Grand burial holds for Pa.Nathaniel Olaosetenikan Fafoluyi
By Steve Ovirih
The remains of Baba Eto, Late Pa.Nathaniel Olaosetenikan Fafoluyi has been buried in his country home, Erinje in Okitipupa Local Government.
The funeral programme for the strong community stakeholder had started on Thursday with a wake keep and night of tribute at his quarter, Ebiekuraju.
On Friday, May 1, family, friends and guests from far and near gathered at a solemn funeral service at Methodist Church Nigeria, Erinje, for the deceased.
The requiem featured songministration, thanksgiving dance and special message from the pulpit. In the funeral sermon, the Presbyter, The Rev. Blessing Owoola indicated that funeral sermon is not meant for the death but the living and the living still have the grace that the dead no longer have therefore, it is very important for everyone to live well, live right and live according to God’s words and ways. Quoting from The Bible, the Presbyter said it is appointed onto man to die once and what follows is judgement, stressing that Christians are enjoined not to live their life as if there is no judgement and there is no life after death. ” God uses programmes like this to gently nudge our heart to the reality of death as no one on earth will escape the grim reality and for people who lived a just, righteous life, they wake up to the grand welcome of saints in paradise.”
The Rev. Blessing Owoola who spoke with the polity.net in an exclusive chat on the fringe of the service said Late Pa. Fafoluyi was a staunch member of Methodist Church and lived his life for Christ , upholding fairness and equity in his interpersonal relationship with others. He noted that the Erinje Local Church will miss him because he was steadfast in the things of the Lord.
Interment which held at Pa. Fafoluyi’s Ebiekuraju quarters, Erinje bode for the children a feeling of solemn understanding that their patriarch won’t be holding forte anymore the revered leadership role in the noble and royal family. The committal and dust to dust as coordinated by the Priests elicited grieve and tears of the loss of a darling father among the children.
A grand party and warm reception for guests followed at The Methodist Primary School playing field as Sir Demola Suzy, SDS and his musical band held the guests spell bound with exciting melodies and danceable highlife flow.
Apesin Oluyemi Fafoluyi, son of Late Pa. Nathaniel Fafoluyi, who had an exclusive chat with thepolity. net described his father as a disciplinarian, a very stern one , yet a lover of his children who committed so strongly to his children’s welfare. Asked what fond memory he could recall about his father, Apesin Oluyemi Fafoluyi said his father can’t stomach indolence so he was always ensuring that his children are agile and up and doing. He noted that his father was a foremost educationist in Ikale land and this rubbed off on his children.
Born of a revered royal lineage, Late Pa. Fafoluyi’s life was marked by honor, discipline and humility; born 13th September, 1934 into the distinguished Ebiekuraju Royal Family of Erinje Kingdom, the deceased in the course of his growth was influenced by royalty, values, a firm pattern of discipline which shaped his world view till the very end. After his academic pursuit which peaked with a Bachelor of Education (BE. D) from University of Nigeria, UNN, Nsukka, he had an enviable teaching career with the Public Service and he had a stint with the Inspectorate Division, Ministry of Education where he handled establishment, supervision and organization of schools in the old Ondo State.
Late Pa. Nathaniel Fafoluyi was survived by children , grand children and great grandchildren.
