Encomium poured in for late Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun, a.ka Baba Teacher, late father of Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, at his burial in Iperu Remo in Ikenne LGA, James Sowole reports
For two consecutive days-Wednesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 9, 2021, the sleepy town of Iperu Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, stood still, as the town played host to dignitaries from all walks of life.
The visitors, who had made their marks in the academia, administrative, political and business communities, came to the town, to participate in the burial programmes of Dr Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun, a.ka Baba Teacher, the father of the Ogun Statement Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun. Pa Abiodun, breathed his last on August 2, 2021 after spending 89 eventful years on earth.
Though the main burial programmes officially took place on Wednesday and Thursday, the ceremony changed the entire atmosphere of the town for more than two weeks that preceded the final event as different companies and organisations involved in the preparation trooped to the town.
The celebration actually confirmed the statement of William Shakespeare that: “When beggars die, there are no comets seen, the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”
In actual fact, Pa Abiodun was a prince and events preparatory to his burial, actually shook the Iperu Town to its foundation.
For the uninformed about the life and times of Pa Abiodun, eulogies, comments and tributes on the deceased during his burial programmes, were natural being the father of a sitting governor and a wealthy and influential personality for that matter. However, to those who had encounters with the late Baba Teacher as he was popularly called, more encomiums still needed to be showered on him in view of many lives he touched, even when Dapo never knew he would be somebody in life.
For instance, what testimonies does one need about the good deeds of Baba than those shared during tributes and Christian Wake by old students of several schools where he taught including old students of Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
One unique feature that was noticed during the funeral programmes was effective traffic and security management provided by several uniformed and plain-cloth personnel while the programme lasted.
Unlike in some situations, when events of like magnitude usually cause discomfort to the residents particularly during crowd control and traffic management around the town, personnel and equipment deployed, were effective, polite but firm in discharging their duties.
Of particular note were comments by some commercial motorcycle operators popularly called “Okada” who commended measures put in place by traffic management personnel, without hurting their own business.
On Thursday, the event was a gathering of creme de la creme in all fields of human endeavours. The Vice President, Professor, Yemi Osinbajo, led other prominent Nigerians like the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to bid the deceased farewell.
Other prominent personalities at the ceremony were the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; the Kwara State Governor, Abdul-Rahman Razaq and their Kebbi State counterpart, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
Other dignitaries at the service were the deputy governors of Nassarawa and Borno States, former Governor of Edo State and the immediate past National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomole; Chairman of the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Buba Marwa (rtd); President, African Development Bank, Akinwunmi Adesina and Chairman, Dangote Groups, Aliko Dangote, among others.
The funeral and thanksgiving service held at St. James’ Anglican Church, Iperu-Remo, also had in attendance the immediate past governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; one of the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Aremo Olusegun Osoba; another former Governor of the state, Gbenga Daniel; the acting National Leader of the Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, including some 120 bishops and clerics, captains of industry and top political functionaries.
In his sermon at the service, the Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos and Diocesan Bishop of Remo, the Most Rev. Dr. M. Olusina Fape, noted that death was a debt every mortal would pay and urged people to prepare well to meet their creator.
Pointing out that, “Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people”, the cleric further urged the people to live a life in expectation of making heaven.
“Nobody has ever escaped the cold hands of death. And nobody gets to heaven’s prepared place by chance, you must work to get there. We must prepare to meet our Creator. Inheriting the beautiful mansion is not automatic. If you don’t live and die in Christ, there is no peace for you after death.
“You should start thinking about your temporary existence on earth and start doing what will make you inherit heavenly mansions, when you die,” Bishop Fape stated.
He described Pa Abiodun as a great teacher and committed Christian, who dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity.
“Papa has worked and distinguished himself in his career and service to humanity. He also passed the torch of Christian faith to his children. He was a loving father and husband. He was a humble man. And because of this, God indeed honoured and rewarded Pa Abiodun’s humility and dedication to God’s way, with blessed children.
“As a Christian, Baba has done well and he never preoccupied himself with earthly possessions, but dedicated himself to the service of God and humanity,” he added.
Fape advised people to always think of what happened after they died, thus should not do anything that would impoverish the masses.
He said, “If the office you are occupying today had made you to become arrogant and make you feel on top of the world; if the position office you are occupying today has made people unsafe, if the position you are occupying has made people to be impoverished and people are suffering from poverty, you have to rethink now. You have to think of what happened after your death.”
Pointing out that “Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people”, the cleric further urged the people to live a life in expectation of making Heaven.
“Nobody has ever escaped the cold hands of death. And nobody gets to heaven’s prepared place by chance, you must work to get there. We must prepare to meet our Creator. Inheriting the beautiful mansion is not automatic. If you don’t live and die in Christ, there is no peace for you after death.
“Whatever will you be remembered for after leaving the office or position you hold on tightly to? If people are crying because you are a leader, God will judge you,” the cleric added.
While calling on the congregation to emulate the exemplary life of the deceased, Fape prayed God to strengthen the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Victoria Abiodun, his children and other family members.
Speaking on behalf of past and serving governors, Governor Kayode Fayemi, said the service was to celebrate Pa Abiodun, whom he described as “an exemplar and a great teacher”.
While noting that the deceased lived a good life, Fayemi urged the congregation to reflect on the message by the cleric and prepare very well in order to make heaven.
Delivering the message of President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo noted that Pa Abiodun enjoyed the grace of God, but did not take the grace for granted by giving back to his community via the teaching profession and service to God.
In his remarks, Governor Dapo Abiodun, described his late dad as his mentor, moral compass and teacher, adding that he would continue to miss his father, whom he further described as his cheer leader and hero.
While thanking dignitaries, who attended the funeral service of his late dad, Abiodun submitted that he would continue to hold on tightly to the morals and values inculcated in him by his father while alive.
