In pictures: Burial ceremonies of father of Prince Felix Akande, ex-chairman of Ogb South LG
Abdulrasak BELLO
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Pa John Olateju Akande JP could not have wished for a better rites of passage. His children and family gave him maximum honour in death with A-class guests attending the two-day event. Guests from all over Nigeria and Ghana (where he once lived) popped up to celebrate “a life well lived.”
The occasion also marked the 23rd remembrance of the matriarch of the family, Mama Abigail Adunola Abike Akande, who died on January 15, 2001.
The Christian wake on Thursday August 15 at Oja-Oba Baptist Church Ogbomoso and the funeral service next day, Friday, at the same venue, and the reception at BB Viva Continental Events Centre, were all testament to the late Onpetu of Ijeru Prince’s laudable impact in life embodied in raising good children who are achievers, touching lives of others positively and most importantly living a life devoted to Jesus Christ.
” As we gather to celebrate the life of my father Pa Prince John Olateju Akande JP, I find myself grappling with a whirlwind emotions – grief, love, gratitude and even a touch of pride for being the first son of such an extraordinary man. My father was just not a parent to me, he was mentor and the anchor that held our family firm through the highs and lows of life… From early age, he demonstrated qualities that would come to define him: responsibility, kindness, disciplinarian and unyielding work ethic,” Prince Felix Akande, first child of the deceased and a former executive chairman of Ogbomoso South local government, wrote in a tribute.
Prince Felix continued, “He was the epitome of a family man. He and my mother were soulmates in every sense of the word and their love story is one for ‘African Magic Yoruba, together they built the home filled with love and above all the fear of God… As we bid him a final farewell let us remember him for the wonderful person he was – a loving husband, a devoted father, a doting grandfather, a marvelous great-grandfather, a loyal friend and above all, a truly remarkable human being. Today we celebrate a life well lived…”
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In his sermon during the Christian wake, titled, “Living according to purpose,” with text from Matthew 11: 2 – 6, Rev’d S.O. Ajayi observed that “all things created were done with a purpose, everyone is created with a purpose. One may be born by mistake but God does not create anyone by mistake or by accident, everyone He creates with a purpose, a good purpose.”
The cleric then charged, “We need to live in accordance with the purpose of God. Few people today live their life according to the purpose of their creation, hence, the hullabaloo and chaos prevalent in the world because many live outside the purpose of their creation.”
Rev’d Ajayi explained that searching the scripture always and remaining in Christ will make one discover and fulfill God’s purpose for one’s life, stressing, “What God is expecting of us is not to under do or over do but to live in accordance with His purpose for our life.”
Similarly, during the funeral service, Rev’d Dr. John Idowu Fatunbi, Minister-in-Charge of the church, speaking on the topic, “The joy of knowing and believing in Jesus Christ,” remarked, “We are rejoicing because he (the deceased) knew and believed in Jesus Christ and walked with Him all through.”
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Many paid tributes to Pa Akande, who was 102 years at his death on March 6, 2024.
Alaaje of Aaje, HRH Reuben Adesina Amao Osunbiyi I JP dss dir rtd, said he knew the deceased in Ghana as his father’s friend, and “when my father died he became like a father to me. He took care of me and others in my position. His encouragements and advice ensured I went to school that paved the way for me to become what I am today.”
Oba Adesina, founder of a rural-based widowhood foundation charged the congregation to “embrace and assist the widows, orphans and fatherless children in the society so that they can be mentored to be somebody later in life instead of derailing and becoming nuisance. Let’s support them.”
Prince Ademola Ajiboye described late Prince Akande “as a good child of God. He was loving and was loved. He served God with his heart, his life was a challenge to many of us.”
A community leader, Pa Amos Ajekiigbe noted, “Baba loved his community, he was a patriot of Ogbomoso. He was imbued with the spirit of serving God, he was trustworthy, embraced the virtue of neat living and was an epitome of patience,” disclosing their paths crossed in Ogbomoso Parapo, the apex socio-cultural organization in the city, that Pa Akande at a time served as vice chairman home branch.
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His Sunday School teacher, Brother Folorunso Ogunmola, also had good words for Baba, “He was committed to God, I can say as his Sunday School and Bible Study teacher. Before I arrived at his residence on Wednesdays, he was was prepared, would have set everything in place and was always enthusiastic listening to the word of God. He was accommodating, fully trusted in God and a lover of hymns. His life is worthy of emulation.”
Rev’d Fatunbi emphasized, “Baba loved the church and the pastor, he respected the pastor a lot. One thing I also knew Baba for was dancing, he loved to dance a lot. We will miss him in the church.” This is as he disclosed that the new robe worn by members of the choir was presented by the deceased, who belonged to Bomodeoku Society in the church.
The late Pa Akande lived in Prestea, Techiman and other places in Ghana (formerly Gold Coast) engaged in various businesses such as gemstones (gold) collection and textile business. When he came back to Nigeria in 1969 sequel to the President Busia eviction order, he first lived in Ogbomoso, where he ventured into haulage business with trucks transporting goods to and fro the northern part of the country, however that line of business was truncated after his truck was involved in an accident. He thereafter relocated to Lagos, where he ventured into forex trading, cement retailing and cement making business at different times. He was appointed the chairman of Lagbami Osekun ruling house of Onpetu by His Royal Majesty Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran, Lagbami Osekun III, the Onpetu of Ijeruland.
“Baba lived well and for us, it is only appropriate to honour his memory for the great moments we shared …,” it is stated in his profile.
