You don't always value what you have until you lose it'. This popular saying aptly describes what I feel at the moment since my father, Elder Ayodele Olusegun Oshodi, went to be with the Lord on that Thursday morning of September 15, 2011.Since I would no longer see my father again until I also make it to heaven, where he has joined the other souls who had died in the Lord, and are singing the praises of God, the only thing left is for his memories to remain golden in my heart, as well as never to depart from the lane of honesty and integrity that he followed.Daddy was a teacher, first, at the Baptist College, Iwo, before being transferred to the Command Secondary School, Ibadan, as a Biology teacher. He later rose to become the Vice Principal at Command, before being posted to head the Inspectorate at 2 Division, Odogbo Cantoment, Ojoo, Ibadan.When Dad was a Vice Principal, he could have made it rich. Then, and even till now, parents struggled to see their children gained admission into Command Secondary School, Ibadan, because of the high level of discipline and academic excellence in school. Parents didn't mind what it would cost them to have their wards get admitted, but Dad never compromised his integrity because of money. If he was going to help anybody get admission, he was going to do it without any string attached.One particular year, Daddy helped a man who was into the sales of computer/laptops. He was a very successful businessman in Lagos, and at that period, the laptop was just becoming popular. It was a period that if one had a laptop, then one could be considered rich. After assisting the man's child gain admission, and in appreciation, the man came to our house (on the campus of the school) and gave Dad a laptop. We, the children, knew what it was, and we jubilated inside the room, but to our dismay, Dad rejected the gift.Nobody spoke to Dad that night, even mum. We wondered how he could have rejected a laptop. A laptop in our house at that period in time would have added to our prestige, and the little possessions we had (a black and white television set and an old record playing sound system which Dad bought on the eve of my sister's first birthday in 1983.Dad was a disciplinarian. When we, the children, were young, despite being a teacher, we could count the number of times he flogged us. He was not someone who would beat a child to correct him/her at the slightest opportunity, but despite that, we still feared him. Anytime he was coming home, we all kept quiet and behaved ourselves.As we grew up, the fear of him turned into love. Even as adults, anytime he went out, he bought biscuits home and shared it amongst us. My sister, Adeola, even once complained that we are grown ups now, and he needn't be doing that.Another thing with Daddy is that he knew many people, and when any of these people were in positions of authority, he never went to them for any help. We kept advising Dad that, 'this is your friend, he is now the head of this agency, why not go and meet him, maybe he can get you a contract', but he never went to such people.Although Dad never had the best of life's possessions, but he lived a very good life. He lived for people, and not just for his children. I could count about two or three people who Dad sponsored their primary and secondary education.He also never classed himself. He was a friend of all. Despite retiring as a Level 16 Step 9 officer from the Ministry of Defence, he had friends who are not lettered. He was simply a good man.On the week of his funeral, the rain had been falling everyday. On Thursday, October 13, the day of the Service of Songs, the rain started falling again around 3p.m, that it even blew away one of the tents we had erected for people to sit under, but surprisingly, when it was a couple of minutes for the programme to start, the rain stopped miraculously. During the event, a friend of mine sent a text to me apologizing that he would be getting to the event late because where he was, it was raining heavily, while it was shining where we were.Also, on Friday, October 14, the day of the burial, there was also no rain, and the event went well, but the following day, which was a Saturday, the rain started again. This proved to us that God, Who controls nature, loves Dad, because he served him while on earth, and he did good to fellow men.After the burial ceremony, two young men came from Lagos; they said Dad taught them in 1985 and he was good to them. Many of Dad's former students and colleagues were also around. This showed who Dad was.Since I was born, I had never left Dad for more than two weeks at a go, and that was the period I was in higher institution. I returned home forthnightly to collect my pocket money, but with Dad's exit now, I, alongside mum and my other siblings, are yet to come to terms of how we will live for the rest of our lives without this good man being around us.This is definitely making us to be closer to God and striving for His kingdom, so that when the time comes for us too to go, we can see Dad again. Rest in peace, my beloved father, Ayodele Olusegun Oshodi, and don't ever forget how you left us!Oshodi is on the staff of the Nigerian Tribune.
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