'Do good so people won't have to lie at your funeral,' cleric counsels as traditional rulers, political gladiators grace Pa Olorode's funeral

‘Do good so people won’t have to lie at your funeral,’ cleric counsels as traditional rulers, political gladiators grace Pa Olorode’s funeral

Jeremiah OYELEKE

The remains of Pa Prince Oyebamiji Sobaloju Olorode, a political topnotch of the progressive hue and Mogaji of Oluyale ruling house of Onpetu, were Friday laid to rest after a funeral service at the Baptist Beulah Centre, Ogbomoso. He passed away May 23, 2025, at the age of 94.

Earlier Thursday, a wake service was held at Ayegun Baptist Church Ogbomoso.

It was a befitting burial for a great man of great accomplishments especially in politics and in human relations. The wake service, funeral service and reception (at the playground of Ogbomoso Baptist High School) had the creme-de-la-creme in the society attending in large numbers. They included traditional rulers and political bigwigs.

Among them are Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran (represented by Olori Subuola Esther Oyediran); Aale of Okelerin, Oba Samuel Oyebamiji Amao; Baale of Ibapon HRH Abdulwahab Ashifa; Baale Asimoleke HRH Fasola (and who is a former chairman of Ogbomoso South local government); and chiefs of Onpetu.

Among the political gladiators present are a former deputy governor of Oyo state, Chief Iyiola Oladokun; Senator Ayoade Adedeun; Hon Remi Odetomi, a former three-term chairman of Ogbomoso South local government and who was chairman of the planning committee of the burial programme; Chief Caleb Oyaniyi, a former commissioner for youths and sports in Oyo state; Senator (Brig Gen) Brimmo Yemi Yusuff; Senator Fatai Buhari; wife of former Governor Isiaq Abiola Ajimobi, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi (represented by Mrs. Hannah Ogunesan); Hon. Segun Dokun Odebunmi, chairman of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority and former member of House of Representatives; and Hon. Lamiju Alao-Akala.

Some others are Chief Adebayo Adelabu, minister for power (represented), Dr Saka Balogun; Prince Dotun Oyelade, Oyo state commissioner for information and civic orientation; Chief Akin Oke, a former leader of APC in Oyo state; Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, Majority Leader Oyo State House of Assembly; Hon Taiwo Alagbe, a former chairman of Ogbomoso South local government; and Hon. Jacob Bamgboye, a former chairman of Oriire local government and legislator who represented the constituency.

In his sermon (at the wake service), titled, “Winning the battle of life,” with text from II Timothy 4: 7-8, Rev’d. Israel Akindele, emphasized humans are “in a race and no one knows when it will end.”

The cleric noted, “We must understand the race comes with challenges, and to win the battle put before us by Satan, we need to put on the whole armour of God,” asking rhetorically, “Do you have the armour? If you don’t have you leave the door open for Satan.”

He consequently outlined three requirements for winning the battle against Satan including fighting a good fight, fighting with purpose and keeping the faith, harping that “only those who keep the faith will inherit heaven.”

Also at the funeral Rev’d. Dr. Paul Olaleye, minister-in-charge of Ayegun Baptist Church, reminded the congregation that all humans would live once, “We will pass through this wilderness only once, we are all bound to die and nothing will be taken along when we die.”

Rev’d Olaleye therefore urged everyone to accept Jesus Christ as personal lord and saviour remarking “Death is not the end, after death, there will be judgement.”

He urged everyone to shun evil, do the will of God and to live a life of service to humanity, while charging politicians and the rich to lift the poor from poverty through acts of kindness and good government programmes and policies. He cited the story of the “Rich Man and Lazarus” in the Bible to illustrate his admonition.

Many who gave testimonies at the wake service described the deceased as a man who human kindness cascaded his veins and as a good servant of God.

“He was patient, tolerant, all his life he did good and God repaid him with people who helped him till his last moments and he didn’t know the pain of death, the Bible was fulfilled in relation to him,” his son-in-law said in a testimony.

His Sunday School teacher disclosed, “He gave money for the work of God, he loved the word of God. Anytime between 9am and 10am on Sundays, when we started to hold Sunday School for him at home, he wouldn’t attend to politicians, he would rather ask them to join him.”

One of his daughters described him as a “strict disciplinarian, and hardworking.” She added, “When he was a farmer he forced us to go to the farm. He was generous to a fault, if he had ₦1m he would not think twice before giving it all out to people, he gave freely. Baba never begrudged anyone, no bitterness with him despite being a politician, he embraced everyone even his opponents.”

One of his sons, Bimbola Olorode, also stated, “He valued time, he was always time conscious, dedicated to everyone, he didn’t need to be a millionaire before he gave, if it is ₦50 he had he would dole it out. A disciplinarian and principled man.”

Also, his family, the Oluyale family, through their representative praised his dedication. Noting he was the longest serving Mogaji of the Onpetu Oluyale ruling house, having reigned for 21 years, he described him as “a lover of education and children, faithful to God and was patriotic to his town, Ijeru. He did a lot for Ijeru, he led us well.”

Rev’d Paul Olaleye meanwhile urged the congregation in a remark at the Christian wake, “Live a good life so that people wouldn’t have to lie at your funeral.”

Peep into his life gleaned from the programme bulletin

Prince Olorode, born May 1, 1931, attended the Native Authority (NA) School, Masifa, Ogbomoso, for Infant 1 and Infant 2 and the Ogbomoso People’s Institute (OPI), Paku, also in Ogbomoso, for his Advanced Elementary School Classes, earning Standard 6 Certificate.

However, he couldn’t proceed beyond Class 2 (secondary education) due to financial constraints, thus, he enrolled in the School of Agriculture for a two-year training course in crop production and livestock management.

Upon completion, he was one of those who enjoyed government’s largesse under the Farm Settlement Scheme. He was given a parcel of land, two cows, and a stock of poultry. He turned out a successful farmer. He also ventured into cement and beverage distributorship, sectors he also attained success.

Mogaji Olorode engaged in community service and was an active member of cooperative societies. In the 1950s, politics caught his fancy and so pitched tent with the progressives led by the avatar, (now late) Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He became one of the nationalists who fought for Nigeria’s independence. The group was led by the likes of Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Adegoke Adelabu, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Mallam Aminu Kano, among others. His contemporaries in Ogbomoso included Oba Gbadebo Alaasoko, Dr. Laogun Adeoye, Chief Moses Ayandele Afilu, Chief Oladejo Adigun, Chief Nathaniel Adibi, Asiwaju Victor Lajide and Chief Samuel Akinpelu Magbagbeola.

He also operated in an extended political and social circles that included Amuda Eyeba, Bello Laide Baiyewuwon, Prince Okanlawon, Baba Ezekiel Adedokun, Alhaji Kalilu, Baba Olubi Elega, Baba Owolabi Onideere, Lateef Babarinde, Amuda Aworinde, and so on.

He later associated with political gladiators like Chief Bola Ige, Kolapo Ishola, Lam Adesina and Abiola Ajimobi, all former governors of Oyo state (old and new) in political parties like the NCNC, Action Group (AG), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord Party. Instructively, they are all progressives underlining his credentials as a core progressive, who never cross-carpeted to the acclaimed conservative fold.

Mogaji Olorode was described in his biography contained in his funeral bulletin as “a genuine democrat: he insisted that every human has right to hold political opinion and that such opinion(s) must not disturb or encumbrance personal relationships.” Thus, he associated freely with all, irrespective of political leanings.

He devoted his life to service of community and to humanity at large. His imprints would indelibly be found in Egbe Iteshiwaju Omo ljeru, Egbe ljeru Parapo (founded in 1958), and Egbe Ajenifuja, all which contributed to community development. He was also applauded for his role in the establishment of Ogbomoso South local government.

The “Sobaloju” in his name was a sobriquet of his father (which he adopted from childhood). His father Olorode Lanipekun Adeyeye earned the nickname because of his closeness to the Onpetu at his time. Mogaji Olorode also became close to the Onpetus. And he became Mogaji when he was not even the eldest person in the family!

His life eloquently demonstrated the declaration of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator, after a victory in Gaul – “Veni Vidi Vici” (I came, l saw, l conquered). Olorode reached eminent heights despite his humble background. What graphically conveys this than the calibre of people who graced his funeral programme!

Photo Splash

1. Wake service