Kunle Adelabu
The remains of Revd. (Barr.) Samuel Falabake Obafemi Ogbe, the Chancellor of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide, and former Commissioner II, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, was, on Friday (yesterday), committed to mother earth.
His funeral service, which was held at the main auditorium of the Ikorodu Town hall which, incidentally, the late lawyer and community leader was instrumental to its construction, was presided over by the Primate of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide, His Holiness, Most Revd. Dr. R.O. Ositelu, and many Archbishops, Bishops and other officials of the Church.
His remains were interred at his country home at Ipakodo, lkorodu, after the lying – in state and funeral service.
The Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Awujale of Ijebu – Ode, Olubeshe of Ibeshe and many other First Class Traditional rulers in Lagos and Ogun States, who are traditionally forbidden to attend burial ceremony, sent their Staffs of Office to the funeral service.
Eminent personalities, traditional chiefs and other guests also graced the occasion, as well as members of the Nigerian Bar Association, the primary constituency of late Pa Ogbe who came to pay their last respect to the man that contributed a lot to the legal profession.
The traditional ‘Gbedu’ drum, which is meant for royal personage, was also played at the funeral service to honour late Obafemi Ogbe.
Late Pa Ogbe, who died at the age of 88 years, was survived by his wife, Mrs Kunbi Ogbe, eight children and many grandchildren.
His Biography:
Pa Ogbe was born in Ikorodu on March 20, 1933, to late Chief Olanipekun and late Mrs Taiwo Ogbe.
He hailed from the Oba Araba Odujumo (Lasunwon) Royal family of Ikorodu.
His father, Olanipekun was the son of Ogbemosu where the family name of Ogbe was derived. Ogbemosu, himself was the son of Oba Odujumo Araba (Lasunwon) of Ikorodu, and this made late Obafemi Ogbe a Prince and the great grandson of Oba Odujumo.
Late Obafemi Ogbe attended Oriwu College, Ikorodu, and Eko Boys High School, Lagos, in the 50s and later proceeded to the United Kingdom in 1961 to study at the Holborn College of Law, Languages and Commerce.
He passed the external examination of London University in 1968 for the award of LLB and was called to the bar in 1969 – the Honorary Society at the Inner Temple. He attended Lagos Law School in 1972.
Pa Ogbe began his legal career in 1974 in the Chambers of Adeniran Ogunsanya before setting up his own law Chambers.
He was a member of the Lagos State Council of Arts and Culture (1974 – 1979) and Commissioner II, Local Government Service Commission (1993 – 1998).
Obafemi Ogbe joined the Church of the Lord (Aladura) Worldwide in 1975 and was ordained a Deacon in 1982, National Deacon in 1988 and Reverend in 2000.
In 1984, he pioneered and built TCLAW Ipakodo Church which was later dedicated by Primate Adejobi on June 1 1985.
He was the Chairman of Tabieorar Planning Committee (1986-1988) that initiated the Mount Electrification ground work.
Revd. Ogbe was the Legal Adviser to the organization since the early 80s and handled several legal matters ; home and abroad, for the TCLAW organization free of charge.
Primate Segun Ositelu elevated Pa Ogbe to Deputy Chancellor rank on 28 December, 1997 and also an ex – officio member of Board of Trustees.
In 2007, he was appointed the Secretary General of the Christian Council of Nigeria where he attended to World Council of Church issues as related to Nigeria, a post he held till December, 2010.
For over 20 years , during his service to God and the Church organization, he attended the International General Assembly of TCLAW which comes up every five years . His thought provoking and proactive contributions at meetings and his ability of resolve naughty disputes made him stand out above others.
He became the Chancellor of the Church in 2017.
