My Tribute to Daddy Provost, The Very Revd. S.O. Babalola
Once again, I have lost somebody who was and still very dear to me. While alive and even in death he would ever remain a father figure, a mentor, and a role model.
24 hours after his announced transition, I have been thinking about Baba, The Very Rev. Samson Oladokun Babalola, a name I pronounce and mention with reverence. He was a retired priest of the Anglican Church, who was well used in Ilesa Diocece and Anglican Communion in general in Nigeria and overseas.
While growing, I had the privilege of staying and living close to him. He was a good lover of the younger ones, a strict disciplinarian, a principled leader, even as many of us found it difficult to understand him.
To many of us, he was a very tough, down to the earth man, who would never bend his rules because of you. He was very open, polished, sincere, caring and loving.
Baba was very generous and he was a man that lived within his means.
To those of us who were very close to him, we have every reason to thank God for his life. He was a man of great impact and influence, one thing you cannot take away from him was his caring disposition. He would always like to know your problems and lead you to the way of solution, even when it is not convenient for you as the supposed beneficiary.
I cannot forget in a hurry of spending nothing less than two of my growing years living with him. Occasionally when I was in school, and later when he got me a job at International Breweries Ilesa. He made sure I lived with him knowing the paltry salary I was being paid at IBL. I had to just take the job in order to honour him until I left for a better choice in Lagos.
I could have possibly become an ordained priest of the Anglican Church, if I had chosen to tread that path. He once mooted the idea but I wasn’t that impressed, as I believed getting me a well paying job as a young graduate would have made the difference I expected.
Even as I will continue to appreciate his impact in my life, there is one memory I would never forget especially at the twilight of his life.
Baba was one man I was so emotionally attached to. While active, he would call me, ask me questions, give me queries many times that I would feel very shy to reply. It was because of some of those questions I could not answer that really kept the open distance.
But few months ago, I began to feel the guilt of not seeing my father figure and mentor. The last time we saw each other was at the burial of his senior brother Chief Akinlade Babalola. Age had already caught up with him, and he has been having health challenge, as well.
Well, I determined to see him and I thank God my intuition did not fail me.
While coming from Owo, I made up my mind to stay a night at Ilesa. I called my sister and all arrangements were concluded. I told my sister why I was in Ilesa, for the one reason of seeing Baba Provost. She had appreciated my gesture noting that we might have to go together, the request which I declined.
I told her if we had gone together the thinking would be that it was my sister that prompted me to be there. I told my sister that I would go alone. I insisted I must see Daddy Provost before doing any other thing.
There I went, a surprise visit, an unexpected guest, the return of the prodigal? (not really), but another call back for more inspiration and impartation.
The excitement was beautiful to behold. The gate was opened and I was ushered into the sitting room where I saw daddy.
On seeing him, a very cool water ran through my spine, very soothing, satisfactory and pleasant to feel. I thanked God for seeing Baba again. The memory remained very sharp. Immediately I mentioned my name, the discussions began, and it continued flow.
When I saw Baba, the lessons of life continued to dawn on me. Daddy had grown very old, trying to manage to feed himself, as well as trying to maintain a balance of answering the nature’s call. The once fat belly was gone. In fact the protruded belly had not only been flattened but the flesh had was showing signs of old days.
I almost wept. Here was a man we almost saw as an idol. When Daddy came around everybody would try to fall in line. A man you must always do his bidding whether you liked it or not, a reason why many of us who could not comply kept away from him. Baba had almost become helpless, the strength was gone. In my mind I said, Baba Provost has given the world back his all. I also saw and appreciate the vanity of this life, as I realised there was time for everything under the sun.
So Daddy Provost Babalola has come, he has seen and he has conquered. For those of us who were very close by, we will ensure that his legacies continue to be sustained most especially in our minds and actions as long as we live.
I specially commiserate with the immediate family, with our Mummy, Mama of Nations, who I had a very encouraging discussion with in that my last visit to the family. I condoled with the biological children, with ‘Laoye, ‘Ronke, my Yemoo, ‘Dokun Jnr, Ebun and Rotimi. We were all living together in Iloro when Baba was the Provost of St. John’s Cathedral, Ilesa. The memory would continue to linger and be sustained, by the grace of God by all of us that we believed in his virtues, service and caring spirit.
Well as the body awaits final committal, all we can say now is to thank God for his memorable life. He was a man of great influence and impact. A man of honour in our own right has gone to be with his creator. We pray the good Lord would continue to keep the family together, and be strong to stand for what Baba stood for.
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