When Senior Advocate of Nigeria, John Odubela buried his Uncle in style

The burial of the Late Chief Julius Bukun Odubela, the Balogun Ijo of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ikenne successfully took place penultimate Friday in the historic town of Ikenne. And from all corners of the country and abroad, family members and friends arrived in the town, for the final burial rites of the erstwhile great man.   

The Odubela family of Ikenne Remo, in Ogun State, had been thrown into mourning since the Legendary Icon, Chief Julius Bukun Odubela a.ka. JB, passed on in the early hours of November 22nd 2020 after a brief illness.

For one who had lived a life of service to man and to God while here on earth and had impacted greatly on family, friends and humanity in general, the late Chief Julius Bukun Odubela’s final rites was a celebration of sort, as he died a grandfather at the age of 78.

Ceremonies marking his final home call, began on Wednesday with a Service of Songs by the Men’s Fellowship at his residence, and was followed by a Christian Wake Keep on Thursday at Aud Primary School, opposite Idowu Sofola House in the evening. 

The Funeral Service which was presided over by The Very Rev. F. T. Tunji Oluborode and the Rt Rev. J. M. B. Ibikunle in the presence of top Ministers of God from various churches and other Christian denominations, in many ways dignified the late Odubela, and went a long way to convince even the visitors to Ikenne for the first time that day, that here was a great man who impacted his people in many ways.

Despite the Covid-19 challenge and restriction, dignitaries stormed Ikenne to honour the Odubela family. At the event w ere: The Secretary to Edo State Government Osarodion Ogie Esq, Mr Dada Awosika SAN and wife, Mr Segun Seriki and wife, Col Dele Oyefuga, Prince Tokunbo King and Prof O Adekoya, Deputy Vice Chancellor Olabisi Onabanjo, University Ago Iwoye, High Chief Job Dansu, Hon Rotimi Akinsanya, Chairman Ikenne Local Government, Hon Barrister Femi Adeniyi, former Chairman Ikenne Local Government, Hon Isaac Omodewu, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs Oyo State, Hon Justice Adeniyi Adebajo, Prince Segun Adesanya, Mr Adetokunbo Modupe, founder of TPT International, Mr Muyiwa Bolaji, Mr Sina Sofola SAN and Mr Kemi Pinheiro SAN among others.

Tributes poured in from home and abroad. And there were many beautiful words to describe JB as he was fondly called by family and friends.

According to John Olusegun Odubela a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who also is Late Chief Julius Bukun Odubela nephew, the Late Balogun Ijo of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Ikenne will be greatly missed. “He was not just a disciplinarian, but also an entrepreneur and a goal getter, who was so many things to many different people.”

Chief Julius Bukun Odubela (JB) was born on the 5th of march 1942 to the family of late pa Amos Gbadebo Odubela and late Chief Mrs Dorcan Sikuola Odubela. He had his early education at Wesley school Ikenne where his mother was a food seller at a point in time. The father was a devoted Methodist that worked with early Methodists missionaries to Remo land in particular Rev Mellor. 

He worked with Nigerian Provident fund and later Shell BP in Warri before returning back to Lagos to join International Business Machines IBM as sales executives. This also allowed him some foreign exposures.

He retired and went into active business spanning agriculture, manufacturing, trading and software development.

He was also known for his famous advertisement and publicity company, ‘Kayode Gbadebo Enterprises Ltd’ which printed caps, t-shirts, banners and many other products for multinational companies including Benson and Hedges, Nigerite, International Breweries to mention but a few.

“He was also a producer of Adire and Ereke Shoe Polish. I was from 1983 to 1986 the Manager of the company and I travelled the length and breadth of the South West to sell its products. Our customers mainly were in Gbagi Market in Ibadan and Ile-Ife."

He also ventured into the business of producing flower pots. In fact, daddy was among the first set of manufacturers of those fanciful flower pots which adorned every nook and cranny of Lagos around 1982,” said one of his sons who is today a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

It’s obvious that Pa Julius Bukun Odubela was indeed a super entrepreneur of many parts in his lifetime. He was known to be generous to a fault. A dedicated, pious man, he held various positions in the church and was so dedicated that in the early 80s to late 90s before he relocated to Ikenne, he used to travel with his family to Ikenne to attend the Sunday service at Methodist Church. He is the founder of Egbe Alafia and a patron to many of others groups in the church.

He is survived by Rev Dr Kayode Odubela, a Vetenary Doctor and Presbyster at Methodist church Ikenne, Dr Gbenga Odubela, a medical doctor based in Jigawa state, an entrepreneur, Engr Femi Odubela and other children.