’Yinka ADETUNJI
Tragic, shock and lamentations best describe the story of a secondary school teacher who died shortly after his letter of appointment as a principal arrived and was waiting for collection.
Mr. David Segun Oyeyemi was a vice principal at Molete Community High School, Oke-Araada, Ogbomoso, until his sudden death last week Friday, July 9, 2021.
He was down with an undisclosed ailment few weeks ago from which he never recovered until he gave up the ghost.
According to information gathered by ogbomosoinsightonline.com, Oyeyemi, vice principal (administration) of the school, was due for appointment as principal and had sat for the interview along with others.
The successful ones, among whom he was, had had their letters issued by the appointing authority, the Oyo State Post Primary School Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), headquarters, Ibadan, which had been forwarded to the TESCOM Zonal Office, Ogbomoso.
The distribution of the letters to the successful candidates is meanwhile subjected to vacancy in the sense that as some serving principals statutorily retire between now and December 2021, each of the new principal-designates among whom the late Oyeyemi was, would be handed his or hers.
Unfortunately, death played a fast one on Oyeyemi, as he never lived to see the deserving elevation actualized.
His burial on Saturday, July 10, at Idi-Oro Baptist Church was a sorrowful event that saw sympathizers filling the church to the brim.
Mr. Oyeyemi is described as a dutiful and committed teacher and as an individual, a very nice person.
A teacher at Molete Community High School, Mr. Victor Gbadegesin said, “Mr. Oyeyemi was a disciplinarian, he was a good man, strict but never held grudges. If he had altercation with you in the course of discharging his duty, the next minute, he would still play with you, he had forgotten the scenario. He would come to school very early, he was a jolly good fellow.”
Another teacher who worked with him at Ogbomoso Baptist High School, Mr. Abiodun Bello, similarly described Oyeyemi as a dependable man in time of trouble.
“Mr. Oyeyemi’s death is like a dream I am yet to come out of. He was a man that would stand by you when you have problem; very dependable and reliable. He would not abandon you when you are pinned down by travail, he would stay around, advising you, encouraging you, praying for you, visiting you and asking after your welfare. I will miss him sorely, may God protect the family he left behind.”
His children – Opeoluwa, Emmanuel, Hannah and Elizabeth – also wrote in their tribute: “Sweet daddy, lovely father, our one and only, you are more than just a father to us, you are our companion, our helper, our hero, our life.
“You left us alone in this helpless, hopeless and wicked world. You left without eating the fruit of your labour.
“We appreciate all your wonderful and precious teaching, it has been a precious one to us all. Thank you for your precious advice, we are very grateful. Our companion, we will miss you a lot.”
The 55 years old would have served as principal for the next five years assuming he had more than five years in his years of service.
