- ODM party leader Oburu Oginga revealed that he was surprised by the late Raila Odinga’s wish for a funeral within 72 hours
- Oburu recounted a conversation with Raila the night before his death and arranged to meet in Dubai, but was informed the next day of his brother’s death
- At the airport receiving Raila’s remains, Oburu was informed that the ODM National Executive Council had already considered him to be the leader of the party.
- Oburu emphasized that ODM has a prepared leadership and that all within the party have the qualities to carry on Raila’s legacy
Siaya – Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Oburu Oginga has revealed that he was surprised by the instructions of the deceased Raila Odinga for a quick burial within 72 hours.
Source: UGC
During a meeting with ODM party leaders in Nyanza, Oburu recounted the emotional whirlwind that followed the death of his brother and party leader.
Odinga’s family head revealed that he had a long conversation with his late brother on the eve of his death and they had planned to reunite in the Middle East.
“I was shocked when my brother Raila died. We talked the night before the next day, I was told he was in a critical condition and then he died. I didn’t know after talking to him and agreeing that we will meet in Dubai on Sunday and then I got the news that the Lord has taken him,” Oburu said.
Oburu explained that the news of his death surprised him, but the revelation of Raila’s funeral wishes added another surprise.
He gave insight into his struggle to accept the wishes of his late brother, adding that they were ultimately guided by the wishes of the former prime minister.
“Then what I didn’t know was that Raila wrote his will that he should be buried within 72 hours. When I found it, I was shocked and said, “This is our child, we will only bury him after 72 hours?” But we said we must follow the will of the deceased, and so we tried to make sure it happens,” he added.
How did Oburu know that he was the leader of the ODM party?
Oburu narrated more about that time at the airport while waiting for Raila’s remains which made him wonder and ponder.
He said that while they were receiving Raila’s body, Suna East Member of Parliament, Junet Mohamed, whispered that the National Executive Council (NEC) had already considered Oburu as the leader of the party.
The MP said that he was surprised by the speed of events, stressing that it had never occurred to him about the future of the ODM party after the death of Raila.
“I wondered how these people in the NEC, within this short time, had already thought of who would be the leader of the party. For me at that time I was lost in my thoughts even such things that I could not even think of. Thank you. I do not know why those in the NEC put me in that position,” the veteran politician said.
Source: Facebook
Addressing concerns from party members about his age, Oburu assured that ODM has a prepared leadership.
He explained that just as his brother rose to lead after the death of their father, former vice president Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, everyone had the qualities to lead them.
Using the metaphor of a mushroom, Oburu insisted that everyone in the party had the qualities to replace Raila.
“All these leaders you see here have the qualities to take over and lead you. That’s why we can’t say we are leaving you, but we have leaders. It is said that a leader grows like a mushroom. There was no time when the people of Nyanza sat down and chose Raila as their leader, didn’t he just emerge?” Oburu commented.
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