Gold Casket for Prophet Fufeyin’s Mother Sparks National Debate on Wealth, Faith and Priorities
By Passman Akpos
A lavish burial ceremony held in Delta State for the late Mama Asetu Fufeyin, mother of Senior Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, has ignited intense debate across Nigeria, pitting personal choice and wealth against morality, poverty, and religious values.
Mama Asetu Fufeyin was laid in state amid emotional scenes before her remains were conveyed on a boat ride from Bomadi to Ojobo community, her husband’s hometown. Video clips from the ceremony—showing what many described as an expensive, gold-coloured casket and elaborate rites—quickly went viral, triggering a flood of mixed reactions online.
At the heart of the controversy is a strongly worded message circulating on social media and addressed to the prophet, questioning the wisdom of spending millions of naira on a casket while many Nigerians struggle to afford daily meals.
> “Burying a dead body—which will eventually turn to ordinary sand—in a casket that costs millions of naira, while the living go to bed on empty stomachs, is a misplaced priority,” the message read.
“There is nothing to honour in a body once life has departed from it. That money could have been used to establish an NGO in honour of the deceased.”
The writer argued that funding humanitarian causes in the name of the late matriarch would have been a more meaningful tribute than an extravagant burial.
However, the criticism was met with fierce pushback from others who defended Prophet Fufeyin’s right to honour his mother as he deemed fit.
> “Who’s money is it? Jeremiah. Who’s mother is it? Jeremiah,” one commenter wrote. “If e reach your turn, use mat.”
Another added bluntly:
> “Rich man dey spend money, poor man dey give advice.”
Some Nigerians, speaking from personal loss, expressed sympathy for the emotional motivation behind grand burials.
> “I used to think it was a waste of money until I lost my mum,” a user shared. “Even though all is vanity, it gives comfort thinking you gave your mother the best—even in death.”
Others dismissed the outrage as unnecessary moral policing, questioning why private spending should be linked to public hunger.
> “Whether you sleep with an empty stomach or not, how does that concern be the man’s business?” another commenter asked.
There were also skeptics who questioned whether the casket was truly made of gold or merely gold-plated, with some joking that an actual gold casket would be far beyond affordability.
Amid the sarcasm, humour, and heated exchanges—ranging from “wrap am with banana leaves” to “vanity upon vanity”—the episode has reopened a familiar national conversation: how wealth should be displayed, the expectations placed on religious leaders, and whether extravagant funerals reflect honour or excess.
As emotions continue to flare online, one thing remains clear: the burial of Mama Asetu Fufeyin has become more than a farewell—it has become a mirror reflecting Nigeria’s deep divisions over money, faith, class, and the meaning of honour in death.
🕊️ In loving remembrance, Mama Asetu Fufeyin—whose passing has stirred a national conversation beyond the grave.
