MILE STONES
Testimonies Galore as Service of
Songs Held in Honour of Late Gbadebowale Wayne Aboderin.
By Oliver Iwelu
Testimonies
flowed like torrents in honour of Late Gbadebowale Wayne Aboderin, the Chairman
of Punch Newspaper. A service of song was held in his honour at the Church of
Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Diocese of Lagos West, Arch Bishop Vinning
Memorail Church Cathedral at the Haven, GRA, Ikeja, lagos.
The
service of songs was celebrated by the RT. Rev. Dr. James Odedeji and Relly,
his daughter, gave an inspiring testimonies of her father where she described
him as a great man, a respected entrepreneur and philanthropist. A chairman
like no other, sports enthusiasts’ and finally she said that she was very proud
of her father for the uncommon graces bestowed on him while he was on this
planet earth.
The
next testifier was an editorial staff of Punch Newspaper, Joel Nwokoma. He said
that their Late Chairman whom they fondly called the “Chair” was an epitome of
uncommon humbleness, humility, gentleness, kindness as he testified that the
chair was their Chairman only for seven years, but that, the seven years he called
the shots as the Punch Newspaper Chairman, he was very friendly to all and
sundry in the organization. Nwokeoma said that the Chair was everywhere within
the organization i.e. the newsroom, production unit, marketing section, etc and
he was heavily detribalized as a human being; that he does not care where
anyone hails from, that he watch word was merit.
He
said that the employees of the Punch Newspaper would miss him largely because
he was a problem solver at all times. Dr. Sina Fagbenro Byron read out a three
page well worded and heavily researched farewell Gbadebowale Wayne Aboderin,
fairwell Abode. He testified that they both entered the Government College
Ibadan (GCI) in the year 1970 when the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War ended and they
both also left GCI in the year 1974.
He
said that the three pages farewell tributes was written by 34 of them that
attended GCI and he expressed sympathies to his spouse Mrs. Titilayo Aboderin
and his daughters Relly and Nicole and the entire Aboderins. The next testifier
was an old student of Yeside Grammar School, Ibadan who said that Late Wale
Aboderin was a silent benefactor to the success, growth of the school in many
areas such as in the areas of developing basketball team for the school. She
said so many kinds words on behalf of Wale Aboderin.
The
Celebrant titled his sermon “Ambassador Returned Home”. He said that Late
Aboderin was an ambassador of God Almighty and when an ambassador finishes his
assignment in a foreign mission, that his government recalls him back, as he
said that is exactly what God Almighty has done in the life of Wale Aboderin.
He said that Wale was a child of God who worshipped God in truth and openness
of mind. He said that he was a great philanthropist who gave out to many
persons that came his way while he was on this planet earth.
He
told the audience the biblical story of the rich man who decked out on liny
purple and feasted on a daily basis and the poor Lazarus who came to the gate
of the rich man with the hope of picking up the crumbs that fell from his
table, yet, the rich man never bothered himself by assisting poor Lazarus,
rather, dog came and licked up his wounds for him.
The
priest said that what he could not do for poor Lazarus, the dog did for him.
And it came to pass that they both died and poor Lazarus was carried by Angels
of God to the Bossom of Father Abraham while the rich man went to Hades. He
said that there is Heaven and hell fire, and that the audience has the right to
choose heaven or hell fire. And again, he asked categorically what would people
say of you when God Almighty recalls you home?
The
priest prayed for Titilayo Aboderin, the elegant spouse of Late Chairman of
Punch Newspaper, her two little daughters, Relly and Nicole, the Aboderins, the
Community of Punch Newspaper and the audience. Yes, Wale lived for only three
scores on planet earth, yet, he overwhelmingly touched many lives in various
ways. His 60 years of life were very eventful (1958 – 2018).
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