We cannot lose anything or anyone IN HIM through WHOM we have GAINED ALL THINGS.
I join the entire family of the Oloyedes to thank the Lord for the life of our dear Daddy. He was and remains a father all true and all through.
I remember with childish eyes, watching this excellent man from our bedroom window at number 5, Jolaoso Street, Obanikoro, every work day of the week, preparing his car early in the morning ready to take the wife to work, the children to school and go about his business. He did it every day. Every morning. His routines went like clockwork and always excited us next door too to get up, get ready and get going. Always quiet but obviously very focused and disciplined. Never found fighting or seen drunken. Never! Always reserved and keen in his outlook. Smartly dressed and all well put together. A model of a man on mission. Someone I always admired. It was easy to do. He had a winning aura. It was spontaneous to like him and to want to be like him. A natural leader. I feel Mummy Kemi, Kemi herself, Tunji and Bode were specially privileged to know, love and call him "Daddy!"
I remembered with prideful joy, that day he came over to my parents to announce that they had been blessed with their own brand new home. A glowing confirmation that hardwork, resilience, resourcesfulness and resolution are true and genuine attributes of this great man and indeed virtues to emulate of him. It was mixed feelings thereafter for me and my siblings and I guess also my parents too, when the family relocated to that faraway place near Iju! Our best neighbours and friends from Obanikoro left us... I felt so happy for them to have their own home, brand new and all and all belonging to them! For me, a worthy achievement. But I was sad we weren't going to be seeing them again...Oh what a joy I had when we visited and were at the housewarming ceremony of the new place! It was a celebration. A confirmation of God's favour and blessedness. And the place wasn't all that far after all...We looked forward to many more visits and our families weren't separated by distance. And we the children grew and so did our relationships.
I remember the pride and joy on Daddy's face at Shomolu on Kemi's wedding day! That was a very beautiful picture of a man who believed God and was grateful for his blessings.
Daddy Abiola Oloyede, a doting and dutiful husband to his darling wife and a loving though strict father and nurturer to his seeds: Kemi, Tunji and Bode together with their own families, is sleeping now. Resting from all his bodily labours and toil but the love of his spirit and soul lingers with us all who were privileged and blessed by his life. I am one of them. There will be a morning after this night of sorrow and separation. I pray the Lord to preserve his soul and that of all others as well as ours. We all shall gather as living witnesses of eternal love at the Lamb's feet, where there will be no more pain or sad parting. I look forward to seeing Daddy Oloyede and my dear loving mother on that glorious banquet table...Sleep on, valiant soldiers of Christ. Sleep on. Till again we meet at His feet.
Good night Sir, for now...We continue to live and love you! We shall follow in your footsteps and keep dear to heart all the many lessons learnt from you and the example of your life, dedication and devotion...And soon, we say Good Morning...