Delta State Governor, Sen. (Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, on Friday, paid glowing tribute to his departed Special Adviser on Entrepreneurship Development, Chief (Mrs) Mary Iyasere, describing her as a woman of immense knowledge and strong character.
Speaking at the funeral mass at Saint Gregory Catholic Church, Orhoakpo in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state, Okowa said that the government and people of Delta had lost a mother and a sister.
According to him, the late Iyasere was one of the good voices of decency in the firmament of Delta politics, and she was an excellent epitome of decency in family life and in the political arena.
He noted that the deceased who died at 68, was truly kind to all, and lived a life of faith by serving God diligently.
The governor said that he was truly touched by the sermon by Rev. Fr. Chris Ekabo on the life of the deceased at the backdrop of the fact that she was a politician with high principle.
“The government and people of Delta State have lost a mother and a sister. To those of us playing politics, we have lost one of the very good voices of decency in the person.
“Yes, we have come to mourn, but it is also a time to give glory to God for the life of late Mrs Iyasere as she was truly very kind to all.
“I also know that she lived a life of faith. She was a woman of immense knowledge and good character who served God diligently.
“As a politician with highly revered principle, she was fiercely loyal and committed to the service of God. I think the grace that accompanied her helped us.
“You will never see her exhibit pride in her life in spite of having no fewer than 250 employees in her various businesses. She actually gave more to people.
“May we have the courage, as politicians, to emulate the good life that she lived,” the governor said.
Earlier in his homily, Fr. Ekabo described the deceased as a woman of great accomplishments, and urged Nigerians to imbibe the virtue of charity by impacting positively on the lives of the less-privileged in the society.
Ekabo observed that the late Iyasere dedicated her life to the service of God and humanity, adding that she was a member of St. Vincent De Paul in the Catholic church.
He disclosed that the philosophy of the deceased was “to give and not to take”, pointing out that she was a great entrepreneur who, encouraged people to acquire life-enhancing skills.
“Late Chief (Mrs) Iyasere was cool, calm, gentle, fashion-conscious, a strong woman of faith, a philanthropist, a political guru and a friend to both the rich and the poor,” the cleric said, adding that she was a great grassroots politician with integrity and incurable optimism.
