Nigerians Pay Homage As Ogunjobi Goes Home

Nigerians Pay Homage As Ogunjobi Goes Home By Tajudeen Ahmad The remains of the Former Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi were interred on Friday 15th March, 2019 after a commendation service which held at the Living Spring Church, Ojoo Road Ibadan, Oyo State. The presiding pastor of the Livingspring Chapel Ibadan, Pastor Femi Emmanuel in his sermon, enjoined the congregation to always remember that the journey on this earth is temporary and everyone will be accountable to the Supreme Being hereafter. He stresses that being alive is an opportunity to move closer to God and do good, adding that if one loses his worldly materials, he loses nothing but man loses everything when he loses his faith in God. "I urge you all to know that there is nothing in this world. This is a sinful world where we laugh today, cry tomorrow, have today, have not tomorrow. It is not by our wisdom to be alive but by His grace and as such, we should be closer to Him. Ogunjobi never thought he would die but there was nothing he could do when death came knocking. This will happen to us all one day hence the need to become born again", submitted Pastor Emmanuel. After the commendation service, the remains of the former Osun FA Chairman were taken to the Church's cemetery where he was buried. After the interment, guests were received at the Daplan Events Centre, Akinyele, Ibadan where a popular Nigerian gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele entertained people with his malodorous songs. In his remarks Governor State of Osun, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola described the former Special Assistant to The Immediate Past Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Football Matters as a icon, a golden jewel and an administrator per excellence" The Governor, who was represented by the Supervisor for the Ministry of Sports, Comrade Biyi Odunlade maintained that "Ogunjobi's name and legacy would be immortalized as he transformed the football and the entire sports sector of the state". Earlier on Thursday, It was a gathering of football technocrats, sports administrators, ex-internationals, NFF bigwigs, past and present footballers across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria as they all converged at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State to pay the last respect to the late Pillar Of Sports in Osun. There were two major novelty matches with the first one involving Ambassadors and Ex Super Eagles Players which ended 2-1 in favour of the former where the likes of former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, Former Eagles Midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju, former Super Eagles Coach, Austin Egwuavoen, Eagles's Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye, popular Comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, among others were captained to glory by the NFF's 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi. The second game witnessed a scintillating performances between Lagos Selected and Ex 3sc/Osun United players where Dele Adeleye, Femi Opabunmi, Duke Udi, Sodiq Suraj, Waheed Olapade were captained by Dr. Felix Owolabi (owoblow). The copse of the former Osun FA Chairman was brought to the main bowl of the stadium where family members, friends of the deceased, management of 3sc and many more stood in silence as the casket, decorated with the 3sc flag, was being displayed for the Lying in State. Wife of the deceased, Mrs Bukola Ogunjobi, the deceased's younger brother, Rotimi, as well as children of the late 3sc General Manager, led by his first son, Deji were also present while the kick off of the match was done by Chief Ogunjobi's grandson, Timilehin. On Wednesday, the Western Nigeria Football Forum, headed by the First Vice President of NFF, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, and for which Ogunjobi was a key actor, galvanizer and advisor, held a symposium in his honour with the theme: ‘Celebrating the Life and Times of Ogunjobi.’ At the symposium were the Chairman of the Western Nigeria Football Forum and NFF First Vice President Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi; NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; NFF’s Zonal Co-ordinators led by the Chairman of Chairmen, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau; former NFF President, Gen. Dominic Oneya (rtd); former NFF First Vice President, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam; former NFF General Secretaries Dr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Ambassador Fanny Amun; two –time Head Coach of the Senior National Team, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde; President-General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo; former international players, Dr. Felix Owolabi and Mutiu Adepoju and; senior stakeholders of the game from far and near, including Mr. Ade Somefun. Prominent persons at the symposium paid homage to Ogunjobi, a man regarded as one of the most charismatic administrators in the history of Nigerian Football, with Akinwunmi saying: “This is an avenue to honour him because he did so well for football in the South West and Nigeria as a whole.” The event took place at the indoor hall o several conquests The weeklong burial activities had begun in Oshogbo, capital of the stats of Osun where he served as Chairman of the State Football Association until his passing, with football matches involving Osun United and Ijesha Golden Warrior, Osun Babes, Osun Under 15 among others as well as tributes and photo parade, before the train headed for Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa, capital of Oyo State and the town where the deceased spent most of his lifetime. Chief Ogunjobi who hailed from Ilesha, State of Osun was born on the 17th August, 1953. The sun set on him on Monday, 11th February, 2019 after a brief illness at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.