This document is a tribute written by Ola Ogunfeyitimi about his father, Reverend Gabriel Ibisanmi Ogunfeyitimi, who passed away in 2017. In the tribute, Ola explains that he did not cry when he heard the news of his father's passing because his father left no unfinished business and achieved his wish of ending poverty in his family through providing education. Ola also credits his father for numerous doors that have opened because of his reputation and influence, as well as for advising Ola to further his education rather than job hopping. The tribute honors Reverend Ogunfeyitimi for committing his life to educating children of the poor and waiting until his own

1. TRIBUTE TO REVEREND
GABRIEL IBISANMI
OGUNFEYITIMI
[1925-2017]
By
Ola Ogunfeyitimi
Son
May, 2017

2.  It really doesn’t matter how old you were as at the time of your passing,
your death has undoubtedly left us with a big vacuum.
Still asking rhetorically, why didn’t I cry when they broke the news of your
departure?
 I didn’t cry because I looked around if there is anything you left undone, but
couldn’t find any
 I didn’t cry because your wish to end poverty in your lineage and in your
generation was achieved years back with the good training and quality
education you gave us
 I didn’t cry because the mere mention of your name opens for us numerous
doors. I remember how I unknowingly ran into someone you once helped
and he facilitated my change of school to School of Science and now the rest
is history

3.  I didn’t cry because I remember how you told me not to jump from one
employer to the other but rather, seek to know more by furthering my
education; a call which I heeded without regret
 I didn’t cry because you told us that the only way the children of the poor
can dine with the rich is to be properly educated. A cause you committed
your life and your resources to. Imagine, you stopped your housing
project in the 80s to face our academics and waited until your last
daughter graduated 25 years after before revisiting same building. I am
aware you trained even your non biological children and fought parents
who despised the advice to educate their wards
 I didn’t cry because your piece of advice that hard work does not kill and
that we should be humble, self reliant and selfless are already yielding
fruits
 I didn’t cry because you waited for us to be relatively strong to be a able
to give you a befitting burial before bidding us farewell. I do hope we are
not disappointing you

4.  I didn’t cry because you were born poor but you left for us a “spiritually”,
“academically” and “financially” rich family (1Timothy 6:6)
 I didn’t cry because we can today live in the testimonies of your good deeds
and works
 I didn’t cry because you died a dad and not just a father. “Any man can be a
father but it takes someone special to be a dad”-Anne Geddes
 To the church and everyone, truly Baba is no more. However, this is not a
time to cry but to reminisce in the word of GOD, Philippians 2:12
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence
only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling”. It is time to rededicate ourselves more to God and
WORK OUT OUR SALVATION.
Rest in peace DAD!!!
Ola.