Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; signing the condolence register, while children of the late foremost Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Archbishop (Emeritus) Abiodun Adetiloye, Mr. Adedoyin Adetiloye; widow, Titilayo; son, Adeola; and daughter-In-Law, Tolulope, during a condolence visit to the Country home of the late Primate, in Odo-Owa-Ekiti... on Friday.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has described the late former Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye as a “global citizen who lived well, served well and died well.”
The governor made the remark when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late former primate at his home town Odo-Owa, in Ijero Local Government Area of the state.
Adetiloye, who died at the age of 82, served as the Primate and Archbishop Metropolitan of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria between 1986 and 1999.
Fayemi urged the family of the deceased and Ekiti people at large not to mourn the demise of the cleric but to celebrate him for living a fulfilled life and living for the people he served.
The Governor promised that the state government will be fully involved in the obsequies of the late primate as soon as the family announce the burial plans.
He noted that Adetiloye’s tenure as the spiritual head of the Anglican family in Nigeria was “great and remarkable” as the late primate used his position to advance the cause of the truth, equity and justice.
The governor recalled the roles played by Adetiloye during the long struggle to enthrone democracy by standing on the side of the people in the dark days of the Gen. Sani Abacha-led junta which earned him the sobriquet of “NADECO Bishop.”
The governor further recalled that Adetiloye as the Bishop of Ekiti served as a father to students of Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti when he (Fayemi) was a student there.
Fayemi noted that Adetiloye’s humility was unparalleled for choosing to retire to live a quiet life in his rustic village when he had the opportunity to stay back in Lagos.
“I am lost for words when I heard the news as all of us who are Baba’s children have every reason to grieve. He was always on the side of the truth and he was always supporting us when we were battling to restore democracy as the Abachas of this world didn’t like him for speaking truth to power.
“We are not mourning him but celebrating him because Baba does not belong to Nigeria alone but his place in the annals of faith is important and secured.
“He was a global man and we owe him a duty of following the values he stood for.
“Despite his pedigree, he was very humble to have returned to his country home although the government of Lagos State wanted him to stay in Lagos”, Fayemi said.
The governor promised to officially communicate Adetiloye’s death to President Goodluck Jonathan as soon as possible even though the social media had already broken the news.
The son of the deceased, Adeola, commended the governor for finding time to commiserate with the family promising that the state government will be carried along in the funeral activities to be
announced soon.
Last modified: December 14, 2012