A Human Rights Lawyer, Barrister Gloria Ballason has described the late Dr Obadiah Mailafia, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria as an extraordinary human.
In a soul touching tribute, the advocate of justice and good governance said Mailafia has ascended to the heavens where servants of God reside forever.
The tribute reads;
“For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep.”
My dearest O.M., now that was a courageous life! You put it all out there – heart, soul, sweat, blood, faith, excellence… everything! What a life of extraordinary commitment, brilliance, intelligence and then some more.
Like the patriarchs gone before us, you chose to share and stand against the sufferings of the innocent rather than the fleeting pleasures and corruptible treasures of this earth. Like David you have served the purpose of God for your generation and have now fallen…asleep.
You will now ascend to the place where kings, paupers, victors, villains, tyrants …all go! But in your case, there is a clear difference:
You are going home to a city whose builder and maker is the Just one. A Book will be opened and you will see the record of every act of sacrifice and your golden acts of courage and convictions against injustice.
You will stand before the Righteous Judge O.M. and having listened intently to your wife about your last moments, I know you will stand unashamed.
So let me thank you for the invaluable gift of your friendship and for obeying the Creation mandate to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth for indeed, you are leaving behind a more replenished world than you met it. You have left behind in your mortal body indelible marks and our generations will follow in them and the trail of the dust you leave behind.
Your works as a peerless international civil servant, ivy league scholar, writer of writers, advocate of truth, lifetime pursuer of excellence will continue to light and inspire us. WE WILL NOT STOP until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a never failing stream.
Lokaci ya kai. Dr. Obadiah Mailafia , ka sauka lafiya ka kuma idar min da sakon gaisuwa da alheri ga mahaifi na, my beloved dad who left five days before you and who I am sure will show you round those golden streets.
Goodbye dearest big brother, friend, mentor and kindred spirit. I will see you on some bright and cloudless morning. Thank you OM. THANK YOU!!!
From Mabeiam (as you loved to call me)
