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Late Rev Nathaniel Odekunle
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Pioneer Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Bauchi State, Rev Nathaniel Odekunle who died recently was on Friday buried in Bauchi at the Christian cemetery after a funeral service at the Overcomers Chapel, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.
Late Rev Nathaniel Odekunle who was born a Baptist and ordained as a Baptist Minister was a Mechanical Engineer by profession and was a onetime HOD, Mechanical Engineering department of the Federal Polytechnic.
Preaching at the funeral service, Rev Abraham Akanmu of Evangel Chapel, Gombe called on Christians to change lackadaisical attitude towards issues of insecurity stressing the need to not just keep praying but be vigilant and security conscious just as was done by Nehemiah in the Bible.
According to him, “What happened in Owo, Ondo state last Sunday should be an eye opener that no where is secured in Nigeria. The Church is now under serious attack. We must rise to defend ourselves”.
He described the late Nathaniel Odekunle as a destribalized Nigerian whose friends cut across ethnic differences as he exhibited the one Church one Christ posture of the Church.
The National Vice President of the PFN, Prophet Isa El-Buba of the EBOMI Ministries, Jos, Plateau State, said that late Nathaniel Odekunle’s greatest message is living a life of purpose.
He said that: “It is not in how long one lives, but how impactful one has been able to live his life. The second aspect of it is live your life to be able to unite people together.”
The Renowned Clergyman added that: “This was someone who came from Ogbomosho and made Bauchi his residence and his life and that talks about a nationalistic lifestyle where, wherever we find ourselves, we make sure we make an impact, that is our own territory and that is one Nigeria, this speaking for one Nigeria”.
“He would have been buried in Ogbomosho, but he is being interred here in Bauchi, and that goes to show the commitment of how Nigerians desire to habitate where they are to use it as the place of their residence and for life”, he stressed
In their separate tributes, the PFN and CAN Chairmen, Pastor Promise Yohanna and Rev. Abraham Dimues, respectively described the deceased as an addicted follower of Christ, a fearless general, a father to all across denominational lines, a peace maker, who never gave up even at the point of death.
Promise Yohanna said that, “We, at PFN Bauchi chapter, indeed, will miss him greatly, most especially his wealth of wisdom and his advisory role, he wholeheartedly played. Before his call to glory, he served as Chairman of State Advisory Council (SAC) Bauchi State PFN” .
“The body of Christ in general have lost an Icon in the faith. We thank God for helping him to live a Christ-like life and to finish strong,” Yohanna added.
On his part, the CAN Chairman, who said that the death of the deceased was shocking and was like a dream, described him as a friend, father and mentor, haven stood by him in his trying moments.
Abraham Dimues recalled that: “I remember his sermon in church two weeks before he traveled to Port Harcourt. He talked about heaven, that anyone who will not make it, lost all” .
“I must mourn you for what you did to me. You were more of a friend, father and mentor. You encouraged me in difficult situations, you kept my faith alive, you cared for my success in ministry, you taught me how to depend on God”, he added.
The CAN Chairman further said that, “You had sleepless nights praying for me to excel in my leadership. When people deserted me, you were always around to give me hope. Now that you are gone, I am like a naked person. One thing I know is that I will keep celebrating you until die. You were a strong man.”
In her tribute, the wife of the deceased, Deaconess Felicia Odekunle, extolled the virtues of her husband describing him as a peace-loving person who was always ready to forgive people who offended him.
According to her, “He was humble and had a soft heart. Many times, he would offend me and I will shout and shout but later on, he will come and tell me that he was sorry. He was always forgiving and he taught me how to forgive” .
She added that, “He was a man of prayer and he impacted lives in many ways and he loved evangelism. The day he died, when I went into the ward, he was happy and sat up on the bed and said, ‘Precious, Precious, God gave us souls!’
The bereaved Wife also said that, “Babarere, as you were fondly called, you were my priest, counsellor, teacher, defender, encourager, prayer partner etc. Your burning passion for the salvation of souls was first witnessed during our wedding, this continued fervently even when on your hospital bed, you preached to the doctors, Nurses and hospital staff that attended to you until your final exist into glory,”.
After the Funeral Service which held at the Overcomers’ Chapel, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, his remains were laid to rest at the Christian Cemetery in Yelwa in the state capital on Friday with hundreds of sympathizers and family members in attendance.
Late Nathaniel Odekunle who was, until his death, the Chairman of the PFN State Advisory Council, died after a brief illness on May 9th, 2022, barely two weeks after celebrating his 75th birthday.
The deceased who retired in 2012 as a lecturer with the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, was also at one-time an Adviser to both the PFN and the Christian Association of Nigeria in the state.
