By Lekan Adejuwon
The serene community of Ikoro Ekiti in Eso Obe LCDA, came to life yesterday at a modest event commemorating the 40th remembrance Thanksgiving of Pa Michael Ojo Alake, the late father of Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake.
The auditorium of St. Michael Anglican Church, venue of the Thanksgiving ceremony for the late patriarch was filled to capacity by friends, family and members of the community who identified with the Alakes.
The Minister who spoke on behalf of the family thanked the congregation and the church of God for the honour done to his late dad whom he described as a great man who lived a good life serving the people as a school principal.
He lamented that he was much younger when his father died but expressed delight that the man left behind a good legacy which all the children has elevated to greater height across the world.
The Minister in his address however stated his preference for a low key against pressure from some quarters for a much more elaborate celebration
According to him; “I told my siblings and some people who are closed to me that I don’t want any noise. What we want to do is not about noise but a heartful thanksgiving to the Lord for sparing our lives 40 years after our father left us. Only God deserves such praise, not any humans”
Continuing, the Minister said the Governor of Ekiti State paid him a courtesy visit during the week indicating his interest to participate fully in the program but he resisted because he felt the intent of the Thanksgiving is to have genuine appreciation to God in humble adoration to the life well spent of Pa Michael Ojo Alake.
Going philosophical, Alake said, “If we decide to paint the town red with food, music and dance, we are not celebrating the old man but we are celebrating ourselves with food and drinks but what we can do is to preserve and protect the good name our father left behind and I believed we the children have been able to surpass his imagination so that wherever he is today he would be happy that we have kept the faith and that informed our position not to invite any guests because if we had done so, the whole church would have been filled up and this, to me is self-serving” He concluded.
A procession of the officiating ministers and the children later went to the graveside to offer prayers for the soul of the departed patriarch.
The Minister announced a donation of N1m to the church.
One of the high points of the brief ceremony was a medical outreach organized by the siblings for members of the community, distribution of raw food to the needies and light refreshment at the family compound
Dignitaries at the occasion included Engr Kayode Ojo, Hon Biodun Omoleye, Chairmanship candidate Eso Obe LCDA amongst others.
