THE FIRST BISHOP OF EKITI ANGLICAN DIOCESE: THE RIGHT REVEREND MICHAEL ADENIYI OSANYIN
By, Seye Adetunmbi
One of my very fond memories as a little innocent child was the image of the first Ekiti Anglican Bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Adeniyi Osanyin. As a child of a remarkably devoted prelate in the Anglican Communion, I was privileged to catch the glimpses of the senior priests at close quarters and looked at them with utmost reverence. Definitely, Bishop M. A. Osanyin, was the number one in this category because he was the first bishop I saw in person in the royal purple episcopal robe. He was born on February 9th 1905 to Christian parents and was a native of Ijebu-Jesa in Osun-State of Nigeria. Until 1966 when Ekiti Anglican Diocese was created, most of us in the Anglican Church in Ekiti when the whole district was an Archdeaconry under Ondo Diocese were only used to the black and white cassocks of the priests and occasionally the robe of an archdeacon. Except for the like of my father who was a synod delegate in the old Ekiti Archdeaconry to the old Ondo Diocese and among others who attended church service and functions in the cities outside Ekiti, had encountered with the lord bishops.
The Right Reverend M. A. Osanyin (1905-1970)
No doubt, The Right Reverend Osanyin was a very unique bishop in the Anglican Communion, his emergence and subsequent consecration as the first bishop of Ekiti Diocese attested to the fact that he was divinely chosen. There was something special about Bishop Osanyin, he was outstandingly ordained to be a bishop considering the aura around him which made so many people deferred to him and saw him as a true man of God. He was also complemented by a beautiful wife, Mama Lydia Bolaji Osanyin. I have always wanted to write about him as the first bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese in the manner I have written about people I admired. Consequently, I have been gathering materials waiting for the opportune time to publish my tribute. What made me to finally do this article was in response to a phone call I received sometime ago from an Ekiti Anglican priest who saw one of the vintage pictures in which the Lord Bishop featured in my father's biography, "The Apostle of Harmony" and the young priest requested for more information on Baba Osanyin. It was then I contacted one of his grandchildren, my friend Dr Bankole Osuntokun of my desire to write about his grandfather and later his older sister, Mrs Bisola Osuntokun-Lewis with whom I am acquainted, to obtain more facts on the exemplary lord bishop. I needed additional information to what I have because my father worked closely with him when the bishop was the Archdeacon of Ekiti Archdeaconry and later, as the first bishop of Ekiti Diocese. His granddaughter, Mrs Bisola Osuntokun-Lewis wrote a beautiful piece which is quoted thus:Quote
He was one of the kindest men I've ever met till date! The late Bishop M.A. Osanyin was humility and gentility personified. He carried with him the aura of a man of God, surrounded by the mystery of the Holy Spirit everywhere he went.
Born into a christian family, his father was a man of the cloth and he had four brothers, he was number two. Very early on he made up to follow in his father's footsteps and though he was a trained teacher, he took delight in following his father on his missionary trips and from there, they grew a bond that only death would break.
He married the love of his life, Mrs Lydia Bolaji Osanyin, nee Bedu, who because of her stand out beauty was nicknamed "London Beauty" to match her initials, L.B. Osanyin. Together they formed a formidable pair, where Papa was gentle, Mama was firm as a no-nonsense dutiful wife and mother, who proved to be a blessing to the building of the Church of Christ. His career took them to Kabba, Kano, Lagos and Ado-Ekiti, culminating in being consecrated as the first Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese.
They were blessed with five children, Mabel, Bayo, who died in the Lalupon train disaster, Tunji, Ebun and Remi, all of blessed memories except for Aunty Ebun, who is strong, healthy and lives in Ibadan.
He became the first Bishop of Ekiti Diocese in those days and a lot of people kicked against his appointment sighting the fact that he was from Ijebu-Jesha, not Ekiti and besides, who ever heard of a Bishop Osanyin! His surname was a mythical scary character in Yoruba folklore which was quite intriguing with its high pitch voice! Nothing was too insignificant in the war against his being a Bishop. However, God had other plans. They had almost given up, when during their habitual afternoon naps, which they never missed if they could avoid it, Mrs. L. B. Osanyin suddenly woke up to see the rays of the evening Sun had formed the figure of a Bishop fully robed on her bedroom door. She calmly got up, took a chalk from her dressing table and traced out the eerie shape on her door, she intuitively felt no one would believe if she didn't! She went on to wash the chalk off her hands, and purple water, the colour of a Bishop's robe trickled out of the water faucet. Calmly, she went to wake up her husband who was asleep in the adjoining room, showed him her tracings and told him about the purple water. There and then they both knew that God himself had ordained him, they prayed giving thanks to God and in a matter of weeks, he was announced as the Bishop elect. The tracing of the Bishop on the door remained there for years till M.A. Osanyin's transition and they had to move from the Bishop's court.
Mama never fully recovered from Papa's demise as they had a near perfect marriage but being the amazon she was, she threw herself into the Girls' Brigade Association of Nigeria, eventually becoming the Head of the Brigade in Nigeria. She became a columnist for the then thriving Sketch Newspapers.
The Lord bishop was dedicated to building a formidable diocese in Ekiti for the Anglican Communion that Christ himself would be proud of and he worked tirelessly towards this goal till he breathed his last breath. He travelled the length and breath of Ekiti Diocese which was considerably larger than just Ekiti towns and villages, and many a time he came back home wearied but satisfied.
A kind, indulgent and gentle grandfather he was. I remember him gently chiding Mama not to scold us whenever we went to the Bishop's Court while we played rough games or didn't finish our food. He was a man of peace and wanted everyone around him to be happy. He led a modest life but ate very well. Meals at the court were sumptuous and elaborate and he loved a full English breakfast, kippers, bacon, cheese on toast, poached eggs...
I recollect vividly the last time I saw him, I was a student in Christ's School and I was happily startled one evening when he dropped by to see me, bringing along with him amongst other things a freshly baked french baguette bread. He apologised profusely for overlooking getting me cheese or butter to eat it with but I really couldn't be bothered about that as I was enjoying the star like status his visit had conferred temporarily on me, as students gaped in awe at the tall outstanding figure, clad in his bishop regalia, complete with his dazzling ring and ever present aura of serenity.
I waited in vain for my cheese but instead got the news of his death a few weeks later at the school assembly hall, of all places! Chief Ogunlade called an emergency meeting of all students to announce his passing away as he was also Chairman of the governing council of the school. As I screamed in agony and surprise at the unpleasant news, Ogunlade bowed his head as tears cascaded down his face, while some senior prefects hurried me out sympathetically out of the hall. He later apologised to me that the suddenness of his death blinded him to the fact that I was still in school and unaware, he made arrangements for me to go home. I met a sorrow-filled house, everyone hovered around Mama with tears running down their faces. He had suffered from a stroke and slipped into coma, though an ambulance was hurriedly arranged to take him to the University Teaching Hospital, he died at Osogbo and that was the end of the rarest of men! God's assignment for him had been carried out dutifully, lovingly and he had made his way back home.
Rest on Papa Ado!
Unquote
Rt Rev & Mrs M.A. Osanyin during a theological visit to UK
Bishop Osanyin, his wife, first born (Mrs Mabel Osuntokun) and grandchildren
No doubt, the transition of Bishop Osanyin in 1970 hit Ekiti diocese members. Of course, my parents loved the bishop. My father along with other prominent laity worked with him assiduously for the creation of Ekiti Anglican Diocese in 1966. I was 4 years old when he became the bishop of Ekiti Diocese in 1966. My only memory of him could only be in the late 1960s/1970 just before his transition. I remember my mother attended the funeral with my older sister at the Emmanuel Cathedral Church, Ado-Ekiti and it was reported that Major-General Adeyinka Adebayo was there in attendance as the Governor of the old Western Region.
Sitting L-R: Venerable Alegbeleye, Venerable Aderemi, Provost Famewo, Lawyer Folayan, Caucasian couple (guests), Bishop Osanyin, Venerable Daodu, Venerable Ogunlade and Venerable Dada
Standing L-R: included Chie Ajayi, Chief D.O. Adetunmbi, Chief Ajibade, Venerable Bello, Venerable Babalola etc.
Squatting on the floor was Venerable Dr Dapo Ajayi
HRM Oba Anirare Aladesanmi (Ewi Ado), Bishop Osanyin, the Cathedral priest and clergy's wives
The first chaplain of the first bishop of Ekiti Diocese was Venerable Archdeacon Mathew Babafemi Awe and Afolabi is the name of the driver of his official "Holden" iconic car. No doubt, Bishop Osanyin made episcopacy beautiful, impactful and impressive. The combination of the bishop and his cute and resourceful wife was unparalleled. May the gentle souls of Baba and Mama Osanyin rest in peace, amen.
Seye Adetunmbi with the first born of Bishop Osanyin, Mrs Mabel Osuntokun in 2010
Seye Adetunmbi flanked by some of the grandchildren of Bishop Osanyin, the children of Mama Mabel Osuntokun - Mrs Bisola Osuntokun-Lewis, Mr Kunle Osuntokun
 The picture of the Bishop's robe as traced by Mrs L.B. Osanyin  |
