Cleric Appeals to Kogi Govt to Pay Late Adesanmi's Mother's Gratuity, Pension ...As Kogi Mourns

Rev. Father Kunle James of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Isanlu, Kogi State, where the late Pius Adesanmi's mother worshiped, has appealed to the state government to pay the woman, Mrs. Lois Olufunke Adesanmi her gratuity and pension.

The priest made the appeal over the weekend while speaking to journalists after a memorial mass held in honour of the late Professor Adesanmi, who died in the recent Ethiopian airline crash, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in his home town, Itedo-Ijowa, Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area in the state.

Rev James said the greatest tribute and honour the state government could give to the late scholar is to pay his mother's gratuity and pension.

”The state government has said so many great things about the late professor, but we are appealing to the government to pay his mother’s pension and gratuity,” the cleric restated, describing the late professor, as a very ”fearless, courageous and highly intelligent legend.”

 

According to the clergyman, “Apart from the fact that Pius was highly intelligent, he was very courageous, fearless and was ready to take risk not minding its consequence.

”I knew Pius as far back as 1979, when his father became the Principal of my school. So I saw him growing up being also a classmate to my younger brother.

“He was my mentor despite the age difference between us.

“Pius lived a fulfilled life, and I think his message to the rest of us is that wherever we found ourselves, we should make the best use of the opportunity we have to impact lives.”

In her remark, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Folashade Ayoade, said the late Pius was a great son of Okunland, the one “we are so pleased with and proud of.

”He was able to impact a whole lot of people with the church life he lived.

”We are so excited that the world is recognising and honouring him even in his death, because he lived a very good life.”

Ayoade further said the state government would expedite action on the payment of his mother’s gratuity.

''We learnt that his mother retired from Kogi State civil service and that her gratuity have not been paid.

”We will make sure as a government that we expedite action on the payment of her gratuity, and we shall be in constant touch with Pius’ daughter and wife also,” Ayoade pledged.

In her tribute, the Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Rosemary Osikoya, described Pius as a “rare born star that had some unique ideologies.

”His untimely death at a time when the state ministry is reaching out to all compatriots both at home and abroad to garner best practices, expertise and technology transfer among other things to improve the state education sector performance, makes us inconsolable.

“We share in your pain and deep sense of loss.

“We are however comforted that our dear brother late Prof. Pius Adesanmi is immortalised in his writings and publications.

''We shall be honoured to devote sections of our libraries to his works and encourage literary clubs in the state to celebrate his life, accomplishments, discuss his ideologies and take up the baton he left behind.”

Osikoya, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Eric Aina, prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest and all he left behind as well as the entire education sector in mourning the fortitude to bear the great loss.

The late Professor Pius Adesanmi with 157 others on board died in the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 on March 10, 2019.