A MAN OF MANY PARTS
Baba Oguns as we all used to refer to and call Venerable Godwin Adebayo Ogunlowo is in all truthfulness and sincerity a gentleman per excellence.
Baba Loke as he was also sometimes referred to by virtue of the location of his house on the tip of a plateau, in consideration of the topography of the Kumapayi Road in Iwo Road.
Baba Oguns was our Daddy Pa EA Idowu's closest ally, friend, relation and buddy and their character and live style seemed to intersect and correlate in various ways.
Venerable Ogunlowo was a man of honour, integrity, honesty, humility, calmness, forthrightness and peace, who at all times stood for the truth, he had a heart filled with love for all who he came in contact with, one could intuitively perceive the kindness and love that oozed out of his heart through his beautiful voice which was also so calming.
He was sincerely a man without a guile who had no mean streak in him and as he was a man of the scriptures what comes to mind here is Psalms 32:2 which states 'Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile'
He certainly was a man with a pure heart and not a single iota of animosity nor negativity could be ascribed to him. He was a loving husband and caring father not just to his biological children but to all and sundry be they relations in the familial sense and even to those with no family connection to him, this can be seen in the way he related to us children of Pa EA Idowu and the extended Idowu family, he was not one to differentiate nor discriminate between children and in- laws
He was an Husband, Father, Grandfather, an Administrator, a Priest and a Communitarian.
In his capacity as an administrator, he served in the Civil Service of the old Western Region/State thereafter Oyo State for over three decades, he rose to become Chief Protocol Officer, a position which entailed a lot of responsibilities and he performed diligently, effectively, efficiently without a blemish.
He was extremely straight forward and honest in the carrying out of his duties and official assignments.
Baba Oguns shunned all filthy lucre inspite of obvious temptations, which is a reflection once again of his integrity and honesty.
He was advised by some to effect a change in his date of birth in order to elongate his years of service, this man of integrity bluntly refused to do such, seeing it as wrong and indefensible based on his uprightness, values and principles.
He stood on the side of righteousness, undoubtedly he was a man who did not compromise on his integrity.
As Psalms 5:8 says in the Holy Bible ' Lead me O Lord in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies make the way straight before my face'
The Lord Almighty led Baba Ogunlowo in His righteousness and made his way straight.
As a Priest he was diligent in his service in the Lord's vineyard and practiced what he preached as evident in his life, seen by his contentment and happiness in serving the Lord Second( 2nd) Corinthians 9:10 states "Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, multiply your seed sown and increase the fruit of your righteousness". Venerable Ogunlowo was a sower in the vineyard of the Lord, he sowed abundantly and selflessly.
He was also a Communitarian who gave his all for every community in which he found himself, be it at work as a Civil Servant, at home as a husband, father and grandfather or in Iwo Road where he was one of the pillars of the community.
Baba Oguns, Baba Loke, our Baba, Venerable Godwin Adebayo Ogunlowo was without a doubt a kind and loving man who played his part in these different roles with the fear and word of the Lord guiding him all the steps of the way.
We shall all surely miss Baba Oguns, his dulcet soft voice, soliciting always of our well-being and ending such meetings with us with a prayer seeking the Lord's guidance and care for us.
We are however comforted that he lived his life guided by the word and dictates of the Lord Almighty our Creator as given to us by Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour who came to save us all form perdition.
The book of Hosea 2:19 says 'I will betroth thee unto me forever, yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgment and in loving kindness and in mercies.
James 3:18 says 'The fruit of the righteous is sown in them that make peace'
1st John 3:17 says 'Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doeth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous'
Our dear and loving Baba, Venerable Godwin Adebayo Ogunlowo was a peaceful man, a man with a good and loving heart, a man without guile and as far as we humans can say he sought to do that which was good and right all times, thereby seeking righteousness always.
He sincerely, genuinely and truly loved his neighbour as himself.
May his loving and gentle spirit awake to joyous activity in more luminous realms.
Amen.
Ayo Mosuro
For and on behalf of the Pa EA Idowu family