HONORABLE CHIEF JUSTICE BABATUNDE DELANO (1935-2020)“Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died. that distinguish one man from another.”
~ Ernest Hemingway 1954, Nobel Prize Winner from Chicago
I call Hon Justice Babatunde Delano simply and respectfully BROTHER. He was my much older Brother.
He held positions of increasing responsibilities in the then Western Region of Nigeria civil service in the ’60s and ’70s and was elevated to a Judge in Ogun State at a young age of 42, promoted again to the High Office of Chief Justice of Ogun state, a position he held for 10 years before his retirement in the year 2000.
Let us all turn our grief into something extraordinary, as we honor his memory and celebrate his life in a unique way. A life of devoted and remarkable service; a characteristic that is uncommon in our society today, yet much needed! A lifetime of remarkable service was his ‘motto’ to live by! He made a difference working whole-heartedly for a cause he believed in....pursuit of Justice.
We can all learn from the words of Stephen Grellett, an American clergyman, written over 200 years ago, but very relevant to our world today.
“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
Indeed, Justice Delano was a drum major for Justice.
To me, Brother often displayed his humor, for he liked to play harmless tricks on me to provoke laughter and provide amusement. I will miss this!
He loved his children. This I know, as when his eldest daughter, Yejide was attending boarding school in England, he wrote me a loving letter (more like an extended essay) of how a young uncle and guardian should care for his niece! It was not any different on learning that Yejide met her future husband at my London home. This time it was a verbal interrogation of me with his sound legal mind A loving father indeed!
To his devoted wife of over 5 decades, Mama Jide, what an extraordinary Partnership. My condolences Ma!
To my nieces and nephew, Yejide, Fola, Mobola, and Funlola. Do not mourn because your father has left this life, but smile and rejoice as we celebrate his good inning of 85.
I pray he has gone to a higher calling and a much nobler life. At the rising of the sun, and its going down ... we shall remember him well.
Lastly, but most important of all, I praise Father God Almighty, our awesome creator, the giver of ALL life for His unconditional love and protection over all family members as we mourn yet, celebrate the Homegoing of our Olori Ebi, Father, Brother, Uncle, and grandfather: Hon Justice Isaac Babatunde Delano.
May his soul rest in peace.
Chief J. Gboyega Olatokunbo DELANO, HDip Theology (Oxon), MBA, MA, CPA, FCIM