Bonne Nuit: God’s General with stressless anointing, Archbishop Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye
By Dr. Bunmi Bajomo
A voice we love to hear is silent, hardworking hands now at rest, God took our Archbishop, Olumakaiye, to prove, yet again, that he only takes the BEST!
Referencing His Grace, in past tenses is one of life’s most cruel; occurrences, but who are we to question God Almighty?
‘My daddy,’ this tribute hasn’t come easy. I find it very hard to pen my thoughts! However, as a Direct Beneficiary of your Grace, I testify that you were a Great Man, a lover of humanity, one of God’s Best! A General, and an Epitome of Godliness. You are my first reference for a Life lived Under Grace and in Christ.
Most times, when God blesses people, they often get carried away, they wear these blessings on their shoulders and become unapproachable and oppressive; sometimes without realising same. Not you, Daddy! You carried a “Stress Free Anointing” you had no ‘airs’ around you. You were gentle, congenial and an all-round Blessing everywhere you went!
As I told you at the Delight School’s project Commissioning exactly a year plus 15 days to your final exit, you impacted me profoundly. Since I met you personally, my life has never remained same positively. You brought me from obscurity to Diocesan limelight. A chance meeting with you turned my walk with God into submission and total devotion. You found me in your unique style, pushed and encouraged me to spiritual excellence and devotion. You saw what I never knew I had, you wanted me to give my best in all assignments you entrusted in my care. You were an assured comfort in the days we ran into significant difficulties.
You cared for the underprivileged, you birthed the Directorate of Welfare – Ministry for the underprivileged. You were our largest donor at the launch and were there in-person and at requested time to support the dream. How could I forget the picture of you handing out one of the most generous hampers to any underprivileged community I have seen to-date; to the less favoured in the Diocese, in December 2020. This has now become an annual exercise. You cared for the elderly; you provided them a home in Ikorodu under Circle Rock Apartment. Your goal is to ensure that the elderly live out their days in joy, comfort, and dignity. You had an unparalleled dream for the transformation of the nature of education provided by the Diocese for anyone desirous of an Anglican education. At Delight International, you gave unfettered access to the Board, and you encouraged active participation by reducing fees for Anglican Natives by 50%. The result was magical. From less than 100 pupils, by proceeding term we had over 600 pupils. On 15th October ‘21 you commissioned the school’s ultra-modern ICT Labs, the first in that community. Gbam! Apapa residents took cognizance! Parents started withdrawing their kids from surrounding schools to Delight – Your Pet Project. How could I forget the thunderous shout of Alleluia as you prayed on that Sunny Afternoon. “Children, Are You Happy” Yesssss! they thundered. “Make it Louder, Louder, Louder…” you replied. What a glorious day that was! We never knew it was a final visit!
You wanted a replication and magnification of that success, you mandated us to go into the Centenary City Episcopal Secondary School and in your words “Build from Scratch and take the school to its crescendo” you empathically mentioned that by the time the school is completed, no youth would leave the Anglican communion for any other denomination. Why? “Everything would be present at the Centenary City” you said! “Daddy, would you then sell us a plot at the City”? “No oh! You people are already comfortable! It’s for members who would never have dreamt of owning a piece of Lekki” as we commission the estate, the school would move in too
Oh no! Daddy, this dream is incomplete! You left before we could turn the soil of the school. What happens to those students that have started to assemble?
I know you don’t quit daddy! If you could, you would have stayed for them to experience your unique intervention in their vicinity. You were too committed to abandon a project; you couldn’t have abandoned your many kids… You left because the Owner of the universe, the Giver of all Graces has called you!
‘Daddy Mi,’ this piece is to say a big Thank You! Thanks for loving me unreservedly. You filled the void that long existed since I lost my biological father. I took liberties with you. I am so imperfect, but your love for me made me look perfect. You are a Lifter of Men. You brought out the Best in me! You energised me to success. As I vied for my current job with world’s best, you stood solidly with me in prayers. I knew, with you backing me up, I would win. We won! I got the job! Thank for loving my kids; For your ever assuring words. I planned a surprise birthday for you on January 28th, I later shelved the plan because you had had your ‘3in1’ party. I felt it would be too much. Now, I regret cancelling… it would hurt me for very long!
Thanks for the wonderful words of advice, you would often summon me from 35 marina to 29 Marina. I would miss and cherish the honour of your friendship and fatherly care. I took so many liberties with you, and you patiently accommodated me. On 16th October 2021, I had written to thank you for the honour of your presence. “Daddy, your outfit was on-point, I stated…. “Thank you” only you would say that… “We are ever so proud of You!” Walking Marina daily, without passing by your offices would have been dreadful. It would have been a nightmare, having no need to move from 35 to 29, Marina! What a Year 2022 has turned out to be! The Year of An Outstanding ‘Eagle’ flight!
Goodbye, Anglican Rose! Your memory would ever grow in our hearts
You were the grace that placed itself, where lives were torn apart
You rallied our Communion, You whispered hope to those in pain
Now you belong to heaven, And the stars spell out your name
You lived your life under Grace, Never fading or running or waning in crises,
Your candle’s burned out too soon, But Olumakaiye, our legend lives on!
Loveliness we’ve lost, Days will be empty without your smile
Your torch of love we will always carry, Lagos Diocese’ Warrior and Golden Father and A shining light of Lagos Provinces! Although we would try to be strong, The truth brings us to tears
All our words cannot express, The joy you brought us through the years
it truly seems you lived your life, Like a candle in the wind
Your execution speed, unparalleled. You knew time was short.You did so much, in a very short while,
Your Memory would never fade with the sunset
Your Footprint permanently etched, along Anglican Communion’s greenest hills
Every time, we converge at the Centenary City, the name, Olumakaiye would remain evergreen! Like a rainbow, shiny and sparkly and splendidly bright, here one day but gone another night, like the loss of Sunlight, on a cloudy, rainy day; You were born to inspire and delight our generation. You have Left us Too soon, My Beloved Diocesan!
Go on, Son of the Most High. Time for His Grace to return to the Giver of Graces… Heaven’s Gain. Adieu God’s General.
May Your Memory always be a Blessing.
Aurevoir My Daddy. God’s Own! An Apostle with a “Stress Free Anointing”
Vous nous manquerez, Archbishop par excellence… Bonne nuit, Daddy!
Bunmi wrote from Lome, Togo
