James Emejo
10 July 2009
Lagos — Eminent personalities yesterday besieged the home of the doyen of accounting profession in Nigeria, Chief Akintola Williams, to express their condolences over the death of his wife, Mrs. Mabel Efuntiloye Williams (nee Coker), who died on Wednesday at the age of 88.
She was generally described as an epitome of love, an environmentalist and a humanitarian. The atmosphere at the deceased's Ikoyi residence was more of a celebration of a life well spent as sympathisers eulogised her unique virtues.
Among the callers at the residence of the Williams were former administrator of the old Western Nigeria, Dr Moses Majekodunmi, Governor Babatunde Fashola, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and key officials of the Victoria Island/Ikoyi Residents Association (VIIRA), including Chief Philip Asiodu and Chief Matthew Mbu.
Fashola (SAN), during his condolence visit said, "we have lost a woman of substance in the fullest sense of the word. Mama Oye was unmistakably a true mother to all of us. She was the champion of the oppressed, great community leader, who spoke the truth to government and the governed."
He also described the late matriarch of the Williams as a true servant of God whose life was dedicated to serving God's people, saying: "we thought she will live forever, but we accept that she must keep her covenant with God with whom she will certainly live forever."
Tinubu described her as "a rare breed and a gentle soul".
He told THISDAY the deceased was a woman of integrity, values and character, who contributed significantly to the "greening project and touched the lives of many".
"Mama was a rare breed, a gentle soul, and environmentalist per excellence: a humanitarian of note and worthy of emulation-rest in peace with your maker,"he wrote in the family condolence register.
Also last night, Founder of the House on the Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, said after a prayer with the family that her departure represents a huge loss to the Nigerian community.
He described her as one with a personal relationship with God and whose role in the things of God had impacted several generations adding that her personal faith in Jesus Christ was what endeared the deceased to him.
"She's one of a generation that embodied integrity, value, succession planning, leadership, dogged tenacity not to ever compromise: she was a fighter, she always fought for the truth and fought for what was right and she did it graciously. We are at a loss for the lack of people like her in our community. It's clearly evident that she's a woman who knew God personally.
"Her departure today represents a huge loss to the Nigerian community. She's one of a generation that embodied integrity, value, succession planning, leadership, dogged tenacity not to ever compromise: she was a fighter; she always fought for the truth and fought for what was right and she did it graciously. We are at a loss for the lack of people like her in our community,î he said.
Sir Remi Omotoso of the Methodist Church Nigeria said she was an "epitome of family, love and love for all", while former Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Dele Alake, described her as a great conservationist and lover of the environment.
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