It was a sober moment, with tears flowing freely, as the remains of the late Assistant Editor, Saturday Newswatch, Oluwatoyin Obadina, was interred today at his Adamo, Ikorodu residence, after a short funeral service.

The funeral service, officiated by the pastors of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Lagos Province 21, Zone 9, Master Key Parish, was a moment of reflection for everyone in attendance.

One of the pastors, Pastor Johnson Osakwe, who gave the sermon, exhorted people to live a meaningful life, mindful of the hereafter.

“Live your life with the consciousness of where you are going to. I enjoin anyone here that has not accepted Jesus Christ to his/her live to do so,” he urged.

“I know we are all here because of what has happened (pointing at the white and gold casket containing the remains of the late Obadina) but we have to learn to say it is well with my soul,” Osakwe said in a bid to provide succour to those gathered for the funeral.

The Bible reading of the funeral was taken by the first daughter of the deceased, Ayomide Obadina, after which a brief biography of the late frontline journalist was read out by the elder brother, Oluyinka Obadina, detailing where he was born, educational pursuits and married life.

“He was born in Abeokuta on November 17, 1963 to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Obadina. He had an OND in Mass Communication and graduated from the University of Lagos in 1991 with a B.Sc in Mass Communication. He worked in several media houses, the last being Saturday Newswatch, where he was a Deputy Editor. He was married to Abiola, and they have three children,” the brother of the deceased stated.

After the body of the late journalist was interred, the Editor of Sunday Newswatch, Mr. Olanrewaju Oyetade, gave a testimony on the kind of man the late Obadina was. He said: “The following words describe the late Obadina: diligence, gentility and loyalty to the system for

which he worked.”

Oyetade went on to restate the commitment of the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Energy Group and Publisher of Newswatch Newspapers, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, to the family of the deceased.

“Our GMD has said he would take over the education of the three children henceforth, up to the university level, and would set the wife up in business. I pray that God grants us all the fortitude to bear this loss,” Oyetade concluded.

The brother of the deceased, Oluyinka, thanked Dr. Ibrahim, and staff and management of the Energy Group and Newswatch Newspapers that attended the funeral, praying that such sad accident would not befall them.

“I thank your Publisher, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, for his kind gestures, and equally thank you all for coming, and I thank you also for the help with the arrangement of the funeral. I pray that such a sad incident will not happen to anyone of you. In your organisation, untimely deaths will cease in Jesus name,” Obadina prayed.

•Photo shows late Obadima.

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