Ex-Anglican Primate Adetiloye buried amid encomiums

The remains of the late Primate of the Anglican Communion, Most Reverend (Dr.) Joseph Adetiloye were buried in his home town, Odo-Owa, Ekiti yesterday. He was buried at St. Paul’s Millenium Anglican Church where the funeral service was also held.
The revered cleric died a few days before his 83rd birthday. The sleepy community witnessed an unprecedented number of visitors in its history as the Christian wake and funeral service were graced by the family members and many others from all walks of life.
The state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, his wife Dame Fayemi, Police Affairs Minister, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (retd), former Governor of Western Region, General Adeyinka Adebayo (retd), former governors of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Ayo Fayose and Segun Oni were among dignitaries that were present at the funeral.
Taking his Bible reading from 2 Timothy 4: 7-8, the Primate of the Church, Most Reverend, Nicholas Okoh, admonished the congregation to see the occasion as an opportunity to mend their relationship with their creator.
He said: “Late Adetiloye struggled with man and sin and the elements of the world. He has finished the fight and now at rest. He has entered the eternal presence of God into eternal salvation.
“We are not here to help him, that is not possible now. We are here to see the possibility of changing our lives to make meaning here and hereafter. If you don’t understand it, I say to you that you need Jesus. You need him to make a case on the last day. If you have not settled with him, this is an opportunity to have a spiritual birth so that your future can have eternal meaning.”
He described the deceased as “a committed and powerful evangelist both locally and internationally. It is by divine arrangement that he is being buried today that we celebrate St. Paul who was a great servant of God. He waged a total war against secret societies and we should not in any way rehabilitate or revive it in the name of religion.”
The widow of the deceased, Titilayo Oyinola, in a chat with newsmen,said she would forever remember him as a man who loved God so much. “ He was a lovely and wonderful man of God. He loved to see everybody happy. He could go to any lenght to do this. He wanted fulfilment for everybody in a righteous way,” she said.
Governor Fayemi displayed a rare sense of humility when he was called upon to address the people by calling on Captain Olubolade, the representative of President Goodluck Jonathan to address the congregation.
Addressing the people, Captain Olubolade said: “ As you are aware, President Jonathan travelled and just returned and it an honour for me to represent him. We are gathered here to celebrate him who rose from humble beginning to become the head of the Anglican Communion. He undoubtedly excelled in his assignment while alive. He was a humane and a dependable community leader who was loved in return by people within and outside the country. President Jonathan commiserates with the family, the people of Odo- Owa, Ekiti State and the people of Nigeria.”
Governor Fayemi’s respect was, however, rewarded as he was immediately recalled to speak after Captain Olubolade.
“This is a celebration of life that was totally committed in all its sacrificial sense to the work of God. I am privileged to consider myself as one of his sons” the governor said, adding that “the late Primate’s Iddo Declaration speaks to all politicians in this land to declare that never again shall we spill the blood of our people on the altar of politics.
“I, as the governor, stand here to say that I will abide by this declaration. I want to on behalf of the politicians here present and others in the state say that we would all abide by it. I am putting N5million into the service of this church to assist in the propagation of the faith and evangelism which Baba lived and died for.”
In his tribute titled ‘The Primate on a Hill’, the governor described the late cleric as a fearless man who spoke the truth always. He said : “My earliest memories of Baba as we endearingly called him dates back to my days as a student of Christ School, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti, Nigeria. Baba used to live on top of the famous Agidimo Hill within the school. Baba was an integral part of the school life in that anytime we students ran into trouble with the school authority, the principal would run up to Baba on the hill for intervention. Baba would often come down and mediate in the impasse, ensuring the return of normalcy before he left.
“In the last years of his glorious life, though Baba was a global citizen, he demonstrated his love for the land of honour, Ekiti State, by refusing entreaties from more cosmopolitan states of the federation to settle down in retirement in his native Odo-Owa. Baba’s presence in the community no doubt raised its profile, not only considering the numerous distinguished visitors who paid homage to him, but also on account of him frequently putting his weight seeking solutions to issues that affected his kinsmen.
“In fact, the last time I spoke with him was when he called to discuss details of an ongoing project. However, Baba never laboured the goodwill and love he knew I had for him; majority of the times he called for the purpose of checking on my welfare and praying for me. The people of Ekiti State, Nigeria are extremely glad to have had Baba spend his last years with us.”
Governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State and their Ogun State counterpart, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, also paid tributes to the late indefatigible man of God. In his tribute titled ‘ Uncanny and Photographic Memory, Governor Fashola said: “Primate Adetiloye was truly a man of virtue and greatness. We are thankful to God for sending us his servant, indebted to the late Primate for his worthwhile contributions and proud to be counted him amongst our eminent citizens in Lagos.
“On behalf of grateful Lagos State, including my wife, Abimbola, the government and the people, we thank the family for graciously lending their son, brother, father and grandfather and pray for his joyful repose with the Lord. It is no less than he deserves.”
“He will be foundly remembered for being always on the side of the people and for his active involvement in the struggle for demilitarization and enthronement of democratic rule in the country. I urge the family not to mourn, but thank God Almighty for his life in the belief that he has transited to heavenly glory. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace,” Governor Aregbesola stated in his tribute titled ‘Active Involvement in the Struggle for Demilitarization’.
Governor Amosun, in his tribute titled ‘A Life of Uncommon Dedication, said: “The Most Reverend Adetiloye lived a life of uncommon dedication to the service of God and humanity. During his 11years’ reign as the Primate, the Church of Nigeria witnessed spiritual transformation and complete eradication of secret cults. His messages on the pulpit were distinct and critical of a better society.