Vincent OBANIYI

 

During his visit to the Bishop of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, on a condolence visit on Monday, 10th November, 2025, Rev. Fr. Richmond Diala, a Navy Chaplain and priest of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Bishop Julius Adelakun, describing him as a humble, tolerant, and deeply fatherly shepherd whose legacy continues to guide the diocese in faith and unity.

 

Speaking with emotion, Fr. Diala recalled how he received the sad news of the Bishop’s passing while on official national duty. “I was on a national assignment from Abuja to Lagos when I got a message from my Lord Bishop Badejo that Baba had passed on. I couldn’t respond. I was speechless. The next day, I still had no words,” Fr. Diala recounted. “His death struck me deeply. I remember exactly where I was and even what I was wearing when I heard it. Though Baba was elderly, no words can express the pain of losing him. But as a man of faith, I believe he is at peace with God.”

 

Reflecting on the life and ministry of the late Bishop, Fr. Diala emphasized that his leadership was defined not by authority, but by fatherly love and pastoral care. “Baba was not just a Bishop; he was a father to everyone,” he said. “He had the gift of making people feel comfortable. He was humane, simple, and approachable. If you study his life closely, you’ll see that his style of leadership was like that of a father leading a family — the good, the bad, and the struggling all found a place around him.”

 

He recalled personal moments that revealed the Bishop’s gift for understanding and guiding his flock with patience and compassion. “If someone came to him saying, “Baba, I need ₦100,000 or I’ll kill myself,” he would calmly talk to the person, and by the end of the conversation, the person would no longer feel hopeless even though the person might not receive ₦100,000, but he would walk away comforted and hopeful. That was Baba — a father who gave peace through his words and presence.”

 

Speaking on the virtues of the late Bishop, Fr. Diala identified humility and tolerance as the two most remarkable qualities worth emulating by priests and faithful alike. “His humility was palpable, and his tolerance was incredible. No words can fully describe them. Those two virtues alone summarize who he truly was,” he said.

 

Addressing the Diocesan family as they mourn their shepherd, Fr. Diala encouraged the faithful to remain strong and continue building upon the foundation laid by the late Bishop. “Baba prepared us for this moment,” he affirmed. “Everyone who knows me knows I don’t flatter; I speak the truth. Baba planted deeply in this diocese, and what he planted is flourishing today. Our Bishop, Most Rev. Badejo, knows this — what Baba built is growing and bearing fruit. We mourn his passing, but his spirit remains alive in our midst. The Diocese of Oyo is rooted, strong, and full of hope. We have no fears at all.”

 

Fr. Diala concluded by thanking God for the life of the late Bishop and the grace to have known and worked with him. “He was a loving man, a true shepherd, and a father we trusted,” he said. “May his soul rest in perfect peace.”