Celebrated actor and playwright, Adebayo
Faleti, is dead. He died on Sunday in his
home in Ibadan at the age of 86 due to old
age.
One of Faleti’s son, Adeniyi, told one of
Punch correspondents that he was helping
his father with his bath when he died.
According to him, his father observed the
early morning devotion with his family
members and soon after told them that he
had prayed to God to send someone else to
continue his mission as he was tired and
longing for home.
He also said that he asked for hot pap,
which he took before his death.
Adeniyi said, “After the morning devotion, I
helped him to the bathroom as I normally
did. He said he wanted God to send
someone else to come and complete his
work because he had done all he could do.
He also said that he wanted to go home.
Suddenly, I noticed that he was not
breathing again. We took him to the
University College Hospital, Ibadan where he
was confirmed dead. We shall miss him
greatly.”
Also, the first son of the former General
Manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of
Oyo State, Ayoola, said he spoke with his
father three days ago and that he was on
his way home when he was told that his
father had passed on.
“In his usual practice, he called me three
days ago and we discussed like father and
son. After I received a call this morning from
my brother concerning the state of his
health, I hit the road to come home and see
him but I did not meet him alive. He died
before I could reach home. He took care of
all his children and gave us good education.
We shall all miss him,” said Ayoola.
One of the deceased’s wives, Moteniola, said
she married him in the 50s, adding that he
was a loving husband who was always
concerned about the welfare of his family.
“I knew him as a loving husband and I will
always remember how well he catered for
the family. He prepared the children for a
good future by ensuring that they had good
education,” Moteniola said.
Another wife of the deceased, Olubunmi,
could not speak to pressmen as she was
sobbing uncontrollably. But another son of
the late actor, Gbemi, said that the family
would remain grateful to God for granting
their father a good life.
“He reached the peak of his career in life. As
an actor, he was a celebrated artiste, as an
administrator, he headed the Broadcasting
Corporation of Oyo State and the Oyo State
office of the defunct Mass Mobilisation for
Self Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic
Recovery.
“He fitted into every good role that a father
and a friend could play. He was caring and
loved by all. We are sad about his demise but
we are grateful for a fulfilled life he lived. He
is survived by children, grandchildren and
great grandchildren, that is a grace anyone
should be thankful for,” Gbemi said.
Jare, another son of the deceased, took to
the Facebook to mourn his father.
Jare, who studied English Language at the
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, wrote
that he was in tears while typing the
message. He described his late father as his
most loved human being.
The film translator, who currently resides in
the United States, regretted that he had
earlier commented about the inevitability of
death not knowing that his father would die
soon.
“What a life! I wrote on Facebook two days
ago about life being transient. I never knew
death was at my own backyard already. You
took my father away from me – Iku (death).
I never knew this would be my last picture
with you – Adebayo Faleti. #Tears. RIP to the
man I love more than anything in the world.
A giant has fallen,” he posted.
