Above was part of the prayers said by Sir(Chief)Bode Akindele,OFR,KJW,when he led a 4-man delegation on a condolence visit to the widow of the late Alhaji Adegboyega Arulogun,sometime last year.The other three sympathisers on that visit were a close friend of Sir,Brigadier-General Oluwole Rotimi (retired),who is a former Military Governor of the old Western State of Nigeria,Emeritus ArchBishop Ayo Ladigbolu of the Methodist Church Nigeria and my humble self,Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi,Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadanland.
Early in the morning of the day of the said condolence visit, Sir(Chief)Akindele’s loyal and efficient butler,Ahmed,had called me on the phone from Sir’s home in Apapa,Lagos State,and as was routine,after courtesies,said,”Sir,e jowo,e hold on fun awon Baba”(Sir,please,holdon for Baba.”)
Next on the phone came Sir with his familiar greeting,”Oloye Olubadan,how are you and your family?I am coming to Ibadan this afternoon to pay a condolence visit to the Aruloguns.If you are in Ibadan,please,where and how do we meet? I want you to lead me to the Aruloguns,as I want to commiserate with them on the death of their father,Alhaji Adegboyega Arulogun ”
I replied that I was in Ibadan,and since the Aruloguns reside at the Agodi Government Reservation Area of the city,could he please pick me up at Omo Ajorosun Club,some five minutes drive to the Aruloguns home?
Ever humble and considerate,Sir agreed to.He added that Emeritus ArchBishop Ladigbolu,from Oyo Town,would be joining us,as well as Brigadier-General Rotimi,on the condolence visit.
Typically,Sir arrived Omo Ajorosun Club minutes ahead of schedule.Again,his distinguished presence at my prestigious social club House boosted my profile among club members and our visitors present.A whole Sir(Chief)Bode Akindele in our club, again,at my instance!
We called ArchBishop Ladigbolu on phone to know his location.His Lordship replied that an unexpected traffic jam at the Ojoo/NISER Roundabout in Ibadan had delayed his arrival.
We then agreed to await his arrival in the home of Brigadier-General Rotimi,also on the Agodi GRA.
Since His Lordship had never been to the Rotimis before,I went to lead him from the Oyo State Government Secretariat gate to the Rotimis home,less than 3 minutes away.
All now connected,we ‘coasted’ to the Aruloguns,and were received by the widow and other family members.
Sir consoled with the Aruloguns.He recounted his warm relationship with Alhaji Arulogun,and prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed.
The late Alhaji Arulogun,a former Commissioner of Information/Works and Housing in old Oyo State,was close to Sir,and was also a regular attendant of the Sir(Chief)Bode Akindele-FRCN IBADAN ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROLS at Alomaja,Ibadan.
May the noble and kind souls of all the departed continue to rest in perfect peace.Amen.
