Family marks 30th memorial anniversary of late business mogul Adebayo Alata, son narrates sordid experience (PHOTOS)
Femi OGUNLANA
The residence of late industrialist Chief (Dr) David Adebayo Amao-Alata at Apake, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, came alive Sunday, as his children, family and friends all gathered to celebrate the 30th year of his passing.
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The get-together party was preceded by a thanksgiving service at Ori-Oke Baptist Church, Apake, attended by many people.
Chief Adebayo Amao-Alata died on January 8, 1994, which threw the whole city in shock and mourning owing to the love the people had for him arising from his immense contributions to the commercial sector in Ogbomoso.
“Alata” as he was popularly called invested heavily in Ogbomoso siting several industries chief of which was the Alata Flour Mills which was a source of employment to about five thousand people according to an analyst. His revolutionary endeavours deservedly earned him the chieftaincy title of “Babalaje of Ogbomosoland,” conferred on him by the immediate past Soun of Ogbomosoland, late Alayeluwa Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III JP CON CFR.
Though few of his business outfits survived him, the legacy he left will remain ineffaceable.
The congregation celebrated the patriarch along with the family with the choir leading in songs of praise to God, accompanied by dancing and thanksgiving offering.
Responding, scion of the Adebayo Amao-Alata family, Hon Segun Amao, a former legislator who represented Ogbomoso North state constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly (1999 – 2003), said that despite the many challenges faced by the family, they have continued to press on in sustaining the legacy of his father while assuring of doing more, just as he expressed gratitude to God for keeping all alive in the years past.
“When we talk of multiple polygamy, come to Alata family. Both the larger Alata family and the smaller Adebayo Amao-Alata family are quite big. They do say ogun ma n ja ile olorogun (war does dog a polygamous family) but I thank God we are not overcome by the numerous wars,” while requesting the congregation to “shout seven halleluyah,” as a mark of recognizing God’s protection.
He further acknowledged, “From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful to God, we are all alive. We are grateful because we know what we have passed through. God has been so merciful to us.”
The CEO of Alata Supermarket (one of his father’s surviving legacies), then sent hope spiraling, when he said, “We are just starting in the Alata family. I want to say the glory of the latter rain will be greater than the former.”
He disclosed organizing the 30th anniversary event for their patriarch was challenging but expressed further gratitude to God that “we are able to make it this way.”
The church prayed for the family while members were handed takeaway meals even as guests were treated to sumptuous meals and exotic drinks at the residence of the late industrialist, which was situated nearby, with old time music dished out by a DJ to entertain them.
