Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has said the best way for any individual to leave behind worthy legacies is to serve humanity well while alive.
He stated this at a service of songs held in honour of late Pa ThankGod Ayibanua Matthew, father of Rear Admiral Daupere Matthew at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, midweek.
The Deputy Governor in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Doubara Atasi, stressed the need for the living to be mindful of how they live their lives to avoid the wrath of both God and man, noting that what was most significant at every service of songs “is the opportunity to reflect on what we are going to be remembered for when we had gone”.
He said everything man pursues on earth outside of Christ is vanity, stressing that it is the good works people do that will earn them a place in heaven.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who eulogized the late Pa ThankGod Matthew as a good man who impacted society positively in his life time, urged his family and the church to protect and sustain the positive legacies of their departed father and brother.
While conveying his condolences to the family, he emphasized the need for them to thank God that the octogenarian did not only live up to 83 years, but actually lived a good life.
“We should live a life in which our presence is felt when we’re present, and our absence is felt when we are absent. We can do this when we add value to the people around us and society generally.
“Today, we are feeling the absence of Papa because of the good life he lived.
“So, the takeaway is this: Let us pick up the good works of Papa, to enable us to live the same positively impactful life”, he said.
In his exhortation titled, “The Death of the Righteous”, the Pastor in charge of Camp-Ground Group of Districts of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Adewale Akangbe, charged Christians to earnestly desire the death of the righteous to secure their place in eternity in heaven.
Taking his scriptural references from Psalm 116 verse 5, and Numbers chapter 23 verse 10, Pastor Adewale enjoined believers to avoid the error of Balaam who desired the death of the righteous, but lacked the will, courage and determination to fulfill it, and eventually perished with the ungodly.
In his tribute, the chief mourner and first son of the deceased, Rear Admiral Daupere Matthew, described his father as a man of upright bearing, disciplinarian and a devout Christian who reared his children with the fear of the Lord.
Rear Admiral Matthew recalled the encouragement and support his deceased father gave him which enabled him to succeed in both his military career and family life.
He thanked the Deputy Governor, the Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command, Yenagoa, Air Marshall T.O. Yusuf, the Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral J.U. Okeke, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Solomon Aguanana, and everyone who took time out to attend the service of songs.
The late Pa ThankGod Ayibanua Matthew, who hailed from Diebu Community in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state, passed on in May at the age of 83, and would be laid to rest this weekend at his hometown, Diebu.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa