ODUNFA FAMILY ORATION AT FOLI’S LYING-IN-STATE 21/4/2016
Four months ago our family was inconsolable over the death of our sister, mother and grandmother Mrs Adepeju Agbeke Seriki. That we are again gathered today in mourning over another, even more painful, death is a manifestation of the inexorable way of God which passes all understanding.
As human beings we have tended to situate our grief in the fact of this death, paying no attention whatsoever to yet another fact – that it could have been worse. So it took 65 years for him to succumb to death, a period during which God blessed him generously, he raised his own family, he dutifully raised his children to a level at which their life success was guaranteed and he saw his children’s children.
Therefore even in our deep sorrow we realize and we proclaim that God has been faithful to the Odunfa family. Foli, we thank God for your life. Your last days were not as we would wish but we have chosen to remember you as you were in life – a hardworking man, an uncompromisingly honest person, very stubborn in sticking to your decided course of action, a husband without blemish, a devoted father and, above all, a true Christian. We can never forget the episode in your life story when Satan mobilized a fearsome army against your integrity. Rather than bow to the lure of instant wealth you remained true to your conscience and to God. We are proud of you now as we were then. Where are those warriors of iniquity today? We believe it would have been better had they never lived.
Last week Seyi sent a message to the family on his discussion with you on your birthday, 1st of April. I quote him: “he emphasized the need for love and unity. Please remember him for who he was before his illness: a man who loved you all dearly and fought very hard to remain with us until he could fight no more.” Foli, we shall not do less.
Dotun, may God Almighty stand by you in this unexpected phase of your life. You performed your wifely duty almost to perfection. Foli himself expressed it in the impromptu dance both of you performed at Bukola’s wedding party last September – a dance which drew all the guests’ attention and applause. Foli told us later that it was to mark your wedding anniversary. There could have been no better and public expression of the love between you.
Have faith, our dear ‘Iya Alaje’, as all our children call you affectionately, the God who prospered our widowed mother will take care of you.
Seyi, Opeyemi, Folake and Dayo, you are exemplary children. May God reward you generously for the excellent care you took of your father in his last years. You will receive more from your own children.
Foli, omo agbo d’ere n’Isheri, o d’igb’ose, O d’arin’na ko, o d’oju ala!