Chief Barr. Fedude Zimughan

Mama Aeroplane Mary Daunemigha was a great woman, a woman of substance and very very successful businesswoman. She was an embodiment of hard work. I knew Mama through my father, Pa Moses Zimughan Tobuyei who spoke highly of her late husband of Peretorugbene Town as an honest, discreet, and industrious man.

Thus, from my early days in legal practice, Mama engaged my professional services in drafting and franking documents relating to her vast estate in Warri, her husband’s hometown and her great grandmother’s native town of Bolou-Tebegbe. Mama understood the strict sense of business ethics and never took advantage of the relationship she had with my father.

Instead, she promoted me by bringing several close friends and business associates- the Ijaws, Urhobos, Isokos and Itsekiris in legal matters. She never failed in payment of professional fees. Mama surprised me when she came to my office with her only girl child and her grandchild and requested that I drew up a Testamentary Disposition of her vast Estate as she would one day certainly pass on to the great beyond. At my request, her daughter  and grandchildren left the chambers and she gave the instructions which I wrote down in line with a questionnaire administered in that regard and consistent with standard best practices.

Subsequently, I visited Mama as she had a fall and could not move unless assisted. we spoke and from what I could perceive, the thought of writing a Will that would speak from the grave dampened her interest and abandoned the whole idea. Mama advised me to be fearless and always speak truth and do what is right no matter the circumstances. Mama instilled these sterling qualities in her daughter and the grand children and close relatives she raised in her lifetime.

Mama will be remembered as a Ijaw woman who built the first  storey building in Warri/Effurun Metropolis. I recalled when I commended Mama for being able to erect the storey building in her life time and Mama’s response was that she was able to achieve that through great toil whilst her daughter because of her education was able to build a three storey building effortlessly. And I remembered telling Mama that to get educated requires great mental exertion which is a very difficult task to undertake compared to her business ventures.  I know Mama to be a devout Christian. May God Almighty grant her gentle soul eternal rest. To the children, grandchildren and those left behind to celebrate her glorious exit, may God grant you the strength throughout the funeral activities through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Chief Barr. Fedude Zimughan