Late yesterday evening, Most Rev. Julius Babatunde Adelakun transited to eternal glory, a mere 11 days after his bosom friend, Most Rev. Michael Olatunji Fagun went before.
The type of friendship shared by late Bishops Michael Fagun and Julius Adelakun fully epitomizes the above quote by the American playwright Tennessee Williams: that variant of friendship which is closer than blood relationship, and which can outlive any situation under the face of the earth.
These men were even closer than brothers, as have been seen in how key moments in their lives were so closely interwoven.
– Both met for the first time in 1952 as teenage intakes into St. Theresa Minor Seminary, Oke-Are, Ibadan. Their friendship germinated and blossomed in the five years they were classmates there.
– Then they both proceeded as members of the inaugural 1957 set of SS. Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan.
– Eight years down the line, both were ordained priests within one week of each other: Fr. Julius Adelakun on 27/6/65, and Fr. Michael Fagun on 4/7/65.
– Bishop Fagun, having become bishop two years earlier in 1971, was a co-consecrator when his dear friend Adelakun was elevated to the episcopate in 1973.
– After serving their dioceses meritoriously each until the age of 75, both retired within 5 months of each other: Baba Adelakun on 4/11/2009, and Baba Fagun on 17/4/2010.
– As it has turned out, the close bond between these two could not be broken even by death, as both answered the call to glory within 11 days of each other.
As concerns Michael and Julius, like the biblical Saul and Jonathan:
“In life they were loved and admired,
and in death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.”
– 2 Samuel 1: 23.
Like St. Paul:
“They have fought the good fight, they have finished the race, they have kept the faith. Now there is in store for them the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to them on that day.”
– 2 Timothy 4: 7-8.
A friendship which spanned 73 years here on earth has continued for all eternity in heaven.
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