The Pastor of New Reservation Area Baptist Church in the Iyaganku area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Rev. Kayode Oyedemi, says late Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte of the Oyo State Judiciary planned his funeral before his death.
Odedemi said Gbolagunte knew he would die and planned for his burial by choosing the cemetery his remains would be buried, and had paid for his vault.
The cleric disclosed this during his sermon at the funeral service for the late lawyer in Ibadan on Friday, July 26, 2024.
Justice Gbolagunte died at the age of 64 on June 24.
Quoting from the Bible, Oyedemi, who said he had never seen anybody prepare his own funeral as deeply as Justice Gbolagunte did, noted: “It is not unusual for saints to die of sickness from attack.
“If prayers can stop death, Justice Gbolagunte would not have died because upon revelation that he would die of the sickness. We were praying, but when the sickness of the beloved is unto death, no amount of prayers can heal the sickness, no matter how perfect one could be in faith.
“The sickness of Lazarus was not unto death, but that of Elisha was unto death.
Justice Gbolagunte’s family releases burial rites
“God knows why he has called Justice Gbolagunte home at this time.
“While we were praying and believing that God would spare his life, he had accepted his faith himself.
“I remember his last admission to the hospital about two or three days to his death.
“Then I asked if he was still holding unto God in faith and he said yes.
“Since last year, he had told me that his funeral is to be held in Ibadan here. He had told me the cemetery. I have been hearing about it, but I have not seen anybody who planned his funeral so deep as Justice Gbolagunte did.
“All the arrangements you see, he had chosen and contacted people you see carrying them out. He had contacted everybody.
“When he paid for the vault, he told me, and he connected me with the person that was in charge of that.
“That is to tell you that he was convinced that God said that his time had come. And that is one of the greatest ways to die.
In attendance at the funeral service were dignitaries from all walks of life, including the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin; and Judges; among others.
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