There is a popular saying that death is an inevitable reality for all mortals and when it comes knocking, one has no choice than to obey. Death is indeed a call of nature everybody would answer someday. The death of popular man of God and charismatic pastor in the Christ Apostolic Church, Nathaniel Oladele Akande on April 20, 2023 came as shocking news to the entire Christendom.
“Arole Baba Abiye” as he was fondly called was indeed an icon of the faith. He was a proud son of his late father, Prophet Samson Oladeji Akande, the Baba Abiye himself of blessed memory. Just as he was called “Arole Baba Abiye” meaning the one who represents his late father, Baba Abiye, Late Pastor Nathaniel did well in carrying the baton of leadership. He upholded arduous responsibilities managing their father’s legacy by running the church and watching It grow in leaps and bounds.
The burial ceremony of the late pastor was held in Ede, Osun State on Saturday, 28th of October, 2023. Earlier on that day, the body of late pastor Akande was committed to mother earth amidst prayer sessions, singing of hymns, and words of exhortation given by the clergies officiating the service.
Following the service at the burial ground was the Thanksgiving and Outing Service. This was held in the main auditorium of the Christ Apostolic Church, Talafia, Ede. The church auditorium and premises were filled up as members of CAC home and abroad stormed the venue to take part in the service as a way of bidding farewell to the late man of God and identifying with his beloved children as they mourned the departed.
The ceremony was graced by top government dignitaries, clergies, church members, family, associates and well-wishers. Worthy of note was the appearance of ex-governor of Osun State, Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the highly revered Senator Iyiola Omisore. It was a wonderful outing service for the iconic man of God.
Children of the deceased did well by hosting their guests to a glamorous reception party under a massive marquee mounted on an open school field in the community. It was fun galore as popular Musician, Gbenga Falope Junior and his band performed at their best to entertain the hosts and their respective guests. The gate into the venue of the reception party was thrown open for all to come in and be part of the ceremony. This is the principle of late Pastor Nathaniel as he never restricted people from assessing him.
Late Pastor Nathaniel Oladele Akande popularly referred to as “Cappy” and “Arole Baba Abiye was born on the 18th February, 1948 to his father Late ProphetSamson Oladeji Akande and his mum Evangelist Mrs. RuthMojirade Abeke Ankande fondly called Baba and Mama Abiye respectively.
Pastor Nathaniel started his primary education at Christ Aostolic School, Talafia, Ede between 1956-1962 where he obtained a Primary School Certificate. From there he proceeded to Gbongan and Odeomu Anglican, Gbongan between 1963 and 1967 where he obtained West African School Certificate (WASCE).
After his secondary education, Pastor Nathaniel had a running battle with his father, late Prophet Samson Akande over the need for him to have a University Education instead of his flair for music. He then decided to use his WASSCE result to join the Civil Service. He was employed at the High Court of Justice in Western Region situated at Ibadan as a Clerical Staff and was posted to the Probate Registry of the High Court in December, 1967. He was transferred to Osogbo Senior Magistrate Court Registry to continue as a Clerical Officer. The perseverance in the work and the hard work exhibited by Baba made the then Chief Registrar of the High Court recall Late Pastor Nathaniel to head the open Court of Late Hon. Justice Atinuke Ige, the wife of Late Chief Bola Ige, the former Governor of Oyo and Attorney General of the Federation of Nigeria and Minister of Justice. In 1970, Pastor Nathaniel later resigned from the Judiciary and decided to follow where his passion lay, which was music.
His resignation from the judiciary was of great concern for his father who thought that working in the court would make his son see reasons to further his education. He proved his father wrong with his decision then.
The deceased instead went fully into music to make a career of it. Earlier when he was working in Ibadan, he had learnt and mastered how to play Guitar. This has almost become part and parcel of him. When he was transferred to Osogbo, he got some boys who had music doing music as a career together. They started having musical gigs at the then popular Fakunle Major Hotel. Pastor Nathaniel was encouraged by his brother, Abiye, to come to the University Campus to watch some Juju Musicians who had made their debut in the industry to learn from them. After sometime, Late Pastor Oladele Akande in a bid to be more efficient in the music industry joined Idowu Animashaun and his Appola Band as his first Solo Guitarist and he was a member of the band till he got an inspiration to set up his own band. Pastor Akande then relocated to Lagos. It was in Lagos that he met the Juju music maestro, King Sunny Ade who noticed his ingenuity and efficiency playing guitar that he recruited him to join his Green Spot Band as it was then known.
Late Pastor Akande became a veteran in playing guitar. He successfully waxed 3 albums with King Sunny Ade prominent among which is “Sunny Tide” and 2 others which were all recorded the same day at E.M.I on T.V.C label owned by late Chief Bolarinwa Abioro.
The urge to be fully on his own made Late Pastor Akande resigned from the Green Spot Band of King Sunny Ade and formed his own band called “Dele Akande and African Flames” with 3 records to his credit.
Many will recall that all along, his late father, Prophet Samson Oladeji Akande still vehemently opposed him doing music as a career but he stood his ground. Then he pleaded with the Timi of Ede, late Oba Adetoyese Laoye to help him intercede with his father to encourage his music career. Much as Kabiesi persuaded Baba Abiye, Baba Abiye insisted that Pastor Akande must abandon the music career and do other things. His late father then established for him a printing press at Oke-Gada, Ede.
After leaving music career, Pastor Akande enrolled at E.C.W.A church seminary at Igbaja between 1986 to 1989 where he obtained a Diploma in Theology to satisfy his father who wanted him to have further education particularly in the line of Christianity. After leaving the seminary, the stint of his music career never left him as he went back into music after his father’s death. He was later arrested by God when he received a divine call in 1999 to propagate Christ with all seriousness.
Pastor Akande was ordained a Pastor in June, 2000 and ever since then, he had been the founder and resident pastor of CAC Resurrection Power AKA “the Source” at the Polytechnic Road, Talafia, Ede. The church is behind his late father, Baba Abiye’s house.
Ever since Pastor Akande took charge of the CAC Resurrection Power Church (Orisun), the church has been growing in leaps and bounds. His brand of ministry was unique because he did a lot of that through music. With the stint he enjoyed in his music career, Pastor Oladele Akande used his God given talent to propagate the gospel, this resulted into him releasing his first gospel record titled “Higher Ground ‘’ which was relaunched and released in 2008 at the church auditorium. His desire to revolutionize the gospel music industry was cut short with his death. He died on 20th April, 2023.
Late Pastor Akande will not only be missed by members of the CAC church, he will be missed by the entire Christian Faith in Nigeria. This is evident as people travelled from far and wide to pay their last respect to the man of God as he journeyed home to meet his master. When he was alive, people usually came from the nooks and crannies of the country to attend his service as they have good testimonies to back their claims that Pastor Akande was truly the chosen one by God for his work.
