When UBA’s  Ramon Nasir Gave Mother a Grand Goodbye

“When beggars die there are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”

This timeless quote by Shakespeare aptly encapsulates the final burial ceremony of the mother of Ramon Nasir, the Group Head, Media and External Relations of the United Bank for Africa, Musiliat Amoke Falade, the Iya Oba of Imasayi Kingdom in Ogun State.

Of course, nothing less was expected of the Ogun State-born public relations expert and a detribalised Nigerian whose circle of friends cuts across the who- is-who in high society, including captains of industry, monarchs, politicians, socialites, journalists and celebrities. So, when a man with such high-wired connections plans an event, you can bet that it will never be in half measure.

The late Falade was a one-in-a-million whose love and care guided the UBA top shot to becoming who he is today.

Agatha Christie, the world’s best-selling author of all time, may have had the selfless stories of mothers like the late Falade in mind when she penned one of her most famous quotes about mothers:

“A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dates all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path.”

 So, when such a mother goes home to rest nothing must be spared to make her last journey as grandiose as possible. It was indeed a befitting and deserved grand goodbye to a worthy matriarch, and will for a long time remain in the memories of the indigenous people of the Ado Odo Ota in Ogun where the funeral took place.

Signs that something extraordinary was happening were noticed from the heavy vehicular movement into the sleepy town of Ado Odo. The mass of traffic was not limited to vehicles alone as humans also struggled for space, resulting in long queues of cars and humans that stretched for several metres away from the major road to the Alamuwa Grammar School, the venue of the event.

Ramon showcased a commanding sense of hospitality, as the foods were incredibly rich, flavoursome and magically moreish. Premium and top-quality drinks only meant for the elites flowed like an endless river. Indeed, the gaily guests had no reason to complain as everything was well taken care of.