Family members, friends and associates converged on Peacock Hall of the prestigious Island Club of Lagos on Friday, 15 December, 2023, to hold one year remembrance prayers for former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Chief Ademola Rasaq Seriki, reports thegazellenews.com.
Seriki’s death was not only painful to all who are close to him but it also came very sudden. But the family, his friends and associates took solace that he died in active service serving his father’s land in faraway Madrid, Spain.
He was also Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTWO). He died in Madrid, capital of Spain on 15 December, 2023. He was aged 63.
Thus, exactly one year after his demise, the former Nigerian Minister of State for Defence was remembered with a well attended one year fidau prayer.
The event was organised by his loving wife, Wosilat Okoya-Seriki and her children: Abisola Dejonwo, Faridah Demola-Seriki and Alimah Araoye. Wosilat was by his side in the Spanish capital when he breathed his last.
The Special Muslim Prayer for the late Amb. Seriki held at the Island Club’s Peacock Hall, Onikan, Lagos was led by the Imams of Lagos Central Mosque, while the Guest Lecturer was Dr. Saheed Timehin, Associate Professor, Lagos State University (LASU).
Born on November 30, 1959 in Lagos, the late Demola Seriki, a Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), was not only a Nigerian politician, teacher, businessman and public administrator, whose ambassadorial duty he assumed in January 2021 but was a loyal party man to the core, which endeared him to all and sundry as he, in his own right, possessed high level of intelligence, consistency and hardworking spirit that saw him rise through the ranks to the top in his political career.
In his lecture, Dr Timehin encouraged people gathered to do good deeds because, according to him, the only thing that will be left with all souls in the grave and hereafter is good deed.
Eulogizing the departed while concluding the lecture, he said, “It was because of good deeds and fulfilled life that Ambassador Ademola Rasaq Seriki lived that all of us are gathered here today to pray for him. May Allah continue to repose his soul in Al-Jannah Al-Firdaus”.
Speaking on her departed husband, Wosilat Okoya-Seriki described life in the last 365 days without him as uneasy.
“The last 365 days have been tough and extremely lonely without him. We shared so many lovely memories together. I thank the Almighty Allah for everything thus far.
“His last moments were with his family, although we felt a deep pain, we remained strong, especially as he had accepted it as Allah’s will.
“He was my best friend, and we had a deep bond and friendship.
“I miss everything about him. Life has not been the same since his passing
“He was a very good life partner to me and a wonderful father to his children,” Wosilat said, adding that if there were to be another world, she would marry him again.
“May Allah SWT forgive his shortcomings and grant him the highest place in Jannah, amin,” she prayed.
Encomiums and goodwill messages poured at the Friday’s fidau prayers for the late Ambassador.
These were rather sympthomatic of the fact that Demola Seriki lived a well spent life and was well loved during his life time, thus, his memory has become one uneasy to be wished away in hurry even one year after his death. He continues to be remembered as the genuine family man that he was.
Seriki came to this world, he saw and, evidence abounds that, he conquered considering the fact of footprints he left behind in the sands of time and his beautiful memories as well as his numerous outstanding accomplishments, which have continued to linger.
Giving tribute to the departed, an associate of the late Ambassador, Mutiu Aare, said he was a good man who encouraged all his friends to do good especially during the month of Ramadan. He prayed that Allah should continue to repose his soul in Al-Jannah.
Also giving tribute to the departed, another associate, Senator Abdul Bariu Gbenga Asafa said, “Rasaq Ademola Seriki was my younger one but we were friends. Of all that were close to him, I was one particular person. I believe it is because of this I was asked to be here today.
“Seriki was somebody that when you met him once, you would fall in love with him to continue to see him again and again. He was a good family man. He loved his children and did not joke with their matter.
“Like the lecturer said, we should encourage ourselves to do good. I remember that when Demola Seriki was Minister of State for Defence, I knew how many people he helped. Death gives no notice, therefore, we should do good because I believe that the good done by Seriki is part of reason prayer gathering befits him today and prayers will go and meet him in the grave. May Allah repose his soul in Al-Jannah,” Asafa, who spoke in Yoruba, said.
Dignitaries from all walks of life including Senator Gbenga Asafa, Mutiu Aare, Tunde Salau, Wosilat Okoya-Seriki, Shade Okoya, brother of the widow, Tajudeen Okoya and representatives of the Oba of Lagos joined the families to grace the event.
