activities would intensify as the next elections draw closer, with some office holders behaving as though their positions gave them unlimited control over others.
He said, “no matter how powerful you are, if you got lost today, nobody will remember you; nobody cares. Nobody should think that he owned the world, Nigeria or even his own family. Sometimes, you will be surprised that some of your children might not even vote for you. That is the funny thing about politics.”
Governor Diri, in his tribute, spoke about the deceased’s role during the period his wife, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, was appointed Chief Judge of Bayelsa State.
He explained that although he had no previous relationship with Elder Ayemieye, their subsequent encounters and the testimonies shared at the funeral gave him a positive impression of the deceased.
The governor also commended the cordial working relationship between his administration and the state’s judiciary under Justice Ayemieye, noting that cooperation among the executive, legislature and judiciary had contributed significantly to his government’s achievements.
Diri further acknowledged the late clergyman’s contribution to his wife’s success, saying the stability and encouragement she enjoyed within her home played an important role in her ability to discharge her responsibilities.
He said: “We know that at times like this, even when a wicked man dies, nobody talks about his wickedness. Everybody talks about the good side of the dead. But for the man lying in state here, from all the interactions we had, I have not heard anything to the contrary.
”Since that appointment, I have worked in peace and synergy with the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State and with the Judiciary. Any achievement of this government is because we have worked together. It is not I as governor alone. It is because we have worked together – the executive, legislature and judiciary.”
Delivering the sermon, the Bishop of the Anglican Church’s Niger Delta West Diocese, Rt. Rev. Nexon Enekeme, spoke on the theme, “Seeking God’s kingdom.”
He advised Christians to place their spiritual commitments above the pursuit of social recognition, political appointments and material possessions, pointing out that such earthly gains have no place beyond the grave.
Enekeme encouraged the congregation to prioritise God’s kingdom and righteousness, with faith that other necessities of life would follow.
Speaking for the bereaved family, the immediate past Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dame Didi Walson-Jack, remembered Ayemieye as a gentle and peace-loving individual whose relationships across Bayelsa attracted a large turnout at his funeral.
She explained that her close association with the Ayemieye family, including having lived with them, gave her a strong sense of belonging and made it a privilege to represent them at the occasion.
Walson-Jack also recounted how she encouraged the deceased to take up leadership in the Port Harcourt branch of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship, a responsibility he eventually accepted because of his devotion to God.
She concluded by expressing gratitude to Jonathan, Governor Diri and their wives for standing with the family through prayers, encouragement and other forms of support.
She equally acknowledged the Niger Delta West Diocese, chief judges from other states and other dignitaries who travelled to Bayelsa to pay their last respects to the deceased.
