•FINECOAT Paint Boss, REMI AWODE’s Tribute To Dad
On that fateful day, December 18, 2018, that I lost you, I lost a true and gentle friend, a faithful and loving father, a hero, a mentor, a guardian angel and a prayer warrior.
Until that fateful morning, when you breathed your last, I have always thought that my father is too good to pass on. I have never imagined that this beautiful soul can also depart from this world.
Dad, you will always hold a special place in my life full of memoirs of how you shaped my future and guided me through thick and thin. I will always remember you, dad, because there will never be another one to replace the love I have for you in my heart.
I want to specially thank you for being a loving and faithful husband to my mom, Delphine Modupe Awode. Thank you for falling madly in love with her and marrying her 58 years ago.
Thank you for showing me that those news headlines are not the norms but that men can actually love their wives faithfully and unconditionally for a life time.
For 58 years, you knew no other woman, anywhere you went, she was there with you; anywhere you were transferred to you took your wife and your children along. I always thought that you two are inseparable, but alas it was only death that could separate you.
Dad, I love you for infinite number of reasons; I feel so blessed to have you as my father and I am thankful for the wonderful upbringing you have given me.
Thank you for being a loving, generous and protective father; for all those Christmas shopping while we were young and for continuing same with our children, your grandchildren, when we
have grown up; for those family treats at five star hotels for lunch and dinner when we were growing up; and for ensuring that our refrigerator at home was always stocked with ice cream,
margarine, butter and cabin biscuit for our daily refreshment. You ensured that our family is a very united and closely knitted family, having a family meeting every month in your house, and an extended family reunion every January 1, and you always made sure to get the same attire for all your grand-children for those occasions.
You love your family so much that you ensured that for all those transfers to Guasu, Makurdi,
Kafancha, Jos, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Ibadan, Benin, etc, you always went with your family. We packed our goods and luggage in NEPA trucks, and you personally drove your family in your car to each of your new stations.
Thank you for being my spiritual guidance and prayer warrior. You brought us up with a lot of spiritual discipline. I remember those vigils every Friday night, those weekly fasts, those monthly mountain top visits, those anointing oil before school every day, those daily 6pm Church Service every day, which nobody must miss, even when my siblings and I have become adults you still brought holy water and anointing oil for us and our children, and you called us on phone from time-to-time to ensure that we were using them.
Thank you for being a brilliant and intelligent father; for ensuring that we acquired quality education and for personally teaching us Mathematics and Additional Mathematics, your favourite subjects; and for those great sacrifices during those challenging times, when you had to give me your best shoes, clothes and Aso Oke to sell in Sangross Market in order to take care of my school needs.
Dad, everything I have achieved or become in life, I owe it to God, you and mom.
Thank you for a life full of contentment. I remember any time I approved for increase in your allowance as the Chairman, Chemstar
Group of Companies, you will always come to meet me at home personally to thank me but my response has always been that you did not have to thank me, you have invested in me and this is the time to get the dividends of your investment.
I will always implore you to use the money to take care of yourself, to enjoy yourself and give yourself a treat once in a while because this life can be so short, but your response had always been that the money that is not used to serve God and to serve humanity is of no value.
Again, when I stumbled on your bank statement after your death, and I saw the hundreds of young and old people, orphans and widows that you give monthly allowances, and those that you paid their school fees, I was amazed.
You used everything that you have – Money, Time and Talent – to serve God and humanity, and
you did so with a lot of respect and humility. Your kindness and generosity will forever remain in my memory. You left people with a lot of good memories of you, how you counselled, always
listening and how you helped with all that you have.
Thank you Dad; for ensuring that you packed your 81 years on earth full of love, kindness, sense of humour, joy and happiness, humility, fear of God, generosity and undying love for God and
humanity.
Dickson Adekunle Awode, if love could have saved you, you never could have died because we loved you so much … if money could have saved you, we would have paid for more years.
In life, I loved you dearly … in death I love you still, in my heart you hold a place that no one could ever fill. I am so very proud to be your son. I love you Dad, and will miss you dearly.
Rest well, my father.
Adieu my Chairman.
Your Son
– EMMANUEL ADEREMI AWODE
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