Remebering Awo in joyful service of God, humanity

Being the text of the sermon delivered by The Most Reverend (Dr) Micheal Olusina Fape, Archbishop Eccelesiastical Province of Lagos (Anglican Communion), at the 30th memorial service of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and patronal service at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne, on Tuesday, May 9, 2017.

“SO let us now give praise to godly men, our ancestors of generations past, those whom the Lord honoured with great glory, in whom His greatness has been seen from the beginning of time. There were statesmen whose policies governed the people, rulers who issued decrees, scholars who spoke wise words, and those who used pointed proverbs, All these were famous in their own times, honoured by the people of their day. Some left a reputation, and people still praise them today. But we will praise these godly men, whose righteous deeds have never been forgotten. Their reputations will be passed on to their descendants, and this will be their inheritance. Their family line will go on forever, and their fame will never fade. Their bodies were laid to rest, but their reputations will live forever. Nations will tell about their wisdom, and God’s people will praise them.” (Sirach or Ecclesiasticus ?44:1-2, 4, 7-8, 10-11, 13-15?).

Introduction: Welcome all and recognise a few Dignitaries. Today we are here gathered to remember the life and times of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, GCFR, SAN, who was called home on May 9, 1987, exactly 30 years ago. Even though Papa has been called home some 30 years ago, he continues to be relevant in every way politically, socially, economically, and religiously. Therefore, Papa’s life can be likened to the Biblical Abel, about whom the scripture declares, “By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and through it he being dead still speaks” (Heb. 11: 5).

The reason for our gathering together today is to ponder on the life of Papa, how he had affected, not only his generation, but the present generation. Papa Awolowo had been called yonder, some 30 years ago, yet through his selfless contributions, which are the gifts he had bequeathed to mankind, he still speaks.

The text of this sermon is from the Book of Apocrypha, which is part of the Canonical Books in the Roman Catholic Version of the Bible, but though not part of the Protestant Bible is acceptable for moral and instructional purposes. Here in the text chosen, there are two categories of people involved: those who lived life worthy of emulation thereby leaving behind good legacies for those after them; and those who lived and it would have been better if they had not been born because of the worthless life lived for which no remembrance is of necessity after their death.

Brethren, there are two categories of individuals, whether politicians, educationists, ministers of God, civil servants or businessmen/women. There are those whose services are worthless and have through their activities aggravated the suffering of mankind. When to them, it would seem as if they are working or rendering services, for God, their works are of no value. By the time they see the works of those who fear God and because they have served their generation faithfully, they become envious of the achievements of such people. No wonder, the weapons at the disposal of such people are slander, mischief, and derogatory statements to discredit the achievers. Eventually when those people die, they are quickly forgotten, and if they are remembered at all, it is with a pinch of salt.

Then there is the second group, those who render quality services and are dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the less privileged. God has invested much in them, they believe that they are God’s gifts to their generation and cannot afford to disappoint God. These are the people who believe they are stewards, and whatever position God has placed them, or whatever resources at their disposal, they want to ensure that the same are used to serve God by serving humanity. This is where Papa Awolowo belonged.

According to the great Roman Philosopher, Cicero, “The life of the dead is in the memory of the living.” Great men and women do not die, but they leave behind the echoes of their deeds. Live for something good, the value of life is not how long; but how well. Yes, Chief Obafemi Awolowo did not live up to 80 years, and he died when people still needed him for consultation and guidance, but today he lives on in the hearts of many people and in the polity of our nation. The political discourse of the South West today is incomplete without anchoring it on the political ideology of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

In the words of J. Oswald Sanders in his book, Spiritual Leadership, “Time has been defined as a stretch of duration in which things happen. The quality of a man’s leadership is revealed in what happens during that stretch of duration. Each moment of the day is a gift from God, and must be used with uttermost care because time is life measured out to us for work.” For Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he properly understood the fact that time is life measured out for work. No wonder, when others are using the gift of time given them by God to pursue worthless ventures, Chief Awolowo used his time strategising and proffering solutions to the problems confronting Nigeria. Hardly is there any problem confronting us today that Papa had not envisioned and proffered solution: we are clamouring for restructuring today, Papa called it true federalism, and until this is done, there will be no end to the ongoing agitations from the federating units of this nation.

Philosopher William James affirmed that the great use of one’s life is to spend it for something that will outlast it, for the value of life is computed not by its duration, but by its donation. Not how long we live, but how fully and how well. We exchange time in the market of life for certain occupations and activities that may be either worthy or unworthy, productive or unproductive.

The greatest leader must inevitably be removed by death or some other cause, and the sense of loss will vary with the calibre of his leadership. Only after his removal (death) are the character and achievements of a leader fully revealed. It was not until after Moses’ death that Israel saw his greatness in its true perspective. The same goes for Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

It is evident today that Papa Obafemi Awolowo was larger in death than life. While Chief Obafemi Awolowo was denied the opportunity of leading Nigeria to greater heights politically, educationally, and socially as President by those who were opposed to his ideologies; yet at his death, because the truth would always prevail, he was acknowledged as the “Best President Nigeria never had.”

Those who were opposed to the ideals that Papa Awolowo stood for in his life time have suddenly come to acknowledge the same after their death. In other words, there is no cure for the malady of hatred. “Ija ilara ko tan boro, a ju won lo ko se wi lejo.”  The truth may be suppressed, but cannot be aborted. In the end, it will come to pass. That is why Christ says, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).