The remains of auto magnate, Mr. Sunny Omoregie Asemota was committed to mother earth in Benin City, Edo State months back. Until he passed on he was an acomplished businessman, who sold cars.
Sunny Omoregie Asemota was born April 21st, 1935 to Late Pa Omoregie Asemota of Ogbewe Asemota family of Ogbe-Abehe in Oredo Local government area of Benin City in Edo State and Late Madam Ayanno Asemota (nee Osayame) of O`gbe Ezoti Quarters in Oredo Local Government area in Edo State. He is one of three sons in a family of five children. He attended Government School, Benin City after which he worked with his father on his rubber plantation until 1957 when He left Benin aged 23 years to seek his fortune first in Ibadan where he lived and worked for one year. He arrived lagos in 1959 as a young ambitious man ready to conquer the world. He worked in several companies in lagos such as Brook Bond, UTC, Star Motors and Incar motors in many capacities in the sales department.
While a sales manager at Incar motors, he courted and completely won over the heart of Ireti, his gem of inestimable value, who at the time was working at CFAO Motors also in Ijora. They were married on her birthday, July 15th, in 1962. By 1964, Sunny Asemota started his automobile business, Sunny Asemota Motors in Surulere and his wife, Ireti joined him a few years later. Sunny Asemota Motors later changed to Sunny Motors Limited in 1973 when they opened the very first automobile showroom on western Avenue. They started Omoregie Motors Limited in 1980 as an ultra modern automobile workshop and showroom along Badagry expressway when they expanded the business into service, repairs and maintenance.
May 12th, 1978, he acquired a Peugeot Automobile Dealership from the Ministry of Trade. In 1983, he opened another Automobile Showroom and Workshop in Upper Sokponba Road, Benin-City. In 1991, he acquired the Mercedes-Benz dealership and on July 23rd, 1999 added the Toyota Dealership to his fleet. By 1998, he extended his tentacles to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with the opening of the 4th Ultra Modern Showroom and Sales Centre. In 2010, he added the 5th Ultra Modern Showroom and Service Centre at Idejo Street, Victoria Island and in 2014, he completed the Sunny Motors Building, a four-storey block of offices in Lekki with Automobile Showroom occupying the ground floor.
His marriage to Ireti is blessed with 6 beautiful children and Sunny Asemota was a very blessed and proud grandfather and great-grand father. Sunny Omoregie Asemota lived by 5 ethics all his life namely hard work, integrity, diligence, generosity and faith in God Almighty. He was I peace loving and peace seeking devoted and committed family man to the core. He always spoke his truth in all things and was highly principled in life.
He passed away peacefully in the early hours of Thursday May 19th, 2022 at a ripe old age of 87 years. May his very gentle soul rest in perfect peace and may God comfort, strengthen and uphold his entire family. Amen.
Below are excerpts of the tributes of his widow and children.
WIFE’S TRIBUTE
My love, my husband, my best friend Sunny, I first met you 61 years ago and it’s been a long fulfilling journey and now we have parted ways with you telling me that you loved me at midnight before you departed to eternal rest. Where can I start from? Our lives together was sweet and blessed with all we needed or could ever ask and when trials & tribulations came, we were able to stand together and overcome,
waxing stronger in our partnership. You stood firmly by my side on this journey of life as a complete gentleman. This was the time I was looking forward to in our retirement for both of us to enjoy ourselves with no care in the world but God loves you more than I do and he called you at his appointed time. I believe you are an angel now, joining the other angels in the bossom of the Lord.
You raised our children in a disciplined and loving way which has provided a solid foundation for their future. I pray for God to grant me the fortitude and wisdom to continue where you stopped. Baba Kemi, you’ve left a huge void in my life but I’m strengthen, comforted and encouraged by the legacy you’ve left behind in your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Your faith and trust in God Almighty assures me that we will meet again to be parted no more. I love you and until then, keep resting in Christ. Sun re Oko mi.
– Ireti
TO MY FATHER
My dad was my hero. He was the most courageous and resourceful man. I never questioned if he loved or cared for me because he made it so obvious. My dad was someone who meant so much to me and loved by all he knew. He left behind a trail of tears and precious memories too.
I loved the sunshine in his smile and kindness in his heart but heaven saw that he was tired which meant
he had to part. Dear angels hear my prayer, please guard my father with your gentle wing and tend him with great care for he was someone wonderful, and words just can’t convey how much I wish that he was here once more with me today.
– Kemi
Dearest Daddy, it saddens me to write this tribute but knowing you are at rest makes me glad, you havi
left a great legacy behind and I pray to the Almighty Father to help me carryon that legacy as your first son. having to carry your name without you being here is painful and I can’t help but feel undeserving,
to stand in the place of someone as magnificent as you. Daddy, I know it won’t be easy moving on without you yet I am comforted by the joy you brough to the lives of others as you did for your family too Rest well Pa Sunny, I love you
– Omoregie
My Dad
There are not enough words or paper to contain the things I need to say about my dad. He was my life-time till the moment he breathed his last. I have loved him deeply since my first memory, he meant the world to me. He influenced me in everything, he was my counsellor, my advocate, staunch supporter, defender. .. he just was always there to be what or who I needed him to be.
In his death, I’ve come to realise how special he really was. I guess I took him for granted and now that he’s gone, I realise how unique he was. Truth be told, my dad’s been ready to go to his maker for the past year or so and he did try to prepare me but I was too blind trying to fix him to realise. My dad was a very proud Benin man, he upheld their traditions and ways to the end. He never forgot home or his people. He was a family man to the core. He loved his dear wife, Ireti alias Pat and they were a formidable partnership. Try as we may, my siblings and I couldn’t manipulate the team. He loved each of us his children in a unique way and one was not more or less than the other.
The things that were important to my dad was family, peace (rancour really irked him), integrity (he would always say let your yes be yes and no be no), diligence, honesty (he abhorred lies … when we were kids, telling lies would earn you a couple of strokes!), discipline and hard work. He worked hard
all his life, that was his therapy! I am very proud of who my father was and especially of his humility in all things. He was a very simple man with simple
pleasures. Stylish, paid particular attention to his garb; generous to a fault and loyal to the end. I feel so sad my dad is no more, when I think about him I am overwhelmed and engulfed with this deep sorrow and helplessness. Nothing anyone says helps me. But because he was a man of deep faith who dedicated himself to worship and service of our Lord Jesus Christ, I’m assured he is with Christ and so in a much better place. That gives me solace.
Pa Sunny, you’ve left a huge void in my heart and extra large shoes for me to fill. I will try my best. I carry you everywhere with me now unlike before when I had to visit Alaka to see you. I see you every-
where and in all things familiar. I miss you, I miss your love for me, I miss our conversations, I miss
shared meals. I miss everything about you. I miss you calling me Shollybaby!
My Father, My Hero, My Icon, My Champion ….. sun re O!
Forever in my Heart
– Shola Coker
I never knew that I would be penning this tribute to Pa Sunny this soon but God knows best. To me and
all my friends, Pa Sunny seemed invincible from the early days of meeting him all the way up to the time he gave us the trashing of our lives when it came to car racing.
I first set eyes on Pa Sunny in 1984. This first sighting was in a picture Shola, my wife, showed me. She
said she was going back to Lagos to attend her dad’s 50th birthday to which I retorted, saying her Dad
was a bit old … I am tongue tied now as I have over passed this age.
Pa Sunny was a very direct no nonsense person who always knew where he was going and what he wanted. In the early days, I had this deep-down feeling that Pa Sunny wished I was from Benin as he never really said much to me BUT anytime Lateef Belo-Osagie was with me, the language immediately
switched to Benin language. Wow! This man can actually talk? With Pa Sunny everything matched i.e.,
the shoe and bag must match the material. Everyday of the week’s clothing is picked, ironed, and hung on the cupboards in his room.
To know Pa Sunny is the beginning of wisdom. Don’t ask him for money on a Monday and don’t allow
him to reply to you with a few sentences if you have erred … it would follow you all the days of your life! He was not one for traditional titles but titles that have meaning, hence “JP” (justice of the Peace). Pa Sunny carried all of us to Benin for this ceremony
and treated it as if it was a Chieftaincy title ceremony.
As the years rolled by, Pa Sunny and I became buddies much to the contention of Shola – the fact that
a man that was so revered by all and sundry became my telephone buddy of “Pa Sunny, how you de?”…
and he would reply “Ajindus!” I was very privileged to have had a second Dad in him as I had a second Mum in his wife. A second set of sisters in Kemi and Oghogho and a 1 st set of brothers in Omoregie, Osayande and Iredia.
Pa Sunny, you left an astounding yet indelible mark on your wife and children, but rest assured, your besto and wife, Pat, is in good hands. REST IN PEACE PA SUNNY
– Jide Coker aka ‘Ajindus”
There are truly no words to describe how I been feeling since I got the phone call in the hours of May 19th. Literally, the wind has knocked from beneath my wings. You have all without exception provided the strength, wisdom guidance, support, love that I need when I need.
While I know that even a life well lived like yours must surely end, I did not expect yours to be now. I
thought I would have more time!!! More time with you to enjoy more of the wisdom and life experience you shared so generously.
You were my perfect role model, my Superman, my Coolest rock star … the ultimate example of the loving husband and father, doting grandfather, loyal friend, hardworking businessman, a proud Edo man. My prayer is that I am able to impart on my children and family as much as I can of what you gave me.
Rest in peace daddy, I love you very much and you tremendously.
-Osayande Asemota
As the Bible confirms to us to give thanks in All circumstances, I choose to be thankful even now as we all mourn your sudden but glorious transitition dearest Daddy Asemota, aka Pa Sunny. Your life is indeed a testimony and you deliberately sought God and He favoured you. That is your legacy I admire most.
Over the past 2 decades and more that I have been blessed to be your daughter in-law and “in love”, You have been the most wonderful, generous, supportive and kind father to me and my Adeyi Faamily I truly could not have prayed for anything more. God truly blessed me with more than I could have asked or imagined.
My heart knows you are truly in a glorious and beautiful place now, resting and looking down on us. We
have gained a guardian angel and that makes me happy. Thank you daddy for being our rock, my biggest.
supporter and cheerleader and indulging my football analysis.
Love you daddy
Your “Bola Bola”
03:25am, Thursday 19th May, 2022 …. my phone rings, I answer, it’s my mother calling … calling from my daddy’s mobile phone … hmmnn!!! My daddy … !!! As I fondly called you. “No other love in the world is like the love a father has for his little girl.” I knew love from the moment I was born. Throughout your life, your love for me helped me understand the concept of love more deeply! Daddy, you taught me so much, integrity being the most prominent and the importance of a good name. You emphasised the importance of a good name, honesty, respect, integrity and ones legacy. You always said and I quote: ‘the road you will pass again, don’t spoil it’ .
Daddy, you were so wise and so willing to teach. You never ceased to tell me how proud you are of me. Almost every time we see, you would remind me how hard working I am and how similar we are in terms of being fortunate enough to be able to identify our passion and be able to turn our passion/ what we love doing into a career and be successful at it. Daddy, you would say, you take flower and sell it to people and they will buy … you this girL.. then you will laugh with so much admiration. Oh, well, daddy … you are gone, but you will never be forgotten. A father’s main role is to love and be there to sculpt a life that will hopefully have a positive impact on our world. You taught me gardening, we were always outside planting your massive sunflowers which were your pride back in the 80s. You made me fall in love with soil and nature. You would talk to me about the plants and of course ‘Queen of the night’, your favourite! Daddy, I kept forgetting to mention … I finally found some ‘Queen of the night’, when this is all over, I hope to plant them everywhere, by God’s grace.
Daddy, my heart aches, I miss you so much but you did life your way and for that I am so proud of you. So proud of how you lived and how disciplined you were. You were strict but in a loving way. There is no one like you Daddy, no one. The way you spoil mummy, my goodness, I always prayed for a beautiful relationship like that.
Daddy, since you went to be with the LORD, as my friends come to express their condolences or call … all I hear is, wow your dad was amazing, your dad was the best, your dad loved you so much haaa Oghogho, you are the apple of your father’s eyes 0 Your love for me is so big, so bright, so beautiful, it was there for all to see and experience. When I walk in to see you, the way your eyes always lit up. Hmmnn! How will I cope daddy. I already miss your calls, your counsel, your bluntness and honesty. Daddy, you always say it as it is. Always … you were honest to a fault. This quote by Claudia Ghandi
is so appropriate at this time: “If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden.” Daddy, you taught me that anything and everything we do must be as onto GOD, you said never ever look at what you do for people and let it get into your head … for you, being able to help was a privilege and a honour given to you by GOD and you were always grateful for the opportunity. Do it for GOD you’d always say. Growing up, one fond memory I could never forget was of me stumbling
into your room in the middle of the night, standing over you in bed fast asleep and tapping you … daddy, daddy, wake up … I want tea or bonvita as the case may be, my mother will scream … what do you want at this time of the night!!!! Sunny, you are the one spoiling this child; you daddy will answer in your soft baritone voice, full of love … it’s okay, I will make it for her. You will get up, take me to the kitchen, make my hot drink and wait for me to finish drinking, then walk me back to my room . .101. my sweet daddy.
Last year, on your very last trip to England, I happened to be in Eng land at the time, waiting for you to arrive. You came in very tired with mummy, you sat down, I was teasing as I always do oya daddy Iredia wants a picture with you … daddy, oya now, pose say cheese, you were distracted talking to mummy, asking her to pass you something from her hand luggage. When she eventually did, it was one of those vanity bag things they give out on the plane, you looked at me and stretched your hand out to me and you said … “take, I brought this for you, I did not forget” … same way you have always done, right from the days of British Caledonia Airways … you never ever forget, you never did and I will never forget your love, kindness, generosity and so much more.
Daddy you are a good man. There is no one that compares to you, no one. You are special, so so special. My daddy as I fondly call you .. you always used to say “the road you will pass again … don’t spoil it”, best advice ever!! At the time my daddy, I didn’t fully understand what you meant, those many years ago, but as I got older …. daddy, It became very clear and very relevant.
Daddy, my heart is broken. How will I cope without your beautiful phone calls, your impromptu visits to me at work and at home. I find it so hard to breath every time I think of you, which is all the time. My heart is broken, broken into a million pieces! Every single day without you will be very hard, however, I will try to be strong and very courageous, only because that is what you’d want me to do. There is small comfort in knowing you live on in our hearts, you will live on in us your children (we will try not to let you down in any way), in your grandchildren and great grandchildren. Daddy, you are what every man should try to measure up to. Again I say … “No other love in the world is like the love a father has for his little girl.” Thank you for everything. Thank you for showing me what true love is. Thank you for being the most amazing daddy to us all. Thank you my daddy for the opportunities you gave me. Thank you for loving your grandchildren and great children the way you did. Seun and Bolu miss you so so much already. We will remember you with so much fondness and happiness. I cant promise you that I won’t keep crying, I will FOREVER keep you in my heart … until we meet again! Words will never be enough to express my loss or my grief, however, I take solace in knowing that you are resting comfortably in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ, sleep on daddy …. my daddy! I know a flight of angels have taken you safely home …
– Oghogho Asemota
My Dad. My Chairman. My idol. My best friend. My G!!
I can’t believe I’m writing this. How? It’s true that you can never be ready to let go. I can’t believe you left me like this. Even if you were 100, I would still be in shock. There is and was still so much ground to cover. You were a wealth of knowledge and for that, I’m truly grateful.
I’m forever indebted to you for the amazing lessons you’ve taught me, the time you invested training me and the effort you put into moulding me. I will continue to make you proud and we will work hard to build a legacy as great as the one You left behind.
If I can only be half the man that you were, I would’ve fulfilled my purpose on earth. I’ll miss you Dad. Rest in perfect Peace.
Your Son,
– Iredia Oluwagbenga Asemota
TRIBUTE TO THE MOST AMAZING FATHER IN LAW
May 19th 2022 will forever remain an indelible and sad moment in my life. This is because it will now be recorded as My late older brother Adeola’s birthday and the very day when the news of the death of my father inlaw shook my world. My Pa Sunny. How do I begin to write about someone I always thought would live forever? How do I speak in past tense about you? My absolute favorite person. My wise counsel, the most neutral person in the world? He just got me. He saw past everything and anyone’s opinions and saw me. He made me feel seen and heard.
Pa Sunny was the only man who could make me turn off KDRAMA for a Man U match.
Pa Sunny was not my father in law. He was my other Father. He was my Dad …. And My dad was my hero. He was the most upright and Just man. I never questioned if he loved or cared for me because he made it so obvious. When I would call, Daddy would let out the heartiest laugh and say “Heh heh heh, Tokunbo, How are youuuuu?” In his warm, soulful voice. Daddy, you will be dearly missed. Who will I report Iredia to, knowing you’ll have my back? Who will call laugh and call my kids Charlie Chaplin? Your story is nothing short of inspiring. You were an Enigma. A force. A light. No one can replace the void you’ve left behind. Your family will miss you and the light you brought to us. Mummy misses you, but we’re keeping her spirit lifted in the best way we know how.
We know that you’re in a much better place and we will meet again soon. Until then, rest well Daddy. You will never be forgotten.
Your daughter
Mrs Fran Asemota
a.k.a Tokunbo
