IBARAPA OBAS, DES-AMIS, IGBOORA COMMUNITY PAYS TRIBUTE AS PA SUNDAY OJELABI FINALLY LAID TO REST

The remains of the late Ibarapa Icon, Late Prophet Sunday Olusola Ojelabi was finally laid to rest at his Onilado Ajadi’s family compound, Oke Iserin, Igboora on Friday, 21st October, 2022.

Funeral service in his honour was earlier held at Rev. Longley Memorial Methodist Church, Oke Agogo, Igboora between 10am to 12:38pm before his corpse was intered into mother earth at exactly 1pm.

In his sermon, the Presbyter and minister in charge of the Methodist church, Igboora circuit, The very Rev. Olubunmi Adebayo Famose, after reading the scripture, he urged people to remain kind-hearted like Pa Ojelabi during his lifetime. He told the congregation about how the deceased moved his community forward before he died.

Rev. Famose beseeched people to live their lives as if they would die the next minute as no one knows when death will come knocking on the door. He urged parents to teach and lead their children in the ways of God so that they would be able to rest well in their old age. In his words, he said” the child that you did not build well will eventually sell the house that you built at a giveaway price”. He also added that every soul shall taste death and that people should prepare before death comes like a thief in the night. He implored the congregation to live a holy life, a life free from filth.

In conclusion, the Presbyter advised the congregation to write their will before death comes so that there would be no chaos after their demise from the world.

Personalities across walks of life graced the funeral service and the reception program held at the Methodist Grammar school playing ground, Saganun, Igboora. Traditional rulers across Ibarapa were led by His Majesty, Oba Jimoh Titiloye, Olu of Igboora. Others include His Majesty, Oluaso of Iberekodo, Oba Jamiu Badmos, Babaaso of Iberekodo-Igbole, Oba Joshua Ojo, Onisaganun of Saganun, Oba Fasasi Jinad and Onidofin of Idofin, Oba Samuel Adeleye who personally graced the event to honour the highly refered Icon.

Surviving members of the late Icon’s club (Ibarapa Des Amis) led by the former Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Chief Larape Jolaoso and former Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy matters, Dr. Sunday Ojelabi Morakinyo were physically present to pay their last respect to the late Icon, in their interaction with Asako News, they separately described Pa Ojelabi as a loyal friend who can use the last drop of his blood towards community service. They reminisce their good old days, how Pa Ojelabi had always been a trustworthy, influential and dependable friend and colleague.

Personalities at the burial include Alhaja Ranti Adedigba, Otunba Ademola Ojo, Dr. Anthony Adepoju, Alhaji Hazan Okunade, Prof. Akinola Akinlabi, Hon. Yemi Akinlabi, Prince (Alhaji) Tayo Akinyemi, Igboora community and religious leaders

It would be recall that Asako News reported the death of late Pa Sunday Ojelabi passed away on 16th of August, 2022 after a brief illness at the ripe age of 85.

Pa Sunday Olusola Ojelabi was born into the family of Chief Gabriel Abiona Ojelabi and Madam Comfort Adepate Ojelabi (both of blessed memory) on May 7, 1937 at Onilado Ajadi’s Compound, Oke Iserin, Igboora, Ibarapa Central Local Government, Oyo State. He was from a noble homestead.

Late Pa Sunday Olusola Ojelabi had his primary school education at Ibarapa’s premier school, Methodist Primary School, Oke Agogo, Igboora between January 1944 and December, 1951. He obtained Professional Teacher’s Certificate at the Local Authority Teacher’s Training College, Oke Ado, Ibadan and was qualified as a Grade III teacher in 1956. He was admitted into Wesley College, Ibadan in 1962 and graduated in 1963 with a Grade II Teaching Certificate. He started his career as a teacher in his Alma Mater, Methodist School, Oke Agogo in 1953 and served up till 1963. From 1964 to 1968, he served as an Assistant Executive Officer at the University of Ibadan Ibarapa Community Health Project.

Pa Sunday Ojelabi was described as a voice of truth and social justice crusader whose conscience could not be bought or scarred. When Ibarapa takes her pride of place as the global village, Pa Sunday Ojelabi would be remembered as one of the last patriarchs and an intellectual powerhouse for Ibarapa.