Kunle Adelabu
The burial service of Elder (Chief) Johnson Afolabi Sopitan, a retired School Head and Asiwaju Okunrin Ijo, United African Methodist Church (UAMC) Cathedral, Igbogbo, which was supposed to be the end of an era, turned out to be an avenue to reveal good deeds of a man who many described as a man of honour, integrity and a disciplinarian.
Pa Sopitan died on January 7, 2022, at the age of 82.
At the burial service held at UAMC, Igbogbo, on Friday, January 14, 2022, Rt. Revd. B.W. Mofunlewi (Jpil.) who delivered the sermon themed, ‘Accountability’, said that he chose the theme to explain the life and times of Pa Sopitan.
The while casket, which had the remains of the late teacher, was carried by pall bearers while children and family members danced to the music provided by a band, from the Church located along the Igbogbo/Ipakodo, Oba Molaja road, to his home at Surulere Estate junction, along Oba Molaja Road, Igbogbo, where he was interred.
At the burial were His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo who was represented by traditional chiefs led by Chief (Mrs) Karimot Ojikutu, the Iyalode of Igbogbo and the Adeboruwa staff of office.
Also at the burial were Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Pa Amos Oshin (Asiri Abo), a prominent figure both in Ikorodu and Igbogbo and an inlaw to the deceased, Prof. Kabir Olusegun Akinyemi, Director of LASU Directorate of Academic Linkages, Partnerships & Collaborations, Lagos State University and also an in – law to the deceased, Engr. Sunday Oshin, the Cathedral Warden, The African Church Bethel Cathedral, Ikorodu and Mrs Kemi Kalesanwo, Director, lagos State Agency for Mass Education among others.
During the sermon, Bishop Mofunlewi said that he had known late Sopitan while he was at UAMC Eleja for over 10 years, as a man of honour, integrity and someone who always gives account of his actions while alive.
“In my 10 years and three months that I worked in this Church, I worked with Baba (Elder (Chief) Johnson Afolabi Sopitan) as Chairman of the Maintenance Committee of our Church. He was a man of integrity and honour”, Rt. Revd. Mofunlewi (Jpil.) said in his sermon.
“He was a man of God that stood by the truth and spoke truth at all times.
“A no – nonsense man that you don’t want to cross his path when he stands on his principles”.
The preacher, who quoted copiously from the Holy Book, especially Roman 14:12, Hebrew 13;7 and Rev. 22: 11 – 12 among others, said to the children of late Chief Sopitan, as well as his family members and friends, that late the Church leader gave account of all the responsibilities entrusted in his care before his death.
“Every one of us shall give account of his or herself to God.
“Chief Sopitan was head of school, family head and a leader in the Church, and we all know that he gave accounts of all the actions and responsibilities bestowed on him.
“You can see in his children that he also gave account of his fatherhood by giving them sound education and was always interested in the development of those that married his daughters.
“He worked for God without looking back. He was always ready to work and give account”, the Bishop said.
Members of the late Pa Sopitan’s society, Male Providence Society and their female counterparts as well as members of the UAMC Choir which late Sopitan served as its Superintendent, paid their last respect to their departed member.
Captain Olalekan Adesuyi Ogunsanwo led the Choir of the Holy Trinity & Anglican Cathedral Church, Ikorodu, in singing the Halleluyah Chorus in honour of the late Asiwaju Okunrin Ijo UAMC, Igbogbo.
The outing service was also held at the church after the interment while the reception for guests took place at the Igbogbo Stadium on the same day.
