Ololade Adeyanju/
Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, and Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Uche, were among prominent Nigerians who extolled the virtues of renowned industrialist and the Parakoyi of Ibadanland, Chief Bode Akindele, at his funeral in Ibadan, today.
The funeral service was held at Agbeni Methodist Cathedral, where the late Akindele held the title of the first Baba Ijo (Grand Patron) until his demise.
Apart from the Methodist prelate, some of the other clerics who witnessed the service included, the Prelate Emeritus of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Sunday Makinde; Archbishop Emeritus M. Kehinde Stephen; Archbishop Olumuyiwa Odejayi of Methodist Archdiocese of Ibadan, among others.
Makinde, in his speech at the funeral service, noted that Akindele “numbered his days in wisdom” and left a pattern for others to follow, adding that the late chairman of Modandola Group lived a good life and left indelible marks on the sands of time.
According to him, Akindele followed the Biblical admonition in Psalm 90 verse 12, that we should number our days and incline our hearts unto wisdom.
“To Baba’s family, I say this, you may not see Baba physically anymore but our loved ones never really leave us. They live forever with us. Each time we hear a voice that sounds like theirs, someone that shares a similar look or act as they do, we are reminded that a part of them always remains with us. But even more than that, we take solace in the fact that someday, very soon, we will all meet again never to part,” the governor said.
He further stated, “On this occasion, what came to my mind was Psalm 90 verse 12 and I was surprised that when I came in here, it was the same verse that we read: Teach us to number our days that we may apply our heart unto wisdom. So, to number our days in wisdom is to leave a mark in the sands of time. It means to ensure that when we are no more and people are to speak of us, they won’t struggle to find things to say because we have left a legacy for posterity.
“The first time I met Baba physically was in this church and I said to him that I have been looking for an opportunity for us to meet face-to-face. My father did pray that when I grow up, I should be like Chief Bode Akindele, Parakoyi of Ibadanland. This means Baba numbered his days in wisdom.”
The governor recalled how Chief Akindele had wanted to volunteer his multimillion Naira medical facility to the state government as an isolation centre at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, saying “Baba was looking for me on how to use his medical facility as an isolation centre for Oyo State. Not only that, it is also on record that Baba is the largest single donor to Oyo State COVID-19 Endowment Fund. So, he was a legend and will live forever.
“He achieved success as an entrepreneur, industrialist and philanthropist. So, he remains a model for me. After I won the election, those that are familiar with my electioneering campaign will remember I promised that once we come in, I would go to Ikere Gorge Dam and ensure that, within one year in office, Oyo State must go into freshwater stream farming. So, I came in and we started all the work. At that time, Baba invited me to his house at Alomaja and I was with him for about two hours that day. He tore all my ideas into pieces. He told me of the challenges he went through when he was into stream thing. And we have committed a lot of resources of Oyo State into that effort.
“After I left Baba, I went back home and called some of those that are close to me and told them Baba has succeeded in tearing our ideas to pieces and, as a result, we would not go ahead with it. This is because we would not commit Oyo State resources to a project that we cannot see the end from the beginning.
“So, I lost and then we went back to the drawing board. We are doing a lot more research to see if this can still be done in a way that will be beneficial to Oyo State because I was looking for the opportunity to win the argument with Baba, but Baba answered the call of God. So, I acknowledged that I lost that argument with Baba and there is nothing I can do anymore.
“My joy is full today because I eventually got to meet Baba. I actually wish that my father would be alive when I met him. I would have gone home to say that Daddy, I finally met the papa that you always pray that I should be like him. I met him even on that trajectory to fulfilling God’s plan over my life.”
The governor added that the Akindele he knew was kindhearted and accessible, noting that he would be missed by a lot of people to whom he was a role model.
“So, Chief Akindele that I knew was a kindhearted man, easy to talk to and get along with. And when I say this, I know I speak for all. It is not only Mama and his children and grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by all of us. He numbered his days in wisdom and left a pattern for us all. So, the greatest tribute we can pay him is to continue in his footsteps and making sure that his legacy does not die.
“To Baba’s family, I say this, you may not see papa physically anymore but our loved ones never really leave us. They live forever with us. Each time we hear a voice that sounds like theirs, someone that shares a similar look or act as they do, we are reminded that a part of them always remains with us. But even more than that, we take solace in the fact that someday, very soon, we will all meet again never to part.”
In his sermon at the funeral, the Methodist prelate admonished those in privileged positions to emulate the late Akindele’s love for God and humanity, adding that this was a virtue that distinguished him from his peers.
Uche recalled Akindele’s numerous contributions to the development of Methodist Church, especially Wesley University in Ondo, as well as the various capacities in which he served in the church.
He described him as a great philanthropist and businessman who would never be forgotten by the countless people, whose lives he impacted positively.
Uche added that the late Akindele served God and humanity to the best of his ability, adding that the family he left behind must build on his legacy by ensuring equity, unity and righteousness among the family.
Also commenting on the prevailing socio-economic situation in the country, the cleric lamented the growing insecurity and massive looting of the nation’s treasury, which he said were retarding the development of the nation.
Others who eulogised the late businessman included the body of Knights of the church. The late Akindele was a member of the Knights of John Wesley of the Methodist Church.
Akindele was the founder of one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous conglomerates, Mondandola Group of Companies, and the Fairgate Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.
Bode Akindele died on June 29 at the age of 87.
He is survived by 10 daughters and a son – Bolaji.
The daughters are Toyin Isemede, Biola Aderibigbe, Shola Aridegbe, Biodun Duduyemi, Ajoke Braithwaite, Yemisi Oladapo, Titi Madedor, Folake Coker, Ayo Akindele, and Iyabo Shonibare.
See photos of late Akindele’s children and guests at the funeral service below:
