There is a popular saying in Yoruba parlance which means it beholds a man whom God has blessed with children to be celebrated in death over and over again. This saying is best described in the instance of late Sagamu High Chief, Pa Olubayode Omololu Oluwole. The deceased was not only survived by children, he was survived by a large pool of children who are very successful in their respective fields. Below are names of all the children of the late renowned politician popularly known as Authority: Omobowale Oluwole- Deceased, Olutoyin Oluwole- Akande, Adebimpe Ibukunoluwa -Deceased, Ibironke Oluwole-Otubela, Omololu Olatunji, Olugbuyi Oluwole, Samson Olumide Oluwole, Taiwo Emmanuel-Snr, Kehinde Oluwole-Snr, Atinuke Achioya, Olusegun V Oluwole, Bolarinwa Oluwole, Tosin Oluwole- Sani, Abayomi Oluwole, Adegboyega Oluwole, Oluwakemi Oluwole, Oyebodunrin Oluwole, Oyesupo Oluwole, Taiwo Oluwole Emem, A Kehinde Oluwole-Tawose and Oyeleke F Oluwole. They all did well in giving their late father a befitting burial ceremony which was held for a week. Those who are based in the US and UK held special services for the deceased before flying into Nigeria for the burial proper. Ever since late Pa Olubayode was buried, his children have been holding a burial party for him in their respective capacities. Come September 27 and 28, 2024, UK-based Mrs. Ibironke Oluwole-Otubela and her direct siblings are set to host a grand reception party that would be the talk of the town.
As time ticks towards D-Day, CityPeople Jamiu Abubakar (08085185886) who covered the burial ceremony of their father in Sagamu revealed what Mrs. Ibironke Oluwole -Otubela said about the significance of September in the life of their father, why she and her siblings chose to hold their party in September and how they plan to make the party big. She also talked about what they would be missing most about their beloved father who made a glorious exit of this world at 83. Below are excerpts:
What have you been missing most about your late dad?
His smile, you know, the smile, the touch, the care. He tends to care about what happens to you, and what happens to other people. He wants to spare his time to advise you on your career path and what to do.
And what not to do. So, it’s just for the fact that I was fortunate to have him as a father.
As one of his beloved daughters, do you have a personal experience you want to share with us? What is the favourite moment you ever had with your dad?
I mean, the latest one was when both of us were sitting down listening to music, standing by me, and we were singing it together. You would not have thought I was singing that with my dad. And we were flowing along, and he was flowing with me, singing it. You know, I had that moment, and there are other moments where I just, I take a nick, I take a nick on him and talk to him. Talk about women, you know, and my father would respond positively. Things that most dads will not, most children will not be able to share with their dad. I was very, very much able to share it with my dad. We had discussions about personal things, and he was always very encouraging. And he would listen and talk things through with you without having to feel like, you know, you shouldn’t be talking to our dad.
At the Christian Wake, a lot was said about your dad. How would you describe him?
He was a very good man. He’s a very good man and a very good father. He’s an industrialist. He’s a lovable character. He was all smiling. And he just, whatever version of him you want to say, whatever situation you have and you’re free to, you will find him in that comforting, caring position. That he will talk to you about your problems. He might not be the problem solver, but there are people he can speak to, and there are things he can advise you. So, yeah, he’s always there for people. He’s a people person. He needs to be a people person, somebody who relates to people very well and who cares. And that’s the goal. Those are the highlights for me.
Among his many legacies, which would you say you’ll be upholding now that he’s gone?
He is a politician. He loved politics so much. And he gave it his all. He loved the Shadow Minds. He was also an industrialist. And his business was also very important to him.
His family, Oh! he loves his children. Like, when we had the Sons of Stone in London, one of my junior sisters mentioned, as a way of tribute, saying that my dad would not even beat us. And he will not even curse you. He doesn’t say negative words. He’s all positive. And within, it’s the positive vibe. Within, you get a positive environment. He’s a go-to person where you can be encouraged and be enabled to pursue your career and get something done.
What will you and your siblings be missing about your dad?
His smile, the opportunity to come to Nigeria, to go to Shagamu. It’s amazing why we live in Sagamu. Most of us, when we come from various parts of the world, we have to be in Sagamu before we go back. So he was that person we came to see. He brought everybody to Shagamu. And I would be missing those moments of father and daughter. We would listen to songs together, sing together, talk about things, talk about politics, talk about women in his life and how he’s handled some things rightly, and some things not so rightly. Yeah, those things are not there.
Finally, Ma, I understand that the reception you’re planning for your dad come September is going to be a grand one. Can you give us a hint about what we should expect?
Yes, on September 27th, we’re going to have a memorial street carnival. And this is in honour of my dad. We didn’t have enough time to plan all that, to incorporate it in this current burial plan, and burial arrangement. And on the 28th of September, again we’ll be having the great, and I repeat, the great grand finale to bring everything to a close, to celebrate this wonderful father, wonderful uncle, wonderful grandfather, here in Sagamu. So yeah, we’re looking forward to you joining us. We had a roadshow and Service of Songs in the United States on the 12th of May. We did that. And this week in London on the 27th of May, we had the Service of Song. I want to use this opportunity to thank everyone who participated in those roadshow events to celebrate my father. I want to thank the MFM regional headquarters Pastor Batuji for his support in bringing to light the Service of Song in the United States in California. And also to all families and friends, my brothers, my sisters, and all my siblings for making the London event another grand Service of Song. And today, yesterday we did the wake-in. Today we laid my father to rest. And yeah, we’ll be meeting again on the 27th of September and finally the great grand finale on the 28th of September, 2024.
Why September?
You may ask. September is my father’s birth month. He was born on the 21st of September. So yeah, we want to round it off. He came into this world in that month of September. I want to finish everything off that month as well.
