On the 14th of
January 2010, the earth lost a spiritual giant and heaven gained a saint.
Folashade
Feyisara Laniyan, nee Ojedokun was not born into this world alone, I, Olukayode
Oluwole, had the privilege of being her twin. Folashade was everything I
seek to be, bold, decisive, caring and forthright. She was a leader and
brooked no barriers, accepted no obstacles, a lady of immense Christian
faith.
She was also a madam protector and as adolescents she
always offered protection to Adebowale, Akinola, my younger brother from my
sometimes inexplicable wrath.
Her strength was
immense, her determination clear and her mission certain. She was a
pillar of support to my mother and a benefactor to so many too mention.
At home, a formidable friend to her husband and a home maker/organiser per excellence.
Together they always found a new goal and a new mountain to climb.
Whilst she
got most of her ebony looks, the better looks, from my father, Dr Olasupo
Ojedokun I settled for a mixture of resemblance from both parents.
She graced this earth
for close to 44 wonderful and productive years and was married to a remarkably
generous soul, Mr. Ademola Aderemi Laniyan and had four wonderful children
until she was triumphantly translated to heaven on the 14th of January
2010.
She did not allow the ‘return’
of the ravages of cancer to affect the valour of her fight nor the stoicism of
her faith. In the fight she was a sight to behold and example to follow. She
indeed won the war and today many others and I stand inspired and stand in awe
for the defeat of death and the mark that she left.
For me, Folashade,
was a pace setter, while I displayed every sense of lethargy in secondary
school education at King’s College, Lagos, she, Folashade made remarkable
progress and as an arts’ student recorded a distinction in Mathematics at
Federal Government College, Oyo. She went on to Obafemi Awolowo
University Ile-Ife to study law while I aspired to be a local champion at
King’s College.
I confess that
through doggedness rather than pace I followed in her footsteps and eventually
read law at the same institution. After a hard day politicking about, I
could always look forward to a nice meal in her room while she was at Ile-Ife. It
is remarkable that when I was rusticated from university it was my twin
sister’s concern rather than my mother’s rebuke that made me turn over a new
leaf.
After she qualified as a lawyer she was posted to Ogun State for her
youth service and I followed after her a year later. She choose to remain
in Nigeria, got married while I departed for the shores of the United
Kingdom.
In Nigeria while many
others went to work for banks in the short term boom of the eighties she
settled into the Law firm of Bentley, Edu & Co and worked her way into the
Associateship position, before departing for Jackson, Etti & Edu where she
became a Partner and worked in the specialised area of trademarks and
intellectual property.
Her generosity knew no boundaries, when I was called
into the Christian ministry of Friends International; she and her husband
generously provided my family with a eight seater vehicle as a gift. When
I was awarded my Ph.D, she surprised us with her presence, arrived on the
Friday and returned on the Sunday after the ceremony.
I say, a remarkable
lady in every material particular.
Style came to her naturally, she
graced her homes and her person with elegance, again a sight to behold and
appreciate. The world will certainly be poorer with her absence.
Today
she stands, gloriously victorious in heaven while the enemy is astounded, she
graces God’s presence after life’s fitful struggles. Some may say have
they not won? But I quote from the Bible, the book of 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
and ask:
“O death, where is
thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength
of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast,
unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that
your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
’Shade now you have
departed, who shall set the pace for me? Now you have been translated to
glory who shall challenge me? I wonder, I do wonder. But to Ademola
Laniyan, to Moshope, to ‘Tomife, to Temiloluwa and to Boluwatishe we,
Adebowale, Morayo, Olajumoke, the Laniyans and I owe it to her to follow in her
footsteps as mighty vessels in the hands of God. We the Laniyans, the
Ojedokuns and other relatives will not rest till we attain the fullness of
God’s desires for your lives. We will give our all for your children, for
you would have done the same for us.
I choose to begin my conclusion by
addressing Ademola, Moshope, ‘Tomife, Temiloluwa and Boluwatishe, also to my
dearest mother and all those that mourn:
Joy cometh in the morning, for the
scripture tells us so and I know so. I do not know if life would be worth
living if it did not. There is evil in the world, there always will be, and we
can pray against it and we know that when our saviour comes triumphant it shall
be banished completely.
Today, with Ademola’s
permission but with God’s help I promise Folashade, Feyisara that your dream
lives on, that the future you worked so hard to build will become a reality.
We
remember the scripture Psalm 113:3 that:
“The Bible says: From the rising of the sun unto the going
down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.”
Therefore we all make a promise to Folashade Feyisara, a soldier
extra-ordinaire of the Lord:
“In the rising of
the sun and in its going down, we will remember to praise the Lord.
In the
blowing of the wind and in the chill of the water, we will remember to praise
the Lord.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring, we will
remember to praise the Lord.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of
summer, we will remember to praise the Lord.
In the rustling of the leaves and
in the beauty of autumn, we will remember to praise the Lord.
In the beginning
of the year and when it ends, we will remember to praise the Lord.
When we are
weary and in need of strength, we will remember to praise the Lord.
When we are
lost and sick at heart, we will remember to praise the Lord.
When we have joys
we yearn to share, we will remember to praise the Lord.
So long as we live, Folashade too
shall live, for you Feyisara, are forever a part of us, and we will
always remember to praise the Lord Amen.”
Ejire mi! Adieu! Till
we meet again my dearest and elegant twin, a mother and above all a wonderful
wife! You are irreplaceable Folashade your beauty and compassion, both internal
and external, will never be extinguished from our minds. See link for more.. https://www.createspace.com/5070786
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