Orekoya family, bury Late 91 year old Dad, at Isara Remo, in style and grandeur

Last Friday, royal fathers, top government officials, and captains of industry, stormed Isara Remo in Ogun State, to witness the interment of Late Prince Emmanuel Olayinka Orekoya, an event that literally turned into a carnival-like celebration. 

Father to a Retired School Principal, a Civil Engineer, a Chartered Accountant (FCA), another Chartered Accountant, and a Mass Communication graduate, among them being Mr Tayo Orekoya, former Director at LAMATA in Lagos and the Founder of Pearl Awards that honours excellence in the Nigerian Stock Market, the Late Prince Emmanuel Olayinka Orekoya was blessed. Longevity of life was an extra blessing bestowed on him by the Almighty God.  

He had set forth at dawn. A scion of the Igan Ruling House of Isara-Remo through his mother's lineage, he worked with Nigerian Tribune newspaper, worked as a Secretary in a Law firm I.S.M. Sotire Esq and at Public Health Department an appointment he got from Lagos Town Council.

In 1953 he sat for police selection examination, was selected, trained at the Southern Police College Ikeja in 1953 and started work at the Commandants Office in Ikeja.

He rose to become a substantive Superintendent of Police in 1976.

In 1979, he lectured at Ikeja Police College and on the 31st of August 1988 after 35 years of meritorious services to the nation, covering North, South, East and Western Nigeria including international assignments to Cameroon, he retired in 1993, and worked as an Administrative Manager at Olakunle Ashaye Company Limited for 10 years. He left in 2003 with gratuity.

He was married to Chief Mrs Regina Aderemi Orekoya nee Adeyiga, and apart from his children, he was also blessed with many grand children and great grand children.

An incorruptible Police Officer, he bestowed a legacy of education on his children.

He had interest in church activities and sports as a member, Lagos and National Sports Commission in Cycling Association.

Tribute poured in freely at the Wake Keep in Abeokuta where he last lived and all the way to Isara Remo, Ogun State, where he was interred after a ceremony at St John’s Anglican Church.

“Daddy was a doting lover to only one wife.’’ It was recalled that, because of his love for his wife, after she passed away on in January 2014, daddy refused to accept food cooked by any other woman!” It was a struggle as the children daily had to encourage him to continue with life despite the lost of his loved, cherished wife.

“Daddy was a diligent police officer,” and the story was told of how a bag of money was brought to daddy as a bribe to go and arrest Abiola, he rejected the money and rather accepted to be posted to a less lack lustre station.

“He was a good man. His children were usually among the first set of students to pay their school fees. Daddy was not wealthy but education for his children was his top priority.”

Tribute continued to flow from his children, family members and friends at his wake keep in Abeokuta and then to Isara Remo. Other tributes were from: Adeola Adeleke; Hon. Justice A. A. Shobayo; Ogundeji Olukunle; Engr Fisan Ogigale; Chief R. A Ogunyenye; Mojibade Olurin Omowunmi Okelanfa; Arc. Toye Osindero; Mrs Bunmi Oloyede; Hon. Mrs Ashade, Akinleye Toluwani; Hon. Justice Bode Popoola; Nloku of Iraye in Remo Land; Hon. Dr. Oladipupo Adebutu; Chief Dr. Faruk Umar; Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Diocese of Egba; Rev Abayomi Timothy Odunayo of Glory Baptist Church Iwo; Alhaji AA Alausa, Chairman, Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, State Headquarters, Eleweran; Iyana Oloke Community Develeopment Association; Isara Indigenes Association Abeokuta; Ladies Christian Improvement Society; Christian Social Circle, St. John Anglican Church Isara Remo; Young Men Christian Fellowship St, John’s Anglican Church, Igbein Abeokuta; Morning Star Society of Ipara Remo and so many others.

And so, Baba Olopa as he was fondly called by friends, went home in great celebration and festivities.

The guests were hosted at a school compound at Isara Remo. Each of the children had a huge tent to accommodate their guests, chairs spaced to observe covid-19 restrictions, giving them the opportunity to properly cater for their friends and dignitaries.

Dignitaries at the event included: Bisi Onasanya, former GMD First Bank Ltd and wife, Olufunke; Kola Olayinka, former General Manager, British Airways (West Africa) and wife, Kenny were also there; Senator Ibikunle Amosun was represented by the Immediate Past Deputy Speaker of Ogun State, Hon. Tola Banjo; Lagos State APC Vice Chairman, Chief Funso Ologunde was also there too.

Also present were Engr. Gbenga Dairo, Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation and wife. Mr. Toye Arulogun; the immediate past Commissioner for Information, Oyo State; The Odemo of Isara, HRH Oba Albert Adebose Mayungbe was fully represented at the funeral with his Royal Staff of Office, the late Father, being a Royal Prince himself.

Timi of Ede, HRH Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisa 1 and the Oba of Ogobiland, Ede were both present and added colour and circumstance to the carnival-like event. 

The President, St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo Old Boys Association, Charlean Rotimi Aluko; Vice President Foluso Oyesiku and the immediate Past President Majek Owoo all graced the occasion, amongst others.