Former Ife Federal Constituency lawmaker, Rotimi Makinde, has penned a deeply moving tribute to his late mother, 36 years after her passing, describing her as a rare woman who raised him in the harsh realities of Ajegunle, Lagos.
In the tribute sent to Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com) and titled “36 YEARS AFTER: MAMA IFE OF Ajegunle!!”, Makinde recounted the struggles of growing up with his mother at 38 Oyebo Street, Alakoto area, where she was fondly nicknamed Mama Ife. He painted a vivid picture of their shared battle against poverty and hardship, until her death at Tolu Medical Centre on August 18, 1988.
“You watered the tree but never ate its fruit. What pain is greater than that?” Makinde wrote, lamenting that his mother never lived to enjoy the fruits of her sacrifices, including his eventual employment at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The former lawmaker, who described himself as her only surviving child, reflected on the wisdom she instilled in him — particularly her philosophy of self-reliance and faith in God. He admitted that life’s challenges, including failed marriages and friendships, have continued to test those lessons.
Despite the pain, Makinde found solace in his daughter, Miss Olatoreera, whose resemblance he says mirrors his late mother, and in his son, Bankole Makinde, born on the anniversary of her death.
“On the anniversary of your death, God gave me life,” he wrote, highlighting the bittersweet balance of loss and renewal.
Makinde’s tribute has resonated widely, not only as a personal reflection but also as a reminder of the resilience of mothers who raise children against all odds in Nigeria’s toughest environments.
