Message from Best Ogedegbe
Categories: Featured, Social
Written By: Segun Odegbami
I have a message from late Best Ogedegbe! I did not hear his voice, No! On the day of his funeral last weekend I simply sat quietly in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Oke Ado, Ibadan, looked around the full congregation that had come to pay their last respect to him, and tried to imagine what Best would have wanted to say to this audience of family, friends and fans were he to have the opportunity to return briefly. Then it came to me as a gentle thought. It flickered in my mind! At that instance I was invited to make a brief speech as chairman of the organising committee of the burial ceremony. I realised immediately that it was a divine script playing out. Best wanted me to speak for him.
His message was simple. Even in death, as he was laid in church, immobile and prostrate before the altar of the cross, Best was very happy and at peace. He was very grateful for the presence of the multitude that had come from far and near to honour him. He thanked everyone that had contributed to his burial arrangements and made it very stress-free for Shade, his wife, and his two daughters, Yejide and Gloria. He wanted his family to mourn less his death and celebrate more his life. He wanted his burial to be a legacy of some sort, to set a standard for the least that should be done to honour all those that die after diligently serving their country. Heroes of Nigerian football must not just be buried in some forlorn grave and forgotten. A programme, an edifice, a monument, anything that would serve as a reminder of who they were and what they contributed to the nation, must be erected in their honour to inspire the next generation! That was Best’s simple message.
It made sense and I stood up and expressed it, More than that I made a commitment on behalf of all footballers, retired and active that we shall make a contribution and present to the Church to support the building or completion of a structure within the church that would be named after him. The contribution will be collected by me and delivered to the church before the end of this year. This is, therefore, a clarion call to all my colleagues within the football fraternity desirous of making a token contribution of a minimum of one thousand Naira. Every contribution will be documented, accounted for and presented to the church in Ibadan. Emmanuel Okala who came all the way from Enugu at his own expense to honour Best set the ball rolling by contributing five thousand Naira before he went back. Best’s ‘wish’ will be done. Interested persons can reach me via text only on 08027246277.
On behalf of Shade, Yejide and Gloria Ogedegbe, the wife and daughters of Best Ogedegbe, MON, this is to thank the Governors of Rivers, Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti State and Ondo States, the various publications that carried the burial and interment notices gratis, Bishop Felix Ajakaye of the Ekiti Diocese of the Catholic Church, Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission, President and Board of the Nigeria Football Federation, Commissioner of Police Oyo State, President of NANF, Shooting Stars FC, Gateway FC and Sharks FC, plus several organisations and individuals whose goodwill messages, financial and material support and contributions made the event truly befitting!
November 14th, 2009 at 2:25 PM
May his soul rest in peace.
November 16th, 2009 at 5:12 PM
His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world,
This was a man
Rest in peace Best, you were the best better than all the rest
September 12th, 2010 at 10:31 PM
Dear Chief Emmanuel Okala,
Brother Best left us at the very time that we needed him most. This month will turn the first year that we lost a very dear brother -in law, he is like a real brother to me. I found it difficult to use past tense to address him. He was a good man to all, known and unknown. Always of compassion and very simple man. He cares a lot for people. I remembered we went to the market with the daughters car, people in the market were so close to him, they talk as if they are related to him. It hurts them so much. Brother relates to all old and young, rich and poor, His Nation. I am so proud of him.
It was a shocking news, it was so sad. it was the very darkest hour on that faithful day. We still can not understand how so soon……Rest In Peace Brother Best. We love you so much but God loves you most. It is well in Jesus Name.
Thanks to all friends, Bishop Felix Ajakaiye that gave even all those stories (lots of them) that we wouldn’t have known – the quietness of brother Best, his humility, his uniqness as said by Bros Segun Odegbami that he was not just a goal keeper, narrating how he scored a desiding goal that made Nigeria, HIS NATION proud. The story of Late bros Muda Lawal and someone, I think Otolorin were in contest with fried meat or snail at the camp. Bros Best kept quiet, while others wre agueing, the meat was suddenly thrown ….. gues who got it with his mouth.
The passing away of bros Bost was so sad, But Bishop F Ajakaiye made all to enjoy the sermon by making all to smile, and to learn from all that he has done while alive, that he can never be forgotten in the hitory of Nigeria. That Bishop knows all about Bros Best and his old team. He travelled all the way from Ekiti for the burial and has always been in contact with the family. What a man of God. May God remember him in his book of life permanently for an assurance of eternal life. He was calling those footballers one by one even with names eg the mathematician now Chief Odegbami. Cheif E. Okala, you know what you were called too. Thanks for the beautiful message of remembrance of all that you know about him, said by you at the lying- in -state and at the burial (in Church). Thanks to all top officials- I can not name them all. A very great thank you to them for the support any sympaty. On behalf of my sister Sade Ogedegbe,yejide and Gloria. I say thank you very much.
I am also saying thanks for not forgeting about the promise to the Church – to keep the name going. We need to do more as into the contribution to make it real. I will get back to you on that and please remind all friat need to be reminded. Chief Segun Odegbami said he will make sure it is done. May God remember you all as you remember bros Best at this very time, to do as promised. May God bless you and your family and grant you all long life with good health.
I will get back to you via your mobile.
Regards
Sola Adepoju (UK)
September 13th, 2010 at 10:03 AM
Thank you Sola. Best is always fondly remembered by us all! I hope that very soon something will be done to immortalise not just him but all of those of our generation that served the country diligently and deserve a space in the archives of our football history!
God bless you!
September 13th, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Bros Shegun,
Thank you for your quick responce. I just called my sister ( Sister Sade) and she said you guy’s have done it.
On behalf of the family I say THANK YOU VERY MUCH. We are so greateful. Thaanks for been there, thanks for the running around, because it is not easy to get people together to do such thing.
My appologise please, I addressed the message to Chief Okala, instead of you. I remember, that you are the one that took up that responsibility at the burial that day, Saying – THAT IT IS A THING THAT MUST BE DONE. Well done !!! You kept to your words and you did not fail your friend. Thank you. It was when I after I have sent the message, that I saw your name at the etreeme side of the note.
. Anyway, you are all one and that unity within you people, ,the Lord Almighty will solidify it the more. You shall live long to the glory of God. Man and the heavens will bless and favour you.
I just called bros Karufi too at London because I live in Cambridge to say thanks. We appreciate you once again as a family.
As of that of the one to remember all in future.You people that remain will grow old in Jesus name. You will live to enjoy lthe labour of your hands and to the glory of God you shall meet heaven.
My advice is that, there must be a provission of land now or to be bought or at the stadium that you all love most that the council will not say one day they want to demolish. This land, you can build a stone – the heroes of our Nation with a football, well designed,. then you put a place where they will put any one that has died there. Alhaji Mudasiru Lawal has to be brought back to put his name on that stone and others. Please make it a very tall one.
Letters will be passed round to those that will like to contribute and the governmental bodies for bringing this to life. This has to be done. I look foward to see such thing to be installed as that of those that has gone to war and died, and when they die the nane is enscribed unto that stone. I am just giving you an idea, you are the one that will build on ithis ideas.
EG.. It could be placed a at Abuja, or in the South, “at Ibadan,” as it is the common ground for most of you (Liberty Stadium). It all depend on what you all came up with. Get a land if at Abuja that you people can build 2 bungalows or anything good, in case there is an occation for you people to stay in town. It will be as a camp for you guy’s when you are at Abuja.You all are not etting younger anymore. Old people get pession here and live well. The time will come when the body has to rest. You have to think of the future of football in Nigeria and your family, so that the next generation too will take what they are doing serious. There is hope in football and it depends on you all. You have layed the foundation, help us to build on it. What is going on now in foootball is a mess, it is time to get these boys serious by setting up an academy even round closer to the stone errected if you all agree.
It is not in football alone that need to be revive in Nigeria. There are other things that has to be done in Nigeria to make it a good respectable Nation. We need to learn and move on. We can do it. Nigeria can make it. There will be a change with just little effort.
We can talk about it when I come home for brother Best Ist year. And I have got some people that could help if you if you are ready. All you need is to contact them.
I pray that you are favoured and get elected by FIFA. I know that you can make a change in Nigerian Football. Keep it up. I saw that on Ben tv last week in a debate. And the Lord shall surprise you..
Regards
Sola