25-01 2022 10:07
wrote:
A TRIBUTE TO A BROTHER AND FRIEND
In retrospect, I am greatly privileged to have come in contact with this person I come to know and regard as my elder brother, friend, confidant and adviser. Mr. John Oludaisi Abidakun was introduced to me sometime in 1974 by my bosom friend, Mr. James Kayode Olorunsola, who happens to be his Secondary School Classmate and good friend. The introduction was casual and brief. Following this initial contact, we had met twice again at Mr. Olorunsola’s before the wind of life would blow us apart until one day in February 1977.
One afternoon in early February of 1977 in one of the hallways in the New York Institute of Technology, 1855 Broadway, New York, Mr. Olu Abidakun tapped my shoulder from the back and as I turned, he said “Alafia o”. Right there we had reconnected and had maintained this connection until November 2021. Our relationship had soon developed into that of a little and big brother. I soon became a younger friend of two elderly loving friends – Mr. J. K. Olorunsola and Mr. J. O Abidakun. Soon after, the real character of Mr. John Abidakun started to emerge.
Earlier in our relationship, though we did not see or speak often because of our busy schedules, when we did, he had made it about something of substance and importance. I have always appreciated the privilege of knowing and having as a friend a person of his character: eloquent, upright, empathetic, modest and uncompromisingly humble. His advice had been of significant factor in some aspect of my life: Mr. Olu Abidakun had been instrumental to my marrying at the time I did. While I remained single, he would call often and reminded me that “apa meji leiye fi info”, (a bird flies with two wings), meaning I must not continue to living without a spouse. It had been a joyful time for him each time I have had a child; he would tell me how fulfilled he was each time he had named my child, and he had named both of my two children.
Mr. Olu Abidakun’s compassionate, thoughtful and empathetic nature was once demonstrated at a time that I was really needy. It was in June of 1979 when I had to move from one apartment to a new rental. But I was a little short on cash and must move. Somehow, he had known about this situation; Mr. Abidakun called me on his way back from work one morning and asked if I could join him around the corner close to my address; he took me to a Check Cashing Store and presented his paycheck for the week. He handed me the entire proceeds and apologetically said it was all he could do at that time to assist me. The awesome and thought-provoking point in this act of genuine kindness and goodwill is the sacrifice he had made by foregoing his entire week paycheck from his Security Guard job despite his personal prevailing precarious financial situation and in spite of the fact that I had not solicited for the assistance in the first place.
A quiet, caring, compassionate and humble personality who would never engage in pettiness, Mr. John Oludaisi Abidakun was indeed a rare breed. He was a hard-working man who had worked most of his entire life; a man of high integrity, he was a very good father and husband who loved his family very dearly.
Mr. John Oludaisi Abidakun, may the Almighty God forgive your transgressions and rest your soul in perfect peace. May your cherished memories continue to be a blessing for all of us and the family you have left behind.
Adieu, loving, peaceful, God-fearing and sweet man.
JIRE ORIMOGUNJE and FAMILY.
25-01 2022 10:07
wrote:
A TRIBUTE TO A BROTHER AND FRIEND
In retrospect, I am greatly privileged to have come in contact with this person I come to know and regard as my elder brother, friend, confidant and adviser. Mr. John Oludaisi Abidakun was introduced to me sometime in 1974 by my bosom friend, Mr. James Kayode Olorunsola, who happens to be his Secondary School Classmate and good friend. The introduction was casual and brief. Following this initial contact, we had met twice again at Mr. Olorunsola’s before the wind of life would blow us apart until one day in February 1977.
One afternoon in early February of 1977 in one of the hallways in the New York Institute of Technology, 1855 Broadway, New York, Mr. Olu Abidakun tapped my shoulder from the back and as I turned, he said “Alafia o”. Right there we had reconnected and had maintained this connection until November 2021. Our relationship had soon developed into that of a little and big brother. I soon became a younger friend of two elderly loving friends – Mr. J. K. Olorunsola and Mr. J. O Abidakun. Soon after, the real character of Mr. John Abidakun started to emerge.
Earlier in our relationship, though we did not see or speak often because of our busy schedules, when we did, he had made it about something of substance and importance. I have always appreciated the privilege of knowing and having as a friend a person of his character: eloquent, upright, empathetic, modest and uncompromisingly humble. His advice had been of significant factor in some aspect of my life: Mr. Olu Abidakun had been instrumental to my marrying at the time I did. While I remained single, he would call often and reminded me that “apa meji leiye fi info”, (a bird flies with two wings), meaning I must not continue to living without a spouse. It had been a joyful time for him each time I have had a child; he would tell me how fulfilled he was each time he had named my child, and he had named both of my two children.
Mr. Olu Abidakun’s compassionate, thoughtful and empathetic nature was once demonstrated at a time that I was really needy. It was in June of 1979 when I had to move from one apartment to a new rental. But I was a little short on cash and must move. Somehow, he had known about this situation; Mr. Abidakun called me on his way back from work one morning and asked if I could join him around the corner close to my address; he took me to a Check Cashing Store and presented his paycheck for the week. He handed me the entire proceeds and apologetically said it was all he could do at that time to assist me. The awesome and thought-provoking point in this act of genuine kindness and goodwill is the sacrifice he had made by foregoing his entire week paycheck from his Security Guard job despite his personal prevailing precarious financial situation and in spite of the fact that I had not solicited for the assistance in the first place.
A quiet, caring, compassionate and humble personality who would never engage in pettiness, Mr. John Oludaisi Abidakun was indeed a rare breed. He was a hard-working man who had worked most of his entire life; a man of high integrity, he was a very good father and husband who loved his family very dearly.
Mr. John Oludaisi Abidakun, may the Almighty God forgive your transgressions and rest your soul in perfect peace. May your cherished memories continue to be a blessing for all of us and the family you have left behind.
Adieu, loving, peaceful, God-fearing and sweet man.
JIRE ORIMOGUNJE and FAMILY.
