It was a mixture of sadness and joy in Abekouta, Ogun State when highly respected son of the soil and patriarch of the Sodimu family, Pa Amos Oluwole Babalola Sodimu (Gbokoniyi) was laid to rest in his hometown at Idiape, Ogun State.
The burial rites commenced with a commendation service at the Cathedral of St. James African Church, Abeokuta.
The Officiating Priest started his sermon with a short exhortation and a message of hope to the deceased family, announcing that the deceased was a man who genuinely served God.
This was corroborated by his eldest child, Dr. (Mrs.) Quincy Olasumbo Ayodele who wrote“ Daddy you led my entire household to Christ and you gave your life singing “Amazing grace, how great thou art…I know you are resting in the right hand of God”
Later, he was interred in a private ceremony. After which there was first-rate reception for guests.
Chief Amos Babalola, fondly called Gbokoniyi, was born on October 20, 1926 by late Madam Mabel Sodimu and Mr. Gabriel Abiola Oyinbo Sodimu at Olorunsogo/Gbogbo village, Abeokuta, Ogun State. He attended Baptist Boys High School, Owu, Abeokuta. He was a brilliant student and earned the appellation of Sodium Chloride because he was an outstanding Chemistry student. He later went to Cooperative College in the University of Ibadan.
Pa Sodimu worked as the Local Government Secretary at Egba Owode District under the Chief Obafemi Awolowo administration of the old Western Region. He was later transferred to Ila-Orangun District in Osun State from where he proceeded to London to further his education, he read Law at the Cambridge College, London.
He wooed and married the beautiful Madam Susan Olufunke Sodimu and took her to London, where they lived for many years and were blessed with five children.
He empowered lots of people and gave scholarships to lots of students to study abroad because he was a strong believer in education.
Pa Sodimu was a one woman person to the extent that it took his children by his first wife, many years to convince him to remarry after his first love died. He later married Mrs. Christiana Toyosi Sodimu and they were blessed with three children. He is survived by eight wonderful children, 30 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
