Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, and numerous other dignitaries attended the funeral service for late Pa William Orwin Augoye.
Pa Augoye, who is father of the Member representing Okpe State Constituency, Hon. James Augoye, passed on November 13, 2024. He was aged 97.
In his remarks at the ceremony, held at Ugbokodo-Okpe Secondary School, Ugbokodo-Okpe, in Okpe Local Government Area of the state, Governor Oborevwori eulogised the late Pa Augoye as a disciplined father and teacher who contributed immensely to societal growth throughout his life and times.
He lauded the deceased patriarch of the Augoye family for instilling sound discipline and moral virtues in his children.
He said, “Pa William Orwin Augoye passed through all the phases of life, but what is more important is the life that he has lived and when you want to assess people, you assess them by the family.
“If you look at James Augoye, the kind of life he is living, you will know that the man has raised good children. So, you will use Augoye to also judge all the other members of the family.
“As a teacher, he was able to teach the children the good things about life.
“In all our struggles today, we want to acquire wealth, we want to go for positions, we want to hold positions, we want to live a luxury life.
“But what is more important is our covenant with God, because, at the end, where will you go? So, our take home today is to emulate good things. The good aspect of Pa Augoye is that he disciplined his children to live a very good life and I believe these children today will also continue to emulate their father.”
Governor Oborevwori said the message for the day was for the living and not the dead, adding, “your coming here today is not just for the ceremony. You have come here to listen to the message; the message is not for the dead but for those of us that are still alive.
“The person that has passed on is there already. One day, we will still be in this casket. What will be said about you? What will you be remembered for? What are the things you have achieved? What are the things we will say about you?
“On behalf of the government of Delta State, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Augoye family. We will remember Papa Augoye with great respect and we will continue to cherish his contributions to society.
“May his soul rest in peace and may the family find strength and solace in this time of mourning.”
“Let us continue to live life such that when we go, we will be remembered for the good things we did while on Earth because this we will not live her3le forever. Death is inevitable.
“I believe that when we do the right things while on Earth, we will be remembered for good things. But what is more important, I must tell you here, is your covenant with God.
“To be on the same page with God. To continue to do the right thing and I know that when you continue to do the right thing, God will continue to bless you.”
In a sermon titled, “Benefits of death”, Pastor Mike Irihobose, said the best place to prepare for death was the Earth and not in the grave.
Pastor Irihobose said the death of a believer was a transition to eternal glory, hence the need for those yet to accept Christ to do so before death comes.
He said Pa William Augoye lived a fulfilled life and also died in Christ and urged his children and family to hold on to Christ.
The funeral ceremony was attended by the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Solomon Arenyeka; the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo; the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, other members of the State House of Assembly and other top government functionaries.
