As he turned 82 last week, Dr. Clement Olaniyi Adeyemo, former Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Ikeja Branch, Lagos, was patently disturbed. He looked straight ahead in deep contemplation, as he tried to compare life in today’s Nigeria with same in the days of yore.
The Octogenarian was distraught with various societal drifts, especially in terms of social values. Unable to conceal his worry, the elder statesman lamented the failure on the part of the youths and even the government to accord due respect to elderly citizens.
Besides that, he was also distraught that for Nigeria, things have gone topsy-turvy, saying the society is now more troubled by criminal activities than had ever happened.
“Today, we hear of increase in the crime wave, that armed robbers had struck here and there. We even hear of things like kidnapping, ritual killings and internet frauds called ‘Yahoo’.
“In my younger days, these things were never heard of. Life was simple, beautiful, peaceful and worth living. There was not much money but we were comfortable,” he reminisced.
Then we would trek without any fear or anxiety because there was no case of insecurity or kidnapping compared to what is rampant now. “Now, people are no longer safe any day, anytime
BACKGROUND
Pa Adeyemo was born in 1935 in Ilora Afijio in Oyo State, into the family of Pa Aremu and Kehinde Ayinke Adeyemo. He started school at the age of 14 and before he started school, he was helping his father who was a farmer at Isioye village before he was sent to help his cousin, Chief Samuel Oyebamgbose (now deceased) who was then the headmaster of the First Baptist Day School, Ilora, and who put him in the school.
“Then in those days, as a child I use to go to the farm with my dad to help him because that was sustaining us as a family, so we had no choice than to farm.”
He eventually completed his primary school education in 1955 and proceeded to Baptist Boys High School, Oyo now known as Olivet Baptist High School and graduated in 1960. After completing his secondary education, he proceeded to the School of Agriculture, Akure in Ondo State, where he enrolled for a year agricultural assistant officers’ course.
CAREER
Pa Adeyemi’s eventful working life began after the course in Akure when he was posted to Ede in the agricultural extended services of then Western Region of Nigeria.
He later in January 1964 joined Barclays Bank, now Union Bank, as a clerical officer. While in the bank, he attended many in-service training seminars, conferences and programmes, which eventually led him to the attainment of intermediate qualification of the Institute of Bankers.
In January 1977, he joined Nigeria explosive and Plastic Company, NEPCO, a subsidiary of Ashamu Group of Companies as Bills and Transport Manager and after a year of meritorious service, he was made the General Manager of New Age Shipping Company, one of the companies belonging to Ashamu Group of Companies. He also recalled: “I worked really hard when I was working at NEPCO and within a short time, my bosses recognised my dedication and recommended me for promotion just after a year of working. When I got my letter, I was not surprised at all because it was a job I put in all my efforts and shortly, my efforts were recognised and after three years of working, I formed and managed my own company , Cogmag Agencies, a clearing and forwarding agency.
DIVINE CALL
Adeyemo said having made an unforgettable and indelible mark in the private sector, he was called by God to His vineyard.
“I never dreamed I would be a pastor because all I had then was just a desire to serve God; not until I was called by God, a call which was distinct and clear.
“Although from the beginning, I was a strong Christian who regularly studied the bible and put the word into action. I was always interested in spiritual things as I could not compromise in my Christian life. I wanted to learn more about the Bible and Jesus the Saviour.
Between 1974 and 1980, Dr Adeyemo became the leader of First Baptist Church, Sogunle in Lagos State, before moving to Oke Ira, Ogba where he co-founded the First Baptist Church and became its first leader. In 1988, he attended college of theology and chaplaincy to study chaplaincy and theology, specializing in physiotherapy and psycho-theology and in that same year became the Vice Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria in Ogba branch.
“In June 1991, I commissioned the Graceland Faith Bible Church at Oke –Ira, Ogba and won several awards. In 1997, I was awarded Fellow of Faith University in recognition of my contribution to the growth of the university and in 2002, I had already become the Chairman of CAN, Ogba branch and was offered a Christian Merit Award by 2003 by Christian Soul Winners Worldwide, in appreciation of my contribution to the development of Christianity in Nigeria.
By 2003, he had already become one of the first 10 recognised theologians in Nigeria and he became a Fellow of Association of Christian theologians (ACTS), a Christian and theological regulatory body in Nigeria.
BETWEEN THEN AND NOW
Dr Adeyemo, in comparing what life was like during his youthful days, recalled that there is no basis to compare then and now as life was much easier and different from what it is now. He noted that there was no form of insecurity like today.
“I used to live somewhere in Ebute Metta, in the 1960s and whenever I come back from work, after eating, bathing and resting for like three, four hours, I and my friends will go out to unwind and hang out at Kamban Bamboo along Ikorodu road. We will leave our houses by 11pm and relax till 2am and by that time, taxis or buses will be very scarce to get, so we normally trek back to Ebute Metta.
“Then we would trek without any fear or anxiety because there was no case of insecurity or kidnapping compared to what is rampant now. “Now, people are no longer safe any day, anytime. Insecurity and violence are now the order of the day among our youths.” Life was much more peaceful; now, there is a lot of stress coming from different quarters,” he lamented.
He added that elderly people nowadays are no longer respected and cared for, therefore they go through a lot of stress, when compared to what obtained in the former days. It is not only people that stress the elderly ones; government agencies are not left out.
“Few weeks ago, I received a letter from the Lagos State Government that I owe N1.5million in tax. I was surprised and wondered that an old man like me? When last did I work to have incurred a tax of this huge amount? And I went to complain to them, and by the time they saw me physically, they withdrew the charge.”
