High powered delegation from the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos and the Oyo Catholic Diocese led by the Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Reverend Dr. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, were in the ancient palace of Oyo to commiserate with His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba ( Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, over the death of his brother, the Very Reverend Father Peter Olayiwola Adeyemi.
Very Reverend Father Peter Olayiwola Adeyemi was ordained a Catholic Priest for the Archdiocese of Lagos on 30th November, 1975.
For forty six years, Very Reverend Father Adeyemi was devotedly in the vineyard of God.
In his address, Most Rev. Badejo who described Very Reverend Father Adeyemi as ” a mentor, conscientious , awesome, and dedicated Priest whose legacies would withstand the tests of time”.
Badejo recalled how he benefitted from the teaching, mentoring and wealth of experience of Very Reverend Father Adeyemi before he Rose to become a Bishop, adding that his death was a ” colossal loss to the Catholic Mission”.
The Bishop however prayed God to grant the Paramount Ruler and the entire Royal family the gratitude to bear the irreparable loss.
A letter of condolence was later presented to the Alaafin by the Bishop who was assisted by the representative of Lagos Archdiocese, His Grace, the Most Reverend Dr. Alfred Adewale Martin’s, and His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie.
Also speaking , the retired Arch Bishop of Methodist Nigeria, His Eminence, Most Reverend Lawrence Ayo Ladugbolu, said ” Very Reverend Father Adeyemi was a redoubtable, caring and committed brother and Minister of God, whose passion and resilience for human resources development should be source of inspiration to younger generations”.
Arch Bishop Ladigbolu thanked the Lagos Archdiocese and the high powered delegation for their commiseration and consolation and also prayed God to grant them journey mercies back to their respective destinations .
Reading the content of the letter, representative of both the Archbishop.of Lagos Archdiocese and His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Monsignor Anthony Obanla, who is also the Chancellor, Lagos Archdiocese, said “the entire Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos , Clergy, Religious and Laity , with deepest sentiments share the news of the death of your brother who was and who will always be one of us because we believe in the resurrection of the dead.
” In the last few years, he ( late Very Reverend Father Adeyemi) had been I’ll, in and out of hospital until he eventually passed on this week “.
He went further, ” the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos in the name of our Archbishop , His Grace , the Most Reverend Dr. Alfred Adewale Martin’s, together with his predecessor , His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has asked us to convey to you , with deep sorrow , but also with total submission to the will of God, the passing of your beloved brother, Very Reverend Father Peter Olayiwola Adeyemi , who on Monday 3rd May , 2021, answered the home call at exactly 6:30 pm at Sacred Heart Hospital , Lantoro, Abeokuta.
” Kabiyesi, please accept our condolences. May the soul of Your brother , our priest , Very Reverend Father Peter Olayiwola Adeyemi and the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace”.
Burial arrangement, according to Obanla will commence on Thursday, 20th May, 2021, with Christian Wake at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos, and his Funeral is slated for Friday 21st May, 2021, at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos will be followed by his Interment at the Ikoyi Cemetry, Lagos.
In his response, Oba Adeyemi created a heart- shaped meadow in memory of a loved one to building a monument in the middle of the Sahara desert, as his moving tributes demonstrated how beauty, hope and inspiration can grow from grief.
The Paramount Ruler noted that “we all try to live a fulfilling life, but there is a great fear of death that tends to hold many people back from living the life they want to. It tends to be the unknown world that makes us be fearful of death, but when you start to look at death from a different perspective, it can clear away some of the fears.
“These quotes about life and death will remind you to live each day to the fullest and not to fear death so much. Life is such a wonderful gift, it makes me humble every single time I stop and think about it. Think about going to sleep and never waking up again”.
Alaafin pointed out that thinking about death stretches and alters one’s perception, adding that accepting something you cannot change reduces suffering, as it allows one to overcome fear and punch it right in the face.
Said he, “it also reveals the importance of love. Many people don’t realize, until it’s too late, that cherishing your friends and family should be your number one priority.
“Thinking about death allows you to figure out what your priorities in life should be. Everybody wants to die in peace without any regrets. You must figure out what you want to accomplish and create multiple goals for yourself. My beloved, intelligent, hardworking, resilient, humble, and diligent brother did his best while in the service of God. He is no more, but his goodness and legacies are now living after him as being witnessed here today and elsewhere”.
The Royal Father further asserted that ” one can achieve anything and be anybody one wants to be. Other people on Earth are humans just like you. They are flesh and bones, just like you. You have the ability to do anything that they do. The only limit is the one you set for your yourself”.
While thanking the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos for the honour done on his revered instution, through a befitting high powered delegation to commiserate with him on the death of his brother, Alaafin ended up his emotion laden address thus, “it is important to honour those who have gone before us, and it can be very hard to let go. Even though a loved one would wish us to move on and enjoy our lives, it is a difficult step to take. It might be helpful to remember that you will always grieve the loss of your loved one, but that grief will become less acute in time. In fact, after a time, remembering your loved one may bring more comfort than pain. All things grow with time — except grief”.
A special prayer was offered for the Paramount Ruler for long life, good health and divine grace, before the high powered delegation departed the ancient Palace.
On the Entourage of the delegation were Very Reverend Father Mathew Ogunyase, Chairman, Catholic Priests in Yorubaland; Very Reverend Father Stephen Akinsowon, Dean, Ajah Deanery, Lekki, Lagos and Secretary , Priests Welfare Committee, Lagos Archdiocese; Monsignor Emmanuel.Yakubu, former Vicar General; Very Reverend Father Dr. Francis Feminine Oladipo, current Vicar General; Very Reverend Father John Oyekunle, Catholic Administration; Reverend Sister Eunice Olusola Ikufisile, Communication Director.
Others included Very Reverend Father Benjamin Jolasun, Pastoral Secretary; Honourable Akin Ibironke, Pastoral Council Chairman; Comrade Juliana Slade, former Catholic Women Organisation; Comrade Margaret Okeola, Catholic Women Diocese; and Chief Emmanuel Lasinlola, the Palace Ambassador.
