By ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
Hundreds of sympathizers, family and friends gathered on Friday to pay their last respect to the founding and pioneer Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bauchi State Chapter, Rev. Engr. Nathaniel Odekunle, as his remains were laid to rest.
The deceased who was, until his death, the Chairman of the PFN State Advisory Council, died after a brief illness on May 9th, 2022, at the age of 75.
Odekunle, who was also a one-time an Adviser to both the PFN and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state, retired in 2012 as a lecturer with the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.
The wife of the deceased, Deaconess Felicia, in her tribute to her husband extolled his virtues and described him as a peace-lover and a person who was always ready to forgive people who offended him.
She said: “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.
“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!’
“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.”
The National Vice President of the PFN, Prophet Isa El-Buba of the EBOMI Ministries, Jos, Plateau State, said Odekunle’s greatest message is living a life of purpose.
“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. This was someone who came from outside 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 how Nigerians desire to habitat where they are to use it as the place of their residence and for life,” El-Buba said.
The Bauchi State PFN Chairmen, Pastor Promise Yohanna, 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.
Yohanna said: “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.”
Also speaking, the CAN Chairman, Rev. Abraham Dimeus, said 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.
Dimues recalled that: “I remember your sermon in church two weeks before you traveled to Port Harcourt You talked about heaven, that any one 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.
“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.”
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.
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