The children of Late Chief Sunday Emokpae Ogiamien have extolled the virtues of their father with a promise to continue to maintain his legacy.
They describe their father during the final burial held in Benin City as fearless, outspoken, disciplined, cheerful, loving and always fair in his dealings.
The eldest son, Professor Tony Ogiamien, said, “My father was a great man whose life and times are worth emulating. We are proud to have him as our father and we wish to have him as our father again and again.
“He was fearless, outspoken, disciplined, cheerful, loving and always fair in his dealings. We are his proud children and we will continue to maintain his legacy.”
According to his daughter from the United States of America, Princess (Mrs.) Katie Ogiamen-Salami, my father was a wonderful man who was very distinct and took very good care of his children.
“We did not lack anything and we were protected while growing up. My father who brought us all together with one love, was vey selfless and he was prepared to take a bullet for his children and he trained us to be independent to be able to make it on our own.
“Our father also brought us up to be respectful and obedient to our elder brother, Prof. Tony Ogiamen and he ensured that we are successful because he was very successful in all his endeavours,” she said.
The Director of Information and External Affairs of the Great Ogiamien Royal Dynasty, High Chief Monday Wehere JP, described the late icon as a messiah who came to liberate their dynasty from the hands of their enemies, stating that, “if not for the late sage and other dramatis personae involved in the struggle, it would not have been easy for them to move about freely and we remain eternally grateful to him.”
In his tribute, His Imperial Majesty, Ogiamien Rich Arisco Osemwengie, said they will remain eternally grateful to Pa Sunday Ogiamien for the sacrifices, determination and all other efforts to reposition the dynasty before his exit, adding that he will continue from where Pa Sunday Ogiamien stopped.
Among those left to mourn Late Pa Sunday Emokpae Ogiamien who passed on to glory on July 17, 2023, at the age of 123 years, are his wife, Madam Magdalene Osagie Emokpae Ogiamien, His Imperial Majesty Rich Arisco Osemwengie, the custodian of the 32 previous Ogisos and the current 24th Ogiamien of Benin Kingdom.
Other children are Grace Ehigiator, Caroline Makunju, Florence Ogiamien, Gloria Okuonghae, Mercy Ogiamien, Charity Ogiamien, Dr. Lucky Ogiamien, Nosakhare Ogiamien, Joy Igbinovia, Roseline Ogunkoya, Dolly Nelson-Cole, Patrician Ogiamien, Diana Pemu, and numerous grand children
