Described as one of the closest allies of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Prof. Folagbade Aboaba, at the March 2022 Special Holyghost Service during his annual song ministration in celebration of Adeboye’s 80th birthday ceremony, had a premonition about his death.
Aboaba was said to have openly warned that he might not be present at the next March Special Holy Ghost Service to sing for his revered church leader but Adeboye would not have it. In a swift counter-response, the RCCG GO was said to have told the highly-respected professor he would still be alive to sing the following year; 2023.
Unfortunately, as Aboaba predicted, he would definitely not be available to sing at the March 2023 Special Holy Ghost Service dedicated to the celebration of Adeboye’s birthday.
Aboaba, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Church, died on Saturday, January 21, 2023, after a brief illness.
Although he was 90, Aboaba’s death came as a rude shock to many.
Corroborating his premonition, the National Director of Sport, RCCG, Pastor Paul Bankole, told The Punch, “His death was a great loss and we are going to miss him, especially during the March Special Holyghost Service where he always ministered in song to celebrate God in the life of the G.O. But before he sang last year, he mentioned something about what happened today and the G.O told him he would still be around to sing next year (2023).’’
Born on March 8, 1933, Bankole, described Aboaba as a humble and jovial man of God who always had nerves calming jokes, he added that he was influential to the many strides of the RCCG and Christianity.
“He was a pillar in the church of God and RCCG. I used to call him uncle because we were almost from the same area in Abeokuta and he was instrumental in the starting of the Sports Ministry in RCCG which he later handed over to me. He was a successful midfield footballer and he took interest in me. While he was at the University of Ibadan, he was instrumental to the success of the Ministry God gave G.O at U.I. For me personally, his death came as a rude shock.’’
Also speaking, Dean of Students Affairs, U.I, Prof. Adekeye Abiona, said his death was a rude shock to the university community.
“We were not expecting his death. We had lost some lecturers too but he was also a great loss. The students will feel the loss because he had contributed to the lives of younger ones. May his gentle soul rest in peace,” he said.
Special Adviser on Industrialisation to the President of the African Development Bank, Prof. Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, said, “I knew him as a close friend of Daddy G.O; we always go to visit Baba every January 1st and he was always with Daddy G.O, Mr Felix Ohiwerei and Baba Olakunrin. His wife died like two years ago. We thank God for his life, he has done all he could.’’