Farewell 'Abod'

Farewell Gbadebowale Wayne Aboderin;

Farewell 'Abod'

I speak with a pained heart on behalf of we the former classmates of Gbadebowale Wayne Aboderin, at Government College Ibadan during the period 1970 -1974. We're extremely saddened and gutted by our loss. Our hearts go out to Titilayo (his wife), Cherelle and Nicole (his two daughters). Abod as we fondly call him, was a positive non-conformist as well as an epitome of humility, honesty and generosity. He was a cheerful giver per excellence, who mastered the art of anonymous donations to the needy.

But those who truly belong to us - could never leave us. Those who leave the surly bonds of earth, live forever in the memorable hearts of their loved ones. Deep in our hearts, is a lovely place where the exemplary deeds of the blessed departed, reminds us of the good things for our own lives. Gbadebowale Aboderin has done many exemplary deeds. Gbadebowale Aboderin, our dearest and treasured own, is a fine example of a good Nigerian who battled many obstacles, for the vindication of truth and justice. He worked diligently and honestly, as a high level functionary of the fourth realm.
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Back then; Government College Ibadan was in the old Western State of Nigeria. On the adventurous day we all began our common destiny with Gbadebowale Aboderin, for four-and-half cherished years, was the day that the Nigerian Civil War ended. These were very hopeful times. We were young, expressive, naughty, and we learnt and studied.

Thursday 15th of January, about 90 new students, escorted by parents, made their way to the large serene grounds of Government College Ibadan in the rocky district of Apata-Ganga. Among the many parents, who'd escorted their sons to the famous college on the rock were; thirty-six-year-old Chief James Olubunmi Aboderin and thirty-four-year-old Mrs Florence Jadesola Aboderin. Their bright-eyed son with the naughty giggles and cheeky smiles, and who spoke Yoruba with a shrilly - British accent, was eleven-year-old Gbadebowale Wayne Aboderin. Who over the course of time, would have Mr Mustapha, the overbearing Yoruba teacher, breathing down his neck.

Gbadebowale, who soon become known as Abod (from the shortening of his surname), had made an instant first impression on us. First, there were the mouth-watering assortments of yummy tuck and luxurious provisions in his dormitory locker. Second, he loved making these funny and peculiar jokes. However, some of his �aje-butter� humour was completely lost on some of us. But whatever way � his jokes were received; Abod laughed the loudest with naughty smirks.

Abod, had impressed upon our minds as being this very well-loved and tenderly cared for, son. But the rambunctious scion of media affluence had no moody airs. Abod was a great bounty of free-spirited, ebullience and self-reliance. One, who�d dared to baulk against any school rule, he�d found woefully inconvenient. Abod could dare to be different, and frequently did dare. He made those frequent trips to Kingsway Stores in downtown Ibadan, at any time of his own suiting, just because he�d felt like.

Said differently: Abod�s irresistible cravings for meat pies, doughnuts, and chocolates: would on more than one occasion, interfere with his better grasp of the school�s strict rules. His, was a rite of passage, designed on his terms. But this single-minded and tenacious character of his (after be tempered), would serve him in good stead, for future endeavours. Not least, the time when he was called to serve as Chairman of Punch.

To the core, Abod was a natural champion and triumphalist for truth. Not one to be cowed. Not one not to be fazed by whosoever�s evil ox was gored. And when, various governments carried out their threats � to no longer patronise the Punch Newspaper; the unbudging Abod would have chuckled to himself, whilst drawing solace from His Lord Jesus Christ.
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Abod was a great lover of music, and a fine sportsman with the good instinct of when and how fast to run.

Once, the late Chief James Olubunmi Aboderin was visiting his son, Wale, in the school dormitory: on a day that would forever live in the memorable folklore of our great school. Chief Aboderin was happily visiting, when this obedient personage who might have been Mr Mustapha the Yoruba teacher, had forthrightly presented to the visiting father, a litany of Wale�s non-conformist ways. Well, to save the need for lengthy narrations, suffice to say that Wale had ducked in good time. Father and son, had been standing on the lush and idyllic, green grounds, outside Wale�s dormitory. They were somewhere near the father�s parked Mercedes Benz, when Wale had had this compelling need to duck very low.

Poor Chief Aboderin, but for the quick-wittedness of his son�s ducking head, wouldn�t have smashed the windscreen of his impressive car into little pieces, and surely wouldn�t have sustained bruises to his hand. Anyway, that was when Abod then bolted. Chief Aboderin then ran too, taking after his son, but he wasn�t as fast as Abod. Abod was not only quick-witted, but he owned a quick foot. From one end of the school � to the other, the then Punch Chairman circa 1972, was chasing after the son (who would one day become Punch Chairman).

Wale�s father, whilst hotfooting it after his son, had cried out to some eye-witnessing students, to help him pursue the running son. But Abod would elude the long line of runners, who were running behind his father. So, no one won the prize-money for catching the resolutely-minded young boy; the same boy who would grow up and train as a pilot. Become, involved professionally with the media and entertainment sectors; working as a reporter, DJ, cameraman, and radio presenter. Become, a good man of rare breed who would dole many acts of kindness. Would become a devout Christian, a loving husband, a loving father, the founder and father-figure of the Dolphins Female Basketball Team, and active member of our Alma Mater

Eventually, albeit with some reluctance, Abod would become Chairman of Punch in 2011: with the nagging dread of what he�d described as a �curtailing of his freedom.� But those of us who�d seen, the great vast chase across the endless grounds of Government College Ibadan. When, the father was running after the son. Came away with the good feeling, upon Abod�s ascension to the helm of Punch Newspaper that, dreams of the father had finally caught up with dreams of the son. And the son�s tenure as Chairman of Punch, by both popular and critical acclaim, is ascribed to have brought about brilliant and groundbreaking changes; for good of the nation�s most widely read paper, and good of journalism generally.

Abod�s last written message to us (his former classmates of the 1970-1974 class of Government College Ibadan) was:

�Thanks for the birthday wishes. The Lord will cause His countenance to shine upon you;�

We received his message, 24th April 2018, one week after he�d turned 60 on the 17th of April 2018.
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May the Blessed Soul of Gbadebowale Wayne Aboderin aka Abod, rest in eternal perfect peace; in the place where the Lord has made His countenance shine on him forever. And may the mercifulness of God, be so kind to his surviving wife, children, and others in deep mourning.

Farewell Gbadebowale Wayne Aboderin.

Farewell Abod.

Farewell from, the guys, with whom you shared your first boarding house supper of Rice and Dodo in 1970. And your last school lunch of Eba, Okro stew, Mackerel Fish, and Bananas � in 1974, in the School on the Rock, in the old Western State of Nigeria. Those were hopeful nascent days, and you did great things with your life.

Rest in Peace, Abod. We will surely miss you!!!!!


Submitted by: Fajeminsin Olufemi