I am Truly Grateful to God for your life, Dad.

It seems just like yesterday; when 27 years ago in Benin at our Traditional Wedding, in our crowded sitting room, my beloved late Papa firmly placed me on your laps, handing me formally to you, as the Edo tradition demands; and thereafter you then raised me up FIRMLY with both hands and placed me on Kayode’s laps.

You always believed and insisted that things were done properly and CORRECTLY and that is the only way in life to get GOOD Results.

You encouraged and supported us ABSOLUTELY as a young couple right up to when we ourselves got grey hairs right in your very presence.  You were never one to talk too much and you were never frivolous in your dealings with people.

You saw so much, knew so much and it was always amazing when you made your VERY rare but well informed and educative comments on issues that had occurred years past (which everyone believed you never noticed) and then give thorough and FRANK advice as they relate to fresh incidences.

You believed and practiced that once a child is married to your child (male or female) that child becomes ABSOLUTELY one of yours and he or she is treated as such.  You were VERY consistent in your practice of this.  You were a REAL Father, a TRUE PATRIARCH.

You always told me to be patient in all my dealings with persons and to be FAIR.  You encouraged me to support my husband and my children FULLY to achieve all their positive GOALS.  You said “Yanmo – Hardwork does not KILL, it is laziness that kills; You must sow good seeds and you will reap good fruits ….; You cannot plant Beans and expect to harvest Rice!”

Dad and Kayode always left home by 6a.m. to their office to ensure being at work before 7a.m.! You encouraged me to leave my teaching job at the then Federal School of Arts and Science, Victoria Island and to start my school at the Southwest Ikoyi Area of Lagos in 1987.

You never hid the fact that you cared and prayed for me always at ANY gathering NO matter how small or large.  Living in the same block with you in the first 5 years of our marriage was a great experience.  You let us be (as a young couple) while keeping an eye on us in the flat below.  You loved and cared for your grandchildren and you even found time to “play” soccer with them at your Penthouse verandah then.  When you moved to Anthony Village, you were in the Garden with all the Beans seeds from your kitchen, digging and planting seeds.  You followed their progress keenly from pregnancy till you spoke your LAST words.

Dad woke us up every Sunday morning by 7a.m. when I was pregnant and near term.  He woke Kayode and I up to drive in the car with him; PARK at the UNILAG Sports grounds and we ALL have a long walk from there to then UNILAG water front up to the Vice Chancellor’s Lodge and back to the car.  He walked more briskly that us.  He insisted I needed the exercise for myself and the baby in me!

He was a very busy legal practitioner also with huge social responsibilities BUT he still found time for us.  He always enjoyed telling the children as they grew up and they visited him at his Chelsea, London Residence about his early life.  He gave fine and excellent details of how he started in life; his sea ride to London then with his return ticket firmly with him.  How he did not fail to use that return ticket as he finished all he went for and came back at the exact pre-booked day.  At very loving and inspiring sessions he drummed into their ears “You must remember where you come from and what is expected of you in all you do.”

He loved, respected and appreciated his in-laws, the Giwa-Osagie family up to the very end.  He had a very close bond with my mother who passed on the same day of the month, exactly two months before he did.

He was a very fulfilled man.  He was at the Graduation ceremony of the Grandchildren in England.  He was getting weak but he insisted and made the trip to the Oxford University ceremony to be at the Graduation (Law) of his grand daughter.  He was very proud and happy and he thanked his God openly for all his mercies.

When he could hardly walk, he insisted he went with us to Abuja for the Call to Bar of his grand-son at the Nigeria Law School, Bwari.  He led the long procession of the other members of Body of Benchers.  He walked slowly and they ALL walked at his PACE behind him, Honouring this TRUE LEGAL ICON.  He was fulfilled and thanked God as he was able to pass the profession on to the THIRD generation.

I will surely miss you, Dad.  Kayode and the children will surely miss you.  Your profession you fiercely loved will miss you; your family; the whole Town and Nigeria will all miss you.

We shall remember you in all our DAILY dealings and you will have a place forever in our minds.  You are Truly UNFORGETABLE.

Good nite Dad and continue to rest in Perfect Peace. Amen.

Daddy ………….

A Noble gentleman ………………..

A Loving father …………………….

A Wonderful grandfather …………………..

My dearest father-in-law ………………………

On March 25, 2007, the sun set amazingly that morning when “Mr.” Kehinde Sofola, SAN, CON, (‘Daddy’, as we all fondly called him) passed on gloriously.  The last word you uttered before the angels came to take you awat was “Amen” when Khennie, you namesake said “Daddy, it is well with you”. “IT IS INDEED WELL WITH YOUR SOUL”.

You never saw or treated me as a daughter-in-law but as one of your daughters.  In fact, people often took me as one of your children because they said I looked like some of your children.  I may not be your biological daughter, you took me as one of yours.  You were and would forever be a father in a million to me.  You impacted on my life positively, encouraged me when I did well and of course rebuked me when I failed to meet up to some expectations you set.

Living with you was an experience altogether.  Most people doubted if we would be able to live under the same roof because they said ‘Daddy Sofola’ is very tough, do you think you can live with him?  We surely did!  It was a big challenge but I thank Almighty Allah for that opportunity to see that beneath that toughness was a VERY LOVING FAHTER and a WONDERFUL Grandfather.  Till the very end, you cared for your children, grandchildren, extended family, friends, neighbours and all those who came in contact with you.  My numerous friends who came in contact with you, all have fond memories of you as you would make out time to sit and chat with them, attend their functions and most importantly impact their lives positively with your wise and useful counseling.

At the same time we had our rough periods too.  I had curfews time … woe betide me if I came home late (after 7pm.) from work or worse still, social functions and you were in the house before me.  When you and Afolabi (your rebel son and my husband) had your squabbles, I, of couse, will be the one to suffer for that as the one in between the two and trying to mend the fence.  Whenever Daddy called me “Ganiat”, I knew he was in a good mood with me, but whenever I heard him call “Mosun”, I knew trouble was brewing.

There is just so much to write, I could go on and on, but we have been instructed not to write too much (I even hope you are not reading an edited version)!

In all, I do really thank Almighty Allah for the opportunity of being with you and caring for you till the very end.

I love you very much Daddy and will surely miss you.  My consolation is that you are resting peacefully in the Lord’s bossom.  May Almighty Allah grant you Al-jannah firdous.

Your darling daughter-in-law,

I first encountered daddy in 1989 at his offices in Tinubu square. He gave me a hard time! As expected of a man trying to protect his interest. Now happily married to Kemi and blessed with two wonderful children (Mefino and Elute) 17 years on, I understand and appreciate his motives and I will act the same way in 10 – 15 years time.

Daddy was a very hard worker, invested time and resources in people, was very intolerant of laziness and mediocrity, believed strongly in exercising the brain and body and would not be found idle except asleep. Daddy did not indulge in extravagance and always encouraged academic excellence. To all of us he was an ideal role model and despite our best efforts most of us can only dream of the dizzy heights he reached during his working life.

Daddy will forever be in our memory and the best legacy is to live by some of those principles (fear of God, hard work, academic and professional excellence) he held dear.

Adieus Daddy!!!  

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UNFORGETABLE; That’s Just What You Are