Dr Luka Mailafia, brother to Dr Obadiah Mailafia, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and stern critic of bad governance, said yesterday that his brother’s words were prophetic and had come to pass and still manifesting.
Mailafia ran into the troubled waters after granting an interview to a Lagos based Radio Station that revealed the atrocities of bandits and terrorists in the country, stating that one of their commanders told them that after the rural attacks, they would move into the cities.
After the interview, Mailafia became a regular guest of the Department of State Services (DSS) until his death last year.
But speaking at the one year remembrance and the launch of the Mailafia Foundation in a lecture titled, “Dr Mailafiya’s life, legacy and lessons to Nigerians,” Dr Luka Mailafia, his sibling, said his late brother planted a seed in the hearts of several people and that the seeds would germinate into many Mailafias.
He said; “He was a voice for the masses. He was prophetic in most of his statements. Most of the things he said actually happened. So I believe it’s a situation where I believe we actually as citizens of this country should be concerned about.
“I believe he lives on because he has set a vision and his spirit lives. By what has happened, so many Mailafiyas will spring up. It’s just a situation where a seed has been planted and that seed will germinate.”
Widow of Dr Obadiah Mailafia, Margaret Mailafiya, said one year after the demise of their patriarch, the family was still shocked and at a loss on how to mourn him.
Mailafia was 2019 presidential candidate under the African Democratic Congress party.
The widow said the foundation was commencing with the blessings of the elders after seeking advice from elder statesmen, Chief Edwin Clarke and Dan Suleiman.
“This time last year, I was not like this, and even one year after the demise of my husband who was my pillar, brother, colleague, adviser and the best father to our children, we are still in shock and still do not know how to mourn him. His legacies live on and are worthy of emulation,” she said.
Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said documentation of the lectures and speeches of Mailafiya would empower all, especially the nation’s teeming youth population.
Represented by the permanent secretary, Jeff Sule, the SGF said the good works of the deceased was an honour and a huge step in the right direction.
“We celebrate the deceased as a shining star in the history of this nation. Surely, we cannot allow all these good works to end because Dr. Obadiah is not here with us anymore, so launching this foundation in his honour today is a huge step in the right direction.
“As you are aware, foundations all over the world are known to help in advancing causes, organisations and programmes which are laudable initiatives, a vision the departed would love to be remembered for.
“I am particularly excited that the Dr Obadiah Foundation has been conceived by the family to document his public lecture notes, promote and propagate the vision, ideas, views and values that the deceased held most dear to his heart.
“I believe the foundation will empower all, especially our teeming youth to maximize the opportunity of inculcating the values of good governance through our collective efforts to enable them succeed in a global economy and for citizenship in a complex world.”
