Tributes

Chief T.A. Akinyele was a very upright man. He was helpful, contented, principled, full of integrity, and above all had faith in God. He displayed these qualities while serving as the Secretary to the Military Government and Head of Service of Oyo State, he had a stark disagreement with the Military Governor of the State. He subsequently resigned his appointment in 1978 without looking back. This became a challenge to him but his faith in God saw him through.

He believed that the God on the mountain when things are easy is still the same God in the valley when things become difficult. His faith was put to the test and God made things right for him subsequently as he was persistent despite the challenges. He died a very fulfilled man.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Daddy Akinyele, you were loving and caring. You were a lover of peace, an anchor on which members of the family leaned on. You were fondly called Daddy ile loun (Daddy of our second house) by me and my siblings, you were very accommodative; your house was home for us. You were interested in the progress of us all. We all loved you and looked forward to being with you, you told us stories. You turned our names into beautiful melodies, Tòyìn tóyín (d:d.m:m.), Fún fun fùn fun fún fun(m:r.d:r.m:r.), and Bùm búm (d:m:). Mine was the longest, I loved it when you called me in that melodious way. When I got into lecturing profession, you started calling me Professor, you believed in me. Daddy, I love you so much. I know you are in heaven; you lived a very good life and you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. By His grace we shall meet on the resurrection morning.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 tells us that “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted”. Our darling Daddy Chief Theophilus Adeleke Akinyele was born as a bright star on 29th February 1932. And after successfully running his race on earth by the grace of God and attaining a ripe old age of 88 years, that star set peacefully in the early hours of Mon 26th Oct 2020. Daddy, we are not the only ones that are previleged to be your children as you and our Mum, your jewel of inestimable value brought up so many other children who were not yours biologically as if they were born by both of you. We are all so proud of the wonderful way both of you brought all of us up and we are grateful to God for the grace to survive you today and to give you the honour you so worthily deserve. We can never thank God enough for your sterling personal qualities and your resolute determination to stand up for fairness, truth, justice, merit, hardwork and excellence both at home and in all your long years of public service. We would have loved you to have lived for many more years, but we take great consolation in the fact that you ended so peacefully as a bona-fide child of God and that it was the angels of God that came for you when you breathed your last breath. Indeed, you are one of those that have qualified to have it said about them that “you came, you saw and you conquered” Rest on in the blossom of the Lord till we see you again on resurrection morning. We love you so much Daddy. Muyiwa and Joke Akinyele.

Dear Daddy, we love you but God loves you the most. You will for ever be in our hearts and your legacy will like forever. We will miss you dearly. Good night daddy.

In our growing up years as teenagers we met Pa Theophilus Akinyele in the same neighbourhood Ayo Adesina avenue old ife road. Bespectacled, urbane, calm, easy going. Humility was his forte, highly respected in the neighbourhood in spite of his being the then Head of service of old oyo state and later secretary to the Military government, no airs about him.

I recall an incident my wife related to me. She went visiting her childhood friend Ronke during the holidays she was informed Papa and the children had gone to the farm. WOW! That was Papa for you.

Rest in Peace Papa till resurrection morning.

Daddy, you are one of a kind. A humble man and a man of integrity! Not many people are like you. You are a wonderful person so full of wisdom and compassion. Thank you so much for being there for me and my family . Thank you for all your help , provision and advice.

Daddy you will be greatly missed but we take comfort in the fact that you are resting in the Lord. You have left a beautiful legacy that will live on. Rest in the bosom of your Lord!

Daddy, you came, you saw, you conquered and now you have gone to be with your maker. It was so painful to hear of your demise but thankful to God for a life full of accomplishments. I recall how you received us warmly when I came to introduce my fiance. You gave us a fatherly advice that tough times never last but tough people do.

We also recall our visit to you in Atlanta in 2015 when you advised us that the secret to long life and healthy living is doing everything in moderation. You told us to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul, be content with what we have and never join the rat race, eat well and exercise. If there is anything we will miss about you is your fatherly advice in your characteristic gentle voice.

Daddy, sleep on till we meet on the resurrection morning.