HOW EVANGELIST EBENEZER OBEY CELEBRATED HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY IN CHURCH

It was a galaxy of stars, on Sunday 3rd, April 2022, at the popular church called Decross Gospel Mission, along Oyewole Road, Mulero Bus Stop @ the Agege area of Lagos, when Evangelist (Prof) Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi (MFR) held his 80th Birthday Anniversary Thanksgiving.

Baba Obey, as he is fondly called is the G.o of Decross Gospel Mission, an arm of Ebenezer Obey Evangelistic Ministries. The classy 80th Birthday Anniversary Thanksgiving took off at 9.00am prompt with serious Praise & Worship Session, to usher in the Birthday Boy, himself, who was dressed in sparkling white agbada and cap. His ebony complexion glowed and he was full of smiles.

 

Before the service took off, all his children had arrived at the church to make sure all was in order, in accordance with the way their dad would love it to be. This is understandable. Baba Obey is a perfectionist. And he is someone who has an eye for details. Let's also tell you that some of his children are Pastors, Deacons & Deaconesses at Decross. They all wore Aso Ebi, along with their spouses. All Baba Obey’s sons wore White. And their wives wore another set of Torquoise Blue Aso Ebi.

The grandchildren and great-grandchildren all wore powder blue Aso Ebi. All his sons played very key roles at Thanksgiving. So, also his daughters. His eldest son Shina Obey was present, along with Bishop Folarin Obey, Tolu, Lanre, and all the others like Bukola, Lanre, Tolu, Femi, Oreoluwa, Yinka, Bisola, Adura and others. They were all on their feet to ensure the event went well.

 

Bishop Folarin Obey played a very special role, as the Deputy General Overseer to Baba Obey. He took charge of the arrangement, along with other ministers of the church. Members of the Central Working Committee were also on the ground, led by Elder. Hon. Olayinka Ogundimu.

Members include Hon. Elder Babatunde Adejare, Hon. Elder Taofeek Adaranijo, Elder Jimoh Gbadebo, Elder Kolade Bushura, Deaconess Oyinkan Olasanoye, Rev. Bose Ogundimu, Elder Olufemi Bello, Elder Obioma Opoko, Rev. Robert Adeagbo, Pastor Joke Adeliyi, Pastor Oluwole Shonde, Elder Olanrewaju Adedoyin, Pastor Lanre Obey, Hon. Sherifat Adedoyin, Elder Bawa Gary, Deaconess Alero Obey, Dr. Abiodun Faleti, Deaconess Oyenike Shonde, Mr. Segun Oshomo, Engr. Kolade Akerele, Funbi Akinyesoye, and Temitope Great Akindejoye. All the 23 members of the Central Working Committee, were on their feet throughout.

There were about 20 officiating ministers, like Bishop Francis Wale Oke (PFN President), Rev. Dr. Supo Ayokunle (CAN President) Pastor Tunde Bakare, Archbishop John Osa-Oni, Rev. Isaac Omolehin, Rev. Dr. & Rev. Mother  Esther Ajayi, Apostle Wole Oladiyun, Bishop Abraham Olaleye, Rev. Samson Bamgbayan, Rev. J. A Adelakun (Ayewa), Bishop Olubunmi Banwo, Rev. Dr. J.B Odofin, Rev. Idowu Animashaun,  Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, Rev. Margaret Shoremekun, Pastor A.T Williams, Rev. & Mrs. Ebenezer Ajitena, Rev. Tunde Kajogbola, Pastor Dotun Ojelabi (who came with his beautiful wife) and Pastor Tunji Komolafe.

 

All these ministers were seated before Baba Obey arrived. After the soul-lifting songs, then came to the Opening Prayer/Call to Worship and Hymn: Ore Ofe Ohun A dun. Baba Obey sat alone in front, watching proceedings on the screen right in front of him. A few minutes after the service started, King Sunny Ade, who is 4 years younger than Baba Obey, walked in, dressed in the special Aso Ebi fabric. He sat next to Baba Obey and both looked like twins. They were into each other throughout the 7-hour event. They chatted away and Sunny stood up to dance for Baba Obey a couple of times, during the Praise and Worship session.

Evangelist Obey was in a happy mood when he saw how jampacked the church was. By the time he arrived, the church which can seat 3,000 on a good day, was filled to capacity and when people began to stand, more & more chairs were brought in to supplement existing chairs and take care of the overflow.

KSA kept Obey company until Sir Shina Peters arrived to join the duo. KSA danced and danced and sang along, during the praise worship session and songs from different artistes and the Choir. At least thrice, he danced for Obey and the Birthday Boy beamed with smiles, admiring his brother. He was obviously very happy for Obey, as KSA’s clapping was the loudest each time the MC called on guests to applaud Baba Obey. SSP also joined KSA in dancing, and at some point, SSP stood up and rushed to the stage to take over the Microphone to sing one of the songs, for which he received deafening applause.

The 2 MCs were damn good. It was a combination of 2 great professionals, namely: Gbenga Adeyinka (the 1st) and Tunji Akintayo.  They both did a good job, as they laced the order of service, intermittently, with the evergreen songs of Ebenezer Obey which they sang themselves.

 

The event was star-studded. In attendance was Ogun Senator, Lekan Mustapha, Iyalode  Alaba Lawson, Chief Obasanjo’s wife, and Senator Olamilekan Adeola  (Yayi), to mention but a few. The Alake of Egbaland sent 2 high-ranking Egba chiefs to represent him. They are Chief Akanni Akinwale, (the Bagbimo of Egbaland) and Ambassador Toye Okanlawon,  the Bobagunwa of Egbaland.

 

Midway into the service came in, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. His aides had been in the church before the event started. Pastor Seyi Malomo, the Chaplain of the Aso Rock Villa was on ground. He was in white Agbada. Immediately, Prof. Osinbajo’s convoy approached the vicinity of the church, and the Chaplain, Senator Yayi & members of the planning committee filed out to receive the Vice President. All the APC chieftains at the event also went out to usher in the VP. The VP was coming from Femi Otedola’s mum’s 90th Birthday in Epe. He looked fresh in his sky blue flowing agbada.

Trust Prof, for 30 minutes, he delivered a powerful and inspiring speech about the celebrant's music, without referring to his IPAD, which he held on to. He also supervised the cutting of the Birthday Cake. He recalled 10 evergreen songs of Baba Obey, like Board members and Ketekete and commended him for combining his music career with evangelical work.

 

The tributes by a few VIPs were shown in a short documentary. Gov. Dapo Abiodun spoke. Gov. Sanwo Olu also spoke. So also Aremo Segun Osoba, Chief Kessington Adebutu, and Pastor Chris Okotie.

Baba Obey responded by recounting the story of how he made it in life, despite the fact that his mum didn’t want him to pursue his career in music. His mum wanted him to be a doctor or lawyer. But his perseverance paid off. He revealed how he became a professional musician in 1957.

Baba Ayewa who is very, very close to Baba Obey, sang some of his own evergreen songs and one of Obey’s evergreen songs also. As the service was coming to an end, Pastor Tunde Bakare & his wife Mummy B walked in.  They both sat close to Baba Obey. He was called to say a few words about Baba Obey. As Pastor Bakare stood up to speak, he told the congregation that he was there to sing and not to talk about Baba Obey. He started out singing Obey’s song, Ejeka Seba fun Olodumare. He said he first set his eyes on Obey in 1957. He reminded Baba Obey about his popular evergreen song, Omo Wanre Soja, which he composed during the Civil war period. He said Obey sang a song for MKO which he likes and that Baba Obey played at his mum’s funeral.

It was souvenirs galore, as guests went away with exotic food packs and about 4 different souvenir packs. The distribution of all there was handled by his children and daughters-in-law.

 

Not left out is the valuable role played by some of the  Pastors, from the Headquarters, like Rev. Robert Adeagbo, Pastor Alabi, Pastor Bola Ayorinde, Pastor Oluwole Shonde, Pastor Joke Adeliyi, Pastor Bukky Obey, Pastor Dele Babalola, Pastor Emmanuel Olowojoba, Pastor Yemi Adebayo, Pastor Matthew Omoboye, Pastor Peter Irabor, Pastor Titi Oyeshile, Pastor Francis Bowade, Pastor Ben Adeagbo & Pastor Taiwo Olujimi.