President Bola Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and his Edo State counterpart, Mr Godwin Obaseki, were among guests that graced the memorial mass in honour of the late 13th Asagba of Asaba, HRM Professor Joseph Chike Edozien, in Asaba, the Delta State capital, at the weekend.

Speaking at the memorial service held at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Asaba, Friday, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, in his condolence message to the people of Asaba kingdom and Delta State, said Nigeria had lost a man of great significance and one of the foremost traditional rulers in the country.

In his tribute titled “Exit of a man of significance,” President Tinubu described the late Asagba of Asaba as an accomplished traditional ruler and elder statesman who served the Asaba kingdom with great purpose, and distinguished himself in the field of medicine.

“As an academic icon he was Nigeria’s oldest professor of medicine and first indigenous Dean of Medicine in the University of Ibadan,” the President said.

On his part, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, while condoling with the people of Asaba, urged them to emulate the legacies of the late centenarian monarch whom he described as a man of peace and an erudite medical scholar.

He said: “On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I once again condole with the family of the Asagba of Asaba, the Asagba in Council and the people of Asaba on the demise of our highly respected monarch and father.

“The late Asagba was a peaceful man who led the people with love and brought peace to the kingdom. The few times I interacted with him, he was a great man who did very well for his people.

“Our respected monarch did very well in his 34-year reign and I encourage all of us to embrace the legacies of love, sacrifice, service and tolerance which the late Asagba of Asaba epitomised. May God grant his soul eternal rest”.

In a talk at the memorial mass, Catholic Bishop of Issele-Uku Diocese, the Most Reverend Michael Elue, described the death of a believer as a transition to eternal life, saying death was inevitable and reminded Christians of the need to live holy at all times so as not to be caught unawares by death.

He said the 100 years of the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Professor Chike Edozien, on earth was purposeful and impactful, and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest, saying the best way to immortalize oneself on earth was through selfless input on the lives of others just as the late monarch did.

Representative of the Asagba family, Louis Edozien who thanked guests on behalf of the family, commended the Chiefs of Asaba, the Oshimili South Local Government Council, Delta State government and the Federal Government for supporting the late monarch throughout his reign, and assured that the family would continue to emulate and protect the legacies epitomised by the late monarch.

Other guests present include Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, former governors, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief James Ibori, former Deputy Governor, Chief Benjamin Elue, Senator Ned Nwoko, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, Chairman of UBA Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu, member House of Representatives, Hon. Ngozi Okolie, Senator James Manager, former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, NDDC Chairman, Mr Chiedu Ebie, Air Vice Marshal Frank Ajobena, traditional rulers, among others.