By FIDEL BAM
The service was about to end at the Methodist Cathedral, Otapete, Ilesha, Osun State, August 23, 2013, and the officiating minister had a final announcement to make. “This is for the pallbearers,” he started. “Please we do not allow coffin being thrown up and down here. Just put it straight in the hearse and head immediately for the burial ground. If you waste time and we get there before you, we shall conduct the service, perform the dust-to-dust ritual and head back to the church before your arrival.” The deceased, Edward Olatunji Okotore, aka Big Daddy, would not have faulted the quick-business approach during his lifetime. A shrewd businessman who believed in the time-tested dictum that time is money would have readily concurred. The pallbearers had no option but to comply. Within seconds the church had been vacated as all roads led to the Ilesha GRA where interment took place.
Born on Tuesday, September 15, 1936, Okotore enlisted in the Western Region Civil Service in 1954 after completing his secondary education at the Ilesha Grammar School. He later proceeded for higher education after a brief spell in the Ministry of Education. A pioneer staff of the Western Nigerian Television, WNTV, in 1959, who later crossed over to the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, NBC, Ikoyi, Okotore retired voluntarily as senior accountant, Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, in 1981 to pursue a career in manufacturing business, producing polythene bags. He was also into real estate before death came calling on Friday, May 31, 2013.
Described variously as a diligent, hard-working, caring and very progressive family man, Okotore meant so much to his children and relations that the final rites of passage at the graveside, as brief as it was, lasted for an eternity! No exaggeration. The chief mourners literally refused to turn their backs on him after performing the dust-to-dust ritual. His younger brother, a professor, his medical doctor children, his London-based daughters, Mojisola Arogundade and Dunni Afolayan cried their hearts out for the big man with the big heart. “I felt the world stopped and my heart stopped beating when they told me you were gone,” lamented Moji, the elder daughter. For Dunni, she vividly recaptured the day her father practically jumped out of a moving vehicle to embrace her on seeing her for the first time in eight years after her marriage. Fond memories from the womenfolk. “When life seemed dark and dreary, Big Daddy stood as a beacon of light and a pillar of support,” the menfolk look back through the rear mirror of religion. They all said their farewell yet they remained transfixed to the same spot. “It’s difficult to let you go but I must...I must return the gift God gave me...,” Moji finally surrendered to God’s will. And so Big Daddy started his journey back to his Creator. The big gift had to be returned. Okotore is survived by his wife, Regina Adetoun, née Olaniran, and five children – Wole, Moji, Lanre, Dunni and Dipo.