Ronke Kehinde/
Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Adeleye Oyebade mni held a 2-in-1 ceremony on December 22, when he drew a host of eminent personalities including state governors and senators to mark his birthday while thanking God for a successful police career and blessings on his family.
The events were initially planned to hold in December 2020, when Oyebade was pulled out of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), but it was postponed due to the Covid-19 situation all over.
On Wednesday, the retirement and 61st Birthday Thanksgiving was held at the RCCG Dominion Sanctuary on Vori Close, off ACME Rd, Ikeja, in Lagos with hundreds of people linking in through Zoom from around the world to participate in the Praise and Worship buoyed by a colorful Choir that was described as the best in the world.
It was followed by a Grand Reception at the Vantage Point Event Centre by the Church, where guests were entertained by Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, as well as the Faith Band, amid a flow of sumptuous Nigerian, European, Eurasian, and Oriental dishes, complemented with a variety of exotic beverages.
The ceremony was attended by the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State governor – Prince Dapo Abiodun, his predecessor – Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, retired Gen. Shina Ogunbiyi mni, his wife – Pastor Mrs. Ogunbiyi, Barrister Adeleke Adewolu, the Executive Commissioner, Nigerian Communication Commission, and Pastor Johnson Funso Odesola who delivered the prayer and goodwill message of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
He revealed that the DIG recently had another grandchild as he was planning for this event, and blessed God for all the great things He has done.
As he prayed for the congregation and the celebrator, he thanked God for watching over Oyebade and ensuring that celebration did not cease in his family.
Pastor Odesola prayed and thanked God for giving Oyebade the opportunity to serve the country.
He prayed that occasion of celebration will never depart from his life and that of those at the event.
He prayed for the governors represented and prayed that no member of the congregation will miss the kingdom of heaven.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Commissioner for Special Duties – Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins spoke glowingly of Oyebade’s virtues and prayed that such celebration will not cease from the lives of those in attendance.
Martins, who retired as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure six years ago before coming back to politics, told the congregation how dear Oyebade is to the state governor.
He said that the governor broke protocols to honor Oyebade, by directly assigning him to attend the event rather than subjecting the invitation to pass through the official channel.
Martins expressed joy that he was part of the event because it was at the church that he gave his life to Christ 25 years ago, and he went to Bible College while in the Church.
Retired AIG Olusola Subair, who represented Gov. Abiodun, revealed that he was Oyebade’s Course-Mate at the Police College, Ikeja. He also gave the congregation a gist of what they used to do at the college when boys were boys.
“I remember with Nostalgia, our times at the Police College, Ikeja. I remember when we joined the Force. We were very young and exuberant, ambitious… We were taken for the Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, but we were made to understand when we joined that we’ll be given Inspectors. None of us was happy, but we endured, we persevered. And when IGP came to our class one day and told us he would give us our ASP ranks, we were very happy. We always look forward to the evening to come…,” he said, as he went on to reveal how they used to jump over the fence to go to parties.
He said, “Leye had a small Toyota panel van that we took to all places – Ikeja, Abeokuta among other places. I remember once we were arrested by the Police at Lafenwa… I thank God for the life of Leye today. He’s a good friend. He’s a brother; a confidant. We have been together for over 30 years.”
Like Martins, Subair, who is the Pastor in charge of RCCG, Ogun Province 19, also revealed that his spiritual birth took place at the Dominion Sanctuary 27 years ago.
“In fact, my wife and I came to attend a service. We came to eat their food and we were arrested by Jesus. There used to be an inscription here: ‘Jesus, the Power that conquered the world’. Praise the Lord! I want to thank God for making me be part of this celebration today,” Subair said, as he conveyed the best wishes of the Governor and that of the good people of Ogun State to Oyebade and his family.
Oyebade was commended for his sterling qualities as a gentleman and officer who discharged his duties with great nobility and sense of purpose. He also received accolades for being a true patriot devoted to his calling and service to his fatherland.
Expressing joy that Oyebade was being celebrated for his good virtues, Amosun, who attended the same secondary school with the DIG, said, “That’s the way we are. That’s the way we were brought up.”
During the Church ceremony, 11 hymns were rendered, after a reading of the history of each.
DIG Oyebade led the first hymn – Praise to the Lord, written by Joachim Neander. The second hymn: I Have Found a Friend in Jesus, written by William Charles Fry, was handled by his wife – Adebimpe, the daughter of one-time Premier of the Western Region, Dauda Soroye Adegbenro.
Oyebade’s children, family, and friends also participated in the tasks.
The DIG’s son-in-law, Wole Ayodele was the reader for the Hymn – In Christ Alone, by Stuart Townsend; his wife, Ronke, followed with Count Your Blessings, by Johnson Oatman Jr.
His second son-in-law, Tayo Ojutalayo read the fifth Hymn – Blessed Assurance, by Fanny Crosby; the wife, Tola Ojutalayo handled the next Hymn – ‘Tis a Charming Sound’, written by Phillip Doddridge. The presentation was made from Alberta, Canada, just as Pastor Bisi Osinkoya, the DIG’s immediate younger sister also featured on the huge screen as she called in from North Carolina, USA.
Other members of the family who led the Hymns are Yinka Oyebade – ‘My Hope is Built on Nothing Less’ by Edward Mote; Deola Ogunyemi – ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’, by Thomas O. Chisholm; Funke Oyebade – ‘And Can It Be That I Should Gain’, by Charles Wesley; Bimbo Ogunbiyi – ‘To God Be the Glory,’ by Fanny J. Crosby, and AIG Subair presented the 11th Hymn – ‘Hold the Fort’, by Phillip P. Bliss.
The congregation watched a documentary on DIG Oyebade that chronicled his life from childhood to the peak of his career, during which a former Inspector General of Police and present Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Alhaji Musiliu Smith, described him as a very good ambassador of the Nigeria Police Force. The documentary showed his disciplined upbringing by his father – Pastor Isaac Olufemi Oyebade, the mother – Pastor Yinka Oyebade, and other family members, including his aunty – Mrs. Adunni Olaleye.
The documentary also showed tough briefs that he had handled as a member of the panel on Police Reforms, Port Reforms, and the Apo Six inquiry.
The Exhortation was handled by Pastor Niyi Osinubi, who urged Oyebade to take life easy now, as he prayed for a value-added life for everyone. He assured Oyebade that better days are still ahead of him, adding: “And your best is yet to come.”
The closing prayer and benediction were done by Pastor Adeoye Ogunleye, who oversees the Zone.
Dignitaries at the event included DlG Peter Babatunde Ogunyanwo (rtd), AIG Tunji Alapinni (rtd), Pastor Brown Oyitso in charge of the Parish; Mr. Damola Aderemi, Chief Lai Amoje, Chief Niyi Adegbenro, Barr. Sola Ojutalayo SAN and his wife, Chief Gboyega Okegbenro, Jagunmolu Rotimi Martins, Aare Remilekun Bakare, Mr. Gbayode Somuyiwa, Mr. Dimeji Mako, Mr. Dimeji Mako, Mr. Tayo Orekoya, Mr. Kola Olayinka, Engr and Mrs Tunji Oderinde, Mr Sina Adegbenro, Mr Rasheed Adegbenro, and Mr. Adewale Raji, the CEO, Odun Investment.
