Adebayo Faleti’s last moments, by son

Adeniyi, one of the sons of actor and playwright, Pa Adebayo Faleti, on Sunday, relived the last moments of the popular Yoruba translator.
Pa Faleti, a poet, journalist, writer, broadcaster, TV exponent and a pioneer of the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), died on Sunday morning in his Ibadan, Oyo State residence after the morning devotion.
Adeniyi said the 86-year-old Yoruba patriot, who was an old student of Ibadan Boys High School, observed the early morning devotion with family members when he woke up and soon after told them that he prayed to God to send someone else to continue his mission as he was tired and longing for home.
“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,’’ he said.
Moteniola, one of the wives of the deceased, said: “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 got good education”.
While celebrating the octogenarian, one of the children, Gbemi, said: “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 (BCOS) and Oyo State office of Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice, and Economic Recovery. He fitted into every good role that a father and a friend could play. We are sad about his demise but we are grateful for the  fulfilled life he lived. He is survived by children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, that is the  grace anyone should be thankful for”.
Pa Faleti was responsible for translating Nigeria’s National Anthem from English to Yoruba. He also translated speeches of former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, and Head of Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, from English to Yoruba.
He published a dictionary containing the formal or official use of Yoruba names and also received many awards, both locally and internationally, including the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), the Festival of Arts award with Eda Ko L’aropin and the Afro-Hollywood Award for Outstanding Performance in Arts.