In The Loving Memory Of Mama Rose Osovbakhia Braimah (1937 – 2023) – By Ehi Braimah

When death comes (and it will surely come), we do not have a choice in the matter. Death is
inevitable, and because we are mere mortals, we cannot fight back. Even when we do, due to
advances in medical science, the effort does not last the distance. We eventually surrender
when death knocks on the door.
Why should we even be afraid of death anyway? Didn’t William Shakespeare write about “Death
counterfeiting sleep” in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’? What is the difference between death
and sleep? As our mum laid-in-state, beautifully draped in a white apparel, you could think for a
moment that she was sleeping. So, death can imitate sleep? Even in death, Mama was
beautiful.
Death has a way of teasing, taunting and challenging us to a contest: in the red corner is where
you would find death in its massive and ebullient frame, jumping up and down and behaving like
a bully, ready to strike and deliver the deadly upper cut, while the rest of us are sequestered in
the blue corner, absorbing all the punches until we are down and out.
Death also oppresses. How do we, for example, restrain cancer that has become the harbinger
of death in many forms? If it was possible to cut a deal with death, I am sure Steve Jobs, the
American inventor, entrepreneur and co-founder of the highly successful Apple Inc. that now
has a market cap of more than $2.85 trillion, would still be alive. When Steve surrendered to
pancreatic cancer on October 5, 2011, he was only 56 years old.

While we are still alive, it is the impact that we make on the lives on others that is important than
the money we have in the bank. We must constantly aim at making the world a better place
through our humanitarian interventions.
Until our mother, Mama Rose Osovbakhia Braimah (nee Abebe), passed away on November 4,
2023, she always talked about a humanity that thrives, spreading joy, happiness, success and
peace. Each time a new administration was inaugurated in the country, Mama used to wonder
whether it will be better than the previous one.
During her lifetime, Mama was a dependable care-giver, gracious philanthropist, engaging story
teller and unrelenting activist for a better society. Mama was an extraordinary woman in several
ways. As she grew older, Mama was concerned about the pervasive economic hardships and
deteriorating quality of life of Nigerians.
Mama was born in Ughodin Quarter in Iruekpen, Ekpoma, in Esan West local government area
of Edo State. Ughodin is one of the 12 contiguous quarters of Iruekpen, my home town. The
others are Ikhin (where I hail from), Idumebo, Idumogo, Abia, Idumemalua, Idumoza, Ogbomo,
Idumehonle, Idumeke, Idumegbede and Evbokpe.
The late Christopher Ebhodaghe Abebe, foremost human resources executive and
distinguished Nigerian who later became the chairman/managing director of the United African
Company (UAC), established in 1879 as a trading company and evolved as a conglomerate –
where he spent his entire career and became the first indigenous African to be appointed to that
position in 1975 – hailed from Abia in Iruekpen.
Pa Abebe was the father of late Stella Obasanjo, wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
So, elder statesman Obj (Baba Iyabo) is our in-law. Pa Abebe retired in 1980 and was honoured
with the Order of the Federal republic (OFR). He died in 2018 at the ripe age of 99 years.
Our Matriarch, Mama Braimah, was a beautiful woman, resourceful wife, highly respected
community leader and exceptional fountain of knowledge. Her worldview was shaped by the
values of hardwork, respect and perseverance which she imbibed from her parents. It explained
why she was a strict disciplinarian.
As a young woman of 23 years, Mama was betrothed to our late father and she travelled from
Iruekpen to Kaduna by rail – escorted by our late uncle, Pius Akuza and Alfred Ilenre, a noted
Iruekpen emissary who has also passed away – to meet him to start a family.
My father worked for the government in the ministry of education. Due to his frequent postings,
Mama had to traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria with our father.
Mama was an enterprising small-business owner. While at Ughelli (now in Delta State), for
example, she travelled frequently to Onitsha for her business. The transition from being a
member of a large community of farmers in the village to becoming self-employed in different
cities was remarkable.
If Mama wasn’t buying and selling food items and other merchandise, especially bags of rice,
you would see her behind her Singer sewing machine. She was also a seamstress. At other

times, she was either cooking or praying. Mama was a kind and generous soul, always ready to
hand you a gift and lend a hand.
Our late mother was a Deaconess in the Christ Chosen Church of God International where the
presiding pastor is Apostle Promise Okafor. She worshipped at the Upper Lawani Street Parish
in Benin City, and devoted her life in the service of God.
Her commitment to the Christian faith was profound. She could pray and fast for long hours.
Mama averred that every course of action in life was ordained by God. She believed in destiny.
Mama always told his children that quality education is priceless, and she explained that it was
the best meal ticket for a child to escape the shackles of poverty. As far as she was concerned,
illiteracy is a disease!
Our mother had a strong analytical mind, and instilled the values of discipline, hardwork, love,
kindness, courage, perseverance, selflessness, humility and leadership in all her children and
those who had the opportunity to drink from her fountain of wisdom and knowledge.
Mama provided exemplary leadership in all her civic engagements, and she frowned at our
permissive society that encourages impunity.
Deaconess Braimah was fond of singing and dancing, praising God in her elegant dance-steps.
Mama lived a life of purpose. One of her wishes was that parents, teachers and religious
leaders should uphold strong family values in a decent society that is fair and equitable.
Before Mama’s glorious life ended peacefully in her home in Benin City, she lived in the ancient
city from 1980 to 2023. This was after our mother and her family lived in Ughelli for 10 years.
During this period, I completed my primary education and gained admission into Government
College, Ughelli – one of the best secondary schools in Nigeria – as a young lad.
Mama Braimah was blessed with nine children. Sadly, three of them preceded her in death. She
was also survived by three step-sons, a brother, two sisters and grandchildren. When Mama’s
funeral obsequies were announced, it was a week-long activities from January 23 – 29, 2024 to
celebrate her life: service of songs, funeral service and interment, reception and thanksgiving
service which held in Benin City.
But her traditional and final rites of passage held in Iruekpen, Ekpoma on January 29.
Meanwhile, we had to perform the final burial rites of my old man who died 27 years ago on
January 19 in Iruekpen before we could commence the burial rites of my mother. For most
young members of the family who asked questions, we had to explain to them that tradition and
customary laws must be obeyed.
In the village, respect for one another and the rules of engagement are based on a hierarchy of
leadership that has been passed on from generation to generation. Age grade determines
everyone’s position and station in the village and there are sanctions and fines for bad
behaviour. Interestingly, the women in Iruekpen have a strong voice which cannot be ignored in
the conduct of community affairs.
As I travelled with family members by road from Lagos to Benin City (twice) and between Benin
City and Iruekpen (thrice), we had our hearts in our mouths due to the “unfriendly” condition of

the roads. We also feared for our safety but the presence of policemen and soldiers on the way
allayed our concerns.
I am using this opportunity to appeal to the federal government to fix these roads as soon as
possible and consider a minimum of 50 metres setback after the thick bushes on either side of
the busy highway must have been cleared. Most accidents occur as motorists struggle to avoid
the numerous potholes and failed sections of the highway. The Benin – Iruekpen road is a death
trap.
On January 24, our mother was laid to rest at her home in Benin City. During the service of
songs the previous day, it rained briefly – for about five minutes and stopped – as I read her
profile.
We are thankful to family members, friends, colleagues, associates and well-wishers for their
support, generosity, kindness, prayers and participation.
May Mama’s memory continue to be a blessing.