Sola Adeyemo, Ibadan
Pastor of the New Reservation Area Baptist Church, Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State, Revd. Dr. Kayode Oyedemi, on Friday, disclosed that late Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte of the Oyo State Judiciary knew he would die, and so had planned his funeral, chose the cemetery his remains would be buried, and had paid for his vault.
The clergy made this revelation during his sermon at the funeral service organized in honour of the Eruwa-born late jurist who died on June 24, 2024 after a brief battle with illness. The 64-year old son of a former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, was survived by his wife: Woraola Ayoola and three children: Oladiran, Oladokun, Oladotun.
Quoting from the Book of II Kings 13, and 20; Hebrew 11; as well as, II Samuel 12, Revd. Oyedemi who said that he had never seen anybody prepare his own funeral so deep as Justice Gbolagunte did, noted that “It is not unusual for saints to die of sickness from attack. If prayers can stop death, Justice Gbolagunte would not have died because upon revelation that he would die of the sickness, we were praying, but when the sickness of the beloved is unto death, no amount of prayers can heal the sickness, no matter how perfect one could be in faith.
“The sickness of Lazarus was not unto death, but that of Elisha was unto death. God knows why he has called Justice Gbolagunte home at this time. While we were praying and believing that God would spare his life, he had accepted his faith himself. I remember his last admission to the hospital about two or three days to his death. Then I asked if he was still holding unto God in faith and he said yes.
“Since last year, he had told me that his funeral is to be held in Ibadan here. He had told me the cemetery. I have been hearing about it, but I have not seen anybody who planned his funeral so deep as Justice Gbolagunte did. All the arrangements you see, he had chosen and contacted people you see carrying them out. He had contacted everybody. When he paid for the vault, he told me, and he connected me with the person that was in charge of that. That is to tell you that he was convinced that God said that his time had come. And that is one of the greatest ways to die. For you to know when you are going to die helps you to get settled, not with God, but with every other thing. He had that privilege.
“God told Hezekiah that he would not recover, but he would die. God said, ‘set your house in order for you shall die’. It is one of the greatest ways to die. People like that will never miss heaven. That is the assurance that Hon. Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte has gone to be with Christ”, Revd. Oyedemi said.
Addressing the children left behind by the late jurist, the Reverend said that “you have a mother with strong faith and a prayerful one. You have a father with a high level of integrity, who was not corrupt. You must hold aloft the two qualities of your parents. If we have many of Justice Gbolagunte in Nigeria, the country would be better. He stood for integrity. Public service holders should ruminate on this. His colleagues should search themselves how they are dispensing justice. Bad leadership persists when there is bad followership. In Nigeria, we combine the two. Are our leaders of today not followers of the past? How much has their past criticisms helped our Nation now? Let us ruminate on this”, he said.
In attendance at the funeral service were many dignitaries from all walks of life including the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, many Judges (serving and retired); Senior Advocates of Nigeria, NBA executives and members; old secondary school mates of the deceased from Birch Freeman High School, Surulere; Baale of Aborerin in Eruwa, High Chief Olaide Ojedapo; friends and relatives of the Gbolagunte family, among others.
