The remains of late Pa Adeshina Adegboyega, a retired manager of the former Barclays Bank DCO (now Union Bank Plc),were interred at Atan Cemetery in Yaba, Lagos,last Friday after a funeral service at Mafoluku Senior Grammar School, Mafoluku-Oja, Oshodi, Lagos.OLATUNDE ODEBIYI was there.
We were contemplating daddy’s 80th birthday, he said he did not want his 80th birthday celebrated but 82nd; apparently he was deceiving us, he knew he was going to die. Daddy died seven days to his 80th birthday during an illness”.
Those were the words of the first child of a retired manager of Union Bank Plc, Gabriel Adeshina Adegboyega, Mr Tunji Adegboyega, the Deputy Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation newspaper when his father was interred at Atan Cemetry in Yaba, Lagos, after a funeral service at Mafoluku Senior Grammar School, Mafoluku-Oja, Lagos, last Saturday.
The late Adegboyega was also a Special Apostle in Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Ilasamaja – Mushin, Lagos.
His son, Mr Adegboyega went on; “In April, daddy came to my house, for the first time in about six years (although we were going to his house and also talking with him on phone). He said God told him to come and pray for me. The sickness that led to his death was the second time in his 80 years. I thought he was going to survive, but when the doctor told me it was 50/50, I knew my father was going to die.
“Daddy was a strong man, honest and highly diligent. He believed so much in transparency, discipline and accountability; his death is a painful and great loss to us all,” he said.
The funeral rites began last Thursday with service of songs at his residence, 31, Makinde Street, Mafoluku-Oja and wake last Friday at Mafoluku Senior Grammar School, Mafoluku-Oja, Lagos.
It was all a gathering of family members, friends and colleagues to celebrate the life of the great disciplinarian.
The wife of the deceased, Mrs Bola Adegboyega, was comforted by family members. She wore blue native attire with navy blue headgear while the children and grand children of the deceased were on uniformed turquoise native with gold headgear or caps at the funeral service. Guests wore choice native attires. They sat under tents, on chairs set around tables with gold overlays.
In a sermon, Most Senior Apostle Shadrack Dansu described the deceased as a honest and tolerant person whom he had known for over 30 years. He advised the children to follow the footsteps of their father.
The cleric who said the deceased lived to serve others, called on the political leaders to give selfless service, forget party, religious or ethnic affiliations and promote unity.
He noted that Nigeria has some of the best mineral resources, and therefore called on the leaders to manage the resources for the good of all.
“Corruption is what has killed Nigeria; our bad politicians have turned Nigeria to where we are today and there must be a change in this new administration,” he said.
After the service, some family members and clerics moved to Atan Cemetery where the late Adegboyega was buried.
At the grave side, Senior Apostle Olusesi Sowande told the gathering that what would be said of them at death is the ultimate, noting that contentment and service to God should be their ultimate goal.
He added that noting is crucial at death, advising the gathering to rely on God and change their ways because they will go back to the grave with nothing.
He urged the children of the deceased to learn from the good life their father lived.
The white casket which contained the late Adegboyega’s remains was lowered into the grave around 1:13 pm; his wife covered her face with the programme of the event as she cried and wiped her tears with handkerchief. She and the children performed the dust-to-dust rite.
The ceremony continued at the same venue with a reception, where guests wined and dined even as they spoke glowingly about the life of the deceased. Sunny Lekins and his live band was on the band stand dishing out music to guests’ delight.
The widow said she would never forget her husband, describing his death as a painful loss. She said he lived a good life, had a good heart and left a good legacy for others to emulate.
The deceased’s first daughter, a retired Chief Nursing Officer in Ogun State Local Government Service Commission, Mrs Ayoade Ogundele, said her father was wonderful, loving and a disciplinarian. She thanked God for the discipline he bestowed on her, saying it has helped her in life.
“Daddy trained us in the way of the Lord, he was a lover of education and ensured that all his children are trained,” she said.
The younger brother to the deceased, Managing Director, C.S.S. Bookshops Limited, Mr Dotun Adegboyega, said his brother was a man of integrity; he was straight forward, honest, kind-hearted and always called a spade a spade.
Another son, Emmanuel Adegboyega, described his father as great, honourable and a disciplinarian, adding that he was a man of integrity who would not take nonsense from anybody.
“Daddy gave us no chance to misbehave and he would always correct us whenever we did something wrong. He was a good shepherd, a devout Christian; I will follow his foot prints because he invested so much in my life,” he said.
Most Senior Apostle David Showunmi described him as a brother who answered whenever he was called on and was always interested in solving the problems of others.
Most Senior Apostle Julius Ogungbemi described the deceased as a good man who lived a good life. He urged others to emulate the life of the deceased, saying the deceased left a whole lot of legacy behind for others to follow.
Dignitaries at the occasion included former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Managing Director of The Nation Newspaper, Mr Victor Ifijeh; Executive Director (Finance and Administration) Mr Ade Odunewu; Chairman, Editorial Board, Mr Sam Omatseye; General Editor, Mr Adekunle Ade-Adeleye; General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr Soji Omotunde; Editorial Page Editor, Mr Sanya Oni; editorial board members Olakunle Abimbola, Femi Macaulay and his wife; Mr Steve Osuji; Mr Segun Ayobolu, Editor-at-Large and Mr Waheed Odusile, President, Nigeria Union of Journalists.
Also in attendance were: Asiwaju of Awori Land, Senator Ayo Otegbola; Chairman, CSS Bookshops Ltd/Bookshop House Ltd, Ven Segun Agbetuyi; former Chairman of Spring Bank and Ogboye of Oke Ona, Chief Eddy Amosu; Omogbadero of Owu, Prince Laja Omofade; Director, Sterling Publishers PVT, India Vikas Ghai; Archbishop, Ibadan Province of The African Church, J.O.O Abbe; ThisDay Deputy Managing Director Kayode Komolafe as well as Olumuyiwa Aduroja, SAN, also graced the occasion.
Others included The Nation Admin. and Personnel Manager Mrs Folake Adeoye and her husband; Executive Secretary, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Mr Feyi Smith; barristers Gabriel Amalu, Paschal Madu as well as members of Ivory League and their wives.
The late Special Apostle Adegboyega is survived by: Most Mother-in-Israel Bolatito Adegboyega (wife), Mr Tunji Adegboyega, Mrs Ayoade Ogundele, Mrs Mubo Ebohon, Mr Seun Adegboyega, Mr Tunde Adegboyega, Mr Tobi Adegboyega and Miss Yemisi Adegboyega.
