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Centenary Posthumous Birthday Tribute of a Quintessential Anglican Priest, Venerable Archdeacon Michael Alatake Olupona (August 27, 1924 – August 5, 1983)

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By Hon. Femi Kehinde

A man’s good deed and impact on the society will certainly outlive him, centuries after his departure. The Nigerian society would forever be kind to its early pathfinders – Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ernest Ikoli, Obafemi Awolowo, Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Anthony Enahoro, Dr. Kofo Abayomi, Sapara Williams, amongst several others. Venerable Archdeacon Michael Alatake Olupona would certainly find a sweet place in the company of these eminent pathfinders and makers of Nigerian history, particularly in Christian evangelism, and most especially in Anglican liturgy and Anglicanism – The faith which he served until he breath his last, on the 5th of August 1983 at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.

Anglicanism is a church noted in protest. It was founded in 1534 by King Henry VIII Act of Supremacy, which pronounced the church of England independent of the catholic church in Rome. Today, the Anglican church consists of more than 86 million members worldwide in over 165 countries. Collectively, these national churches are known as the Anglican Communion, meaning all are in communion with and recognize the leadership of the Archbishop of the Canterbury.

Samuel Ajayi Crowther (1809 – 31st Dec 1891) was a Clergyman, and the first African Anglican Bishop of West Africa. He also translated the English Bible to Yoruba Language in 1843. He was a pathfinder that brought in the Anglican church, and placed it on a firm ground in Nigeria. Samuel Ajayi Crowther was consecrated Bishop in 1864, with his seat in Lagos.

Venerable Archdeacon Michael Alatake Olupona was born on the 27th of August, 1924 in Ute, Owo Division to Daniel Olupona, a licensed lay reader and Yeye Olupona. Michael was baptized on December 4, 1931 in Ute, and confirmed on March 17, 1945. He married Henrietta Olalonpe (nee Aderemi) on August 14, 1950, and were blessed with Eight (8) children; Taiwo, Kehinde, Idowu, Alaba, Oluwafiropo, Soledemi, Babatunde and Odunayo, out of which four (4) survived him.

He attended St. Stephen’s Primary School in Ute between 1934 and 1939, and continued at Government School, Owo, from 1940 – 1943, and St. John’s College, Owo, where he trained under the late Bishop I. O. C. Okunsanya for Elementary Teachers’ Certificate Examination (1948 – 1949), and later for the Higher Elementary Course, completing Grade III in 1949, and Grade II in 1955. He was subsequently trained at Melville Hall, Ibadan (now Emmanuel College) between 1956 and 1957.

He had a long and varied career.

Michael was Headmaster at several schools in Ondo, including St. Andrews School, Oke-Igbo in 1950, St. Peter’s School from 1954 to 1955. He was named Deacon in December 1957, and preached his first sermon on the 31st of that year. Five months later, in May 1958, he was Priested, and later attained Cannonry on July 13, 1969 in Ondo Diocese. He became Archdeacon on April 19, 1974.

As a Clergyman, he worked in numerous stations; he served as a Vicar in St. Peter’s Church in Ile-Oluji between 1958 and 1966, during which he was sent to England, and had a one year curacy. After his curacy in England, he returned to St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Ile-Oluji. He was in its Vineyard until 1966. He was Vicar and Chairman of St. Paul’s Anglican Church Igbara-Oke District Council, Ondo State (1967 – 1970), and held the same position at St. Paul’s Anglican Church Idanre District Council, Ondo State, from 1970 – 1971.

As a clergyman in Gbongan, he was the Chairman of the Oke-Osun District Council Church, and First Archdeacon of Oke-Osun Archdeaconry. While in Ile-Ife, he was Chairman, Ife District Council, and Archdeaconry at St. Philip’s Church, Ile-Ife, 1975 – 1981. Finally, while he was an Archdeacon at St. David’s Church Kudeti, Ibadan, Oyo State between 1981 and 1983, where he was also the Synod Secretary for the Ibadan Diocese beginning 1980. He was also the Chairman of the Diocesan Board of Evangelism, and was one of the founders of Operation Good News. He was also a member of the Bible Society of Nigeria.

Michael was also a member of the Oyo State Health Board, and the Chairman Board of Governors of the following Schools; Yejide Girl’s Grammar School, St. Anne’s Girl’s School, St. David’s Grammar School, and St. Luke’s Teachers Training College, Ibadan.

Additionally, he was a former member of the Board of Governors of other schools, including Gboluji Grammar School, Ile-Oluji, Igbara-Oke Grammar School, Olofin Grammar School, Idanre, Gbongan/Ode-Omu Anglican Grammar School, Ife Anglican Grammar School, and Origbo Grammar School, Yakoyo, Ipetumodu, Osun State, and was actively involved in the Boys’ Brigade of Nigeria: as a trained officer, a member of the Executive Council for Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo States, as a member of the National Council of the Boys Brigade of Nigeria.

Venerable Archdeacon Olupona was a man with many special qualities, and has been described by Archbishop Omotayo Olufosoye as a man of prayer and great fortitude; one who believed and taught the faith of the Church as found in the Gospel. He was a man of imagination, able to see and encourage new ways of meeting the needs of his congregation.

A humble man, not puffed up with his own importance, he loved people, “since the love of God must be expressed in a love of God’s Creation and shown in the Joy of it all.” Above all, for his congregation, he was a shepherd of his flock.

Certainly, Venerable Archdeacon Michael Alatake Olupona would in the world beyond find a comfortable place with the pathfinders of Anglicanism in Nigeria – Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Bishop James Johnson, Bishop Phillips, Bishop Oluwole, Bishop Tugwell, Bishop Alexander Babatunde Akinyele, and so many others.

Venerable Archdeacon Michael Alatake Olupona was survived by Prof. Jacob Kehinde Olupona, Mrs. Soledemi Jaiyeola (Nee Olupona), Barr. Babatunde Olupona, Mrs. Odunayo Aina (Nee Olupona), and grandchildren.

May his humble soul continually find peaceful repose with the Lord, Amen.

Hon. (Barr.) Femi Kehinde, legal practitioner and former member House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja 1999 – 2003, representing Ayedire/Iwo/Olaoluwa Federal Constituency of Osun State.

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Ex-Oyo Governor, Victor Olunloyo, Dies at 90

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A former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Victor Olunloyo, is dead.

According to a statement by his family on Sunday, he died a few days before his 90th birthday.

The statement titled ‘Victor Olunloyo goes home’ was signed by Oladapo Ogunwusi on behalf of the family.

It read, “With a heavy heart but gratitude to the Almighty, we announce the passing into glory of Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, former governor of Oyo State, mathematician and engineer and renowned technocrat, a few days before his 90th birthday.

“The Balogun of Oyo and Otun Bobasewa of Ife, Dr. Olunloyo was first Rector, Ibadan polytechnic and first Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic among other notable appointments.

“His long record of service to the nation and humanity is a source of pride to his family and associates even as we come to grip with this devastating event.

“The Olunloyo family will appreciate the understanding of the press and the public as they commence efforts to give him a befitting burial.

“Even from everlasting to everlasting, He is God.”

About a year ago in April 2024, the rumour of the death of the elder statesman was reported by some news platforms.

But speaking with The PUNCH correspondent who visited his Molete residence in Ibadan, the state capital, he debunked the rumour, saying he was hale and hearty.

“I’m still here, not yet gone,” he declared then.

He also expressed worry over the rumour and asked who would live forever, stressing, “Those breaking death news and the person presumed dead will all die one day.

“I’ve been lucky. My father died at 42, while my mother died at 102. I’m 89. I’ve crossed the expected life age.”

The elder statesman also illustrated how the rumour of his death hit several news platforms on June 7, 2022.

He noted that the rumour mongers claimed that he died at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

A few days later, the family issued a statement, declaring that he was not dead but suffering from old age ailment and asked Nigerians to pray for him to survive the health complications.

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Umahi Apologises to Tinubu, Lagosians, Denies Knowledge of Bridge Closure

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The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi on Thursday, said the closure of Independence Bridge in Lagos for urgent rehabilitation of the collapsed retaining wall was made without his knowledge or authorization.

Umahi said this while apologising to Lagos residents and President Bola Tinubu for the disruption caused by the sudden closure of the bridge on Wednesday.

Umahi who spoke when he toured the bridge in Lagos said: ” Unfortunately, when the bridge was to be closed, I was not informed. It is very unfortunate because for a bridge to be closed, especially in Lagos, as has been the tradition, I should be informed as the minister.

“We should also have studied the implication of it even in an emergency situation. We would have deployed emergency evaluation of the implication of closing the bridge.”

Umahi warned that controllers of works and engineers would face disciplinary action if such an incident would happen again.

“I use the opportunity to warn all controllers and engineers all over the country. Never you close a road or close any bridge without running through the permanent secretary, who will seek for permission from the honourable minister of works,” he said.

The minister acknowledged the efforts of Lagos State Government in managing traffic flow during the closure.

He also took responsibility for the error, saying: “I take responsibility for it, even though I did not order it, but every action by any staff of the ministry of works, I take responsibility for it.”

Umahi said that the closure, which caused significant traffic congestion, was avoidable.

He said: “If we were to do this properly, there would have been a different kind of method deployed and it wouldn’t have necessitated the total closure.”

According to him, even if closure was necessary, it would have been done in a way that it would take three days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and necessary remedial work would have been put in place.

“What we are doing now is to restore the bridge temporarily within the next three days. By Sunday, this place will be totally open.”

He added that a permanent solution would be implemented after a two-week assessment.

“Then, after two weeks, we will look at the settlements, and then we will take out three days to put the permanent structure. That is what we are going to do,” he said.

The minister emphasised the competence of the contractor handling the project, Build Well.

“Build Well is a reputable company, and they have been restoring a lot of failures on our bridges in Lagos, some of them 53 years old.

“Some bridges’ spans have been lifted, especially Eko Bridge, Marina Bridge, and even the Lagos-Ibadan Bridge. They are also intervening in all of them,” he added.

The minister also said that the design of the bridge would be varied to address the emergency situation.

He said: ” The design will be varied according to the emergency situation we have on ground, and the contractor is going to cooperate with us.”

He pledged to personally oversee the restoration efforts, saying, “I am not going until the bridge is fully restored by Sunday, we will work day and night to restore it, and then we will evaluate it.”

The bridge was initially closed on April 1 for essential maintenance and rehabilitation works, with the government planning to complete the repairs by May.

NAN

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Communal Clashes: Adeleke Threatens Royal Fathers with Dethronement

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Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has threatened stern state action against traditional rulers of Ifon, Erin Osun and Ilobu communities if they fail to sustain current peace, and de-escalate the crisis in their communities.

The Governor issued the warning against the backdrop of online reports that some faceless groups across the conflict areas are planning another round of attacks.

“In the midst of sallah celebrations, I got reports of some people planning another round of conflict around Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun towns. The security agencies have tightened surveillance to ensure no attacks take place.

“The security agencies are also speeding up the interrogation of key chieftains and actors in the conflict. I will remind top leaders of the towns that the peace undertaking they are signing are not for joke. They will be held accountable. There will be accountability before the law.

“The curfew we relaxed was on humanitarian grounds. As a compassionate government, we know many innocent people are suffering because of the evil agenda of a few elements across the conflict areas. Any attempt to exploit the adjustment of the curfew for renewed violence will be met with full re-imposition of the 24-hour curfew.

“Additionally, I will remove from office, any traditional ruler where violence recurs. This card is on the table. Royal fathers of each town must call their subjects to order. I will wield the big stick. Enough is enough”, the Governor was quoted as saying in the statement.

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