pannigeriannews 
By Adewuyi Adegbite
Revd Dr Dele Adeleru, formerly of Sabo Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, clocks 80 today, October 4, 2024. Baba Dele Adeleru belongs to second generation of Baptist pastors in Ogbomoso.
As a matter of fact, he is so so junior to most of the pastors that belonged in this group but being their contemporary, I have to count him amongst them. Those that belonged to the first generation after the pioneering years of the white pastors are Revd Oladejo Stone, Revd E. O. Agboola, Revd Adediran of Okeelerin Baptist Church, Pastor Eboyomi and Revd Aisa Ige at Ijeru Baptist Church, Oja Ijeru, Ogbomoso and Revd S. A. Atilade ( later the founder of Gospel Baptist Cathedral), Pastor Daniel Okanla, Revd S. A. Adegbite, among others. Among the second generation are Revd J. A. Okesisiji, Revd Ogunmiriyele, Revd D. W. Adetoye, Revd Emmanuel Oyeniyi Fanibe, Revd S. L. Odebunmi, Revd J. B. Ojo, Revd D. A. Afolabi, Revd Paul Ogunranti Ogunyale, Revd M. A. Gbodi, Pastor E. O. Oyatumo and a few others I can’t remember now.
Looking at the age of these men of God compared with Baba Adeleru, one will see a gorge of difference. Nevertheless, he was at Sabo during the era of these pastors in Ogbomoso and one of the indigenes among them. There is no doubt that he followed them and drank from their fountain of knowledge. I knew Baba early because her daughter, Sade Adeleru of blessed memory, was my classmate at Anglican Grammar School, Sabo, Ogbomoso. She would later followBaba to the United States. He attended the prestigious Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso for his theological education before moving abroad in the early 80s to pursue higher education at Vanderbilt University Nashville Tennessee, United States of America. He returned home to take up lecturing work at his alma matter and mentored many of today’s Baptist pastors.
These see him as their father and adore him. He is a chip of the old block and can be regarded as an old school pastor of God. To him, salvation of souls is key as against prosperity preaching in vogue today. This is evident in the motto of the church he established in memory of her daughter, Sade, PURE GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH “the church where people, and not money, matters”. In a more saner clime, the likes of Baba Adeleru are blessings to their society. Not here.
Nonetheless, some of us who know his worth go to him to drink from his fountain of knowledge and anytime we have functions relating to acquisition of knowledge, we invite him to share from his deep knowledge for the benefit of the audience. He, as a matter of fact, was the presenter of my two books, “Issues in Ogbomoso History” and “Reasoning With You” presented to the public about seven years ago. Any time we call him, he is ready to answer our call. Like the men of God of his time , he had his own share of the vicissitudes that faced the pastors of his days. It is heart warming that he overcame all to the glory of God. One fact about the olden days’ men of God is that they soften the ground for today’s men of God. They were those who faced the “opposition” of the African traditional religion adherents to the spreading of gospel in a highly hostile environment like Yorubaland.
I thank God for the life of Baba Dele Adeleru and as mentioned above, he had his own share of life’s tribulations but took all with calm like the apostles of old and get going, having his eyes fixed on the glorious crown which our Lord and savior promised his followers. What really helped Baba is a good wife. Mama Adeleru has been a supportive pillar for Baba through thick and thin and she is a contributory factor to his get going till today. Baba is an easy going man, highly brilliant, cerebral, unassuming and at home among the old and the youths. I could remember the day he preached at the funeral of one of the highly respected educationists and statesmen produced by Ogbomoso, Prince S. A. Adetutu at Okeelerin Baptist Church few years ago. When about to end his thoughtful sermon, he told the congregation that he was invited to say good things he knew about Chief Adetutu, he thereafter invited any one who knew the bad side of Adetutu to please come out and say it in the presence of all. The church experienced a grave yard silence. That is the type of preacher Baba is.
As he celebrates this milestone in his life, I wish him and Mama Adeleru more useful, blissful and prosperous years ahead. Amen.
…Adewuyi Adegbite writes from Ogbomoso.
