Aare Afe Babalola, SAN |
“Hello Onigegewura! Please hold on for Aare Afe Babalola.”
My
first thought was that it must be a prank call. Then I heard the voice. It was
clear. It was crisp. It was cultured. It was the voice of the Legend himself.
“Onigegewura!
My son! You are a gifted writer!”
The
phone nearly dropped from my trembling hand. “Kara O le, Sir. I am humbled, Sir.”
“It
was my daughter, Bolanle Austen-Peters, who forwarded the excellent piece you
wrote on MKO Abiola to me. From the first paragraph, I was hooked. Your
imagination is so vivid. Your prose is fluid and effortless. You captured
everything that happened in that case accurately and graphically. Senior
lawyers have been calling to congratulate me all over again!”
This
must be a dream. And Iya Agba had warned me about the effect of eating pounded
yam late in the day. “You must come and see me” Aare continued. “I haven’t read
a refreshing piece like that in a long while.”
Well,
if it was a dream, it was a very long one. I arrived at Afe Babalola University
campus in Ado-Ekiti still expecting to wake up from my dream. Mr. Tunde
Olofintila was waiting for me. He hugged me like a long lost brother.
“Onigegewura!
Aare has been looking all over the world for you. He’s waiting for you.”
Aare
Afe Babalola waiting for me? I knew sooner or later the pounded-yam induced
dream would end.
“Aare,
your son is here. This is Onigegewura!”
“ONIGEGEWURA!
I have to stand up to greet you.” And the strangest thing I have ever witnessed
happened. The Aare Bamofin of Yorubaland, Commander of the Order of the Niger, the Fiwajoye of Ado-Ekiti, the legendary
Senior Advocate of Nigeria stood up and hugged me. “You will excel in life. You
will succeed.”
I
was speechless. I was lost for words. I was dumbfounded.
What
followed was surreal. People were coming in and going out as we were talking.
With every new visitor, Aare would pause and ask them if they knew me. “That’s
Onigegewura. He’s brilliant and talented. His research is impeccable!” A traditional
ruler entered. A medical doctor came in. A professor of law popped in. It was
the same effusive introduction.
Justice Mustapha Akanbi - The Incorruptible Judge |
“You
are doing a great job. You have just started. You still have more history to
document. Don’t you think your readers and the future generation should know
about how June 12 Election was annulled on the day I was in court for MKO
Abiola? Justice Akanbi was determined to hear the case. And you know Justice
Akanbi is incorruptible and fearless I will tell you the brilliant thing His
Lordship did. That was a sad day indeed. You need to write that story in your
vintage Onigegewura style. Let me show you something.”
Aare
brought out a volume and asked me to read what he had written about the
episode. It was a gripping account. I was already seeing the courtroom scene in
my mind. Ìrókò ti wo si ile agbédó. Isé
di sise. When Iroko tree falls into the compound of a carver, the carver
has his work cut out for him.
At
this point, I was certain it was not a dream. I was actually in the presence of
the first Aare Bamofin of Yorubaland. Baba went on to regale me with stories upon stories of cases I had only read in Law
Reports. I was soaking everything in. It was like being in the presence of an
encyclopedia.
“Aare,
Onigegewura’s readers are asking me about the story of the Most Suspicious Woman in the World. I titled it From the Other Room To the Court Room (https://onigegewura.blogspot.com.ng/2017/07/from-other-room-to-courtroom-true-story.html) They thought it was incredible.”
“You
have written that one too? Ha! It was an incredible story. It is a story every couple should read.”
Like
Oliver Twist, I continued to ask for more. Aare was very patient with me. He
answered every question. Every response was backed up with facts and
authorities. What a prodigious memory! I was in the presence of History!
And the time came for me to leave. “Thank you, Onigegewura. You must come here
more often.” Aare thanking me? I should be the one to express my profound
appreciation for this opportunity to learn at the feet of the Master who had trained more than 2,500 lawyers, including 15 Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
ABUAD Library |
Then
I remembered something. “Aare, I read something you wrote about 14 years ago,
Sir. You concluded the piece by narrating the story of a young lawyer who was
taught everything by his master and still failed to make it…”
“Onigegewura!
You read that piece?” Aare was beaming with happiness. It is the same feeling I
have every time I meet an Onigegewura Family Member.
The Teaching Hospital |
I
was smiling. Aare instinctively understood what Onigegewura wanted. Baba
smiled.
“I
will wish you luck. I will wish you the best of luck. I will also pray for
you”. And Aare Afe Babalola wished me the best of luck and prayed for me. It
was a moving prayer. It was heartfelt. Aare hugged me again. “You will be
great. You will excel. You will be successful.” Amen!
College of Law |
ABUAD Mango |
Students Hostel |
Khalid
was calling me to come and see something. I checked the time. Not today.
As I
drove off, I remembered an expression I read a long time ago in the
autobiography of Oba Adedapo Tejuosho, the Osile of Oke-Ona. Ohun a ko ni tun se, a ko ni fowo kan. He
touches nothing which he does not adorn. This is an expression that aptly
describes Aare Afe Babalola. Here is a man who excels in everything he touches.
As a legal practitioner, he excels. As a farmer, he is successful. As an
educationist, he has become the reference point. What a man! What a Legend!
To
commemorate my visit to Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, I will be giving a copy of
Baba’s autobiography to one of our readers. Trust me, the book is
unputdownable! To win the book, please answer these two questions in the
comment section:
1.
Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of………….
2.
When was Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti
established?
Onigegewura
will pick the winner from the correct entries. The book will be sent by
registered post to the winner anywhere in Nigeria.
With
my best wishes,
Onigegewura©
Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke
ReplyDeleteThe University was established in 2009.
1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke.
ReplyDelete2. 2009
1) Mayegun of Modakeke
ReplyDelete2) ABU was established in 2009
1) Chief Mayegun of Modakeke
ReplyDelete2) ABUAD was established in the year 2009.
Mayegun of Modakeke
ReplyDeleteThe University was founded in 2009
1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke, in Ile-Ife
ReplyDelete2. Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti was established in 2009.
Mayegun of Modakeke
ReplyDeleteABU was established in 2009
1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke
ReplyDelete2. Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti was established in 2009.
Adebiyi Adewale A.
Lagos
Walebiyi@gmail.com
Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke. I read it in the story you wrote about how MKO became the Are Onakakanfo and Bashorun
ReplyDelete2. Are Babalola University, Ado Ekiti was established in the Year 2009
Aka Oluwafemi
Lagos
aka.phemmy@gmail.com
Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke. I read it in the story you wrote about how MKO became the Are Onakakanfo and Bashorun
ReplyDelete2. Are Babalola University, Ado Ekiti was established in the Year 2009
Aka Oluwafemi
Lagos
aka.phemmy@gmail.com
Mayegun of Modakeke. ABUAD was established 2009.thanks.
ReplyDelete1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke, Osun State
ReplyDelete2. Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti was established in the year 2009.
1---MAYEGUN OF MODAKEKE
ReplyDelete2----2009
Mayegun of modakeke, Osun state. And. 2 2009 was when Afe Babalola. University was established
ReplyDelete1.Mayegun of modakękę,ifę
ReplyDelete2.It was established in 2009
1.Maiyegun of Modakeke.
ReplyDelete2.The university was established in 2009.
1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke
ReplyDelete2. Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti was established in 2009.
1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke.
ReplyDelete2. When was Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti established? In 2009
Aare is the Mayegun of Modakeke.
ReplyDeleteABUAD was established in 2009 in Ado Ekiti.
1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke, Ile-Ife.
ReplyDelete2. ABUAD was established in 2009.
1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke, Ile-Ife.
ReplyDelete2. ABUAD was established in 2009.
Modakeke
ReplyDelete2009
1) Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke.
ReplyDelete2) Afe Babalola university Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti was founded in 2009.
Can I just be the lucky winner already. I will be highly honoured
Modakeke and 2009. 08030797998
ReplyDeleteModakeke and 2009
ReplyDeleteModakeke and 2009. 08030797998
ReplyDelete1.Chief Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke in Osun State.
ReplyDelete2.Afe Babalola University, ABUAD was established in 2009.
1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke in Osun State.
ReplyDelete2. Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) was established in 2009 by Aare Afe Babalola.
1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke, a town near Ile Ife in Osun State.
ReplyDelete2. Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) was established in 2009 by Aare Afe Babalola.
1) Mayegun of Modakeke
ReplyDelete2) 2009
Being with Are Afe Babalola is like steel clutching to the magnet. You will not want to leave the man. He is exceptional. The first time I met him was 2009, the same year his university was established. Academic session had not commenced then. Despite the fact that the School was not even up to one year old then, the kind of massive structures I saw during the tour was out of this world - masterpiece. We were conducted round the School by a very senior Professor who was then in charge.
ReplyDeleteThe second time I met Aare Afe was in 2010, right in his office, He kept to time and we were well entertained by his motivational speech. He encouraged me to go do my masters and that by the time I'm through with my PhD, I should see him for a special gift. (Pursuant to his urge, I started my masters in Unilag the following year but haven't started the PhD yet).
The last time I saw Chief physically was in his house in Ibadan in 2010 where we were treated to a big breakfast. One thing you will notice in Chief's house is that most of the food taken in the House are grown in the Compound. Onigegewura, you need to see Baba's garden where fresh vegetable, pepper, tomatoes, maize, yam etc were grown. It was beautiful.
One more thing about Aare Afe Babalola, no one will visit him and come out empty-handed. Baba will give you gift no matter whom you are. I still keep some of the souvenirs he gave me in 2010, what of the money he gave me? Haba! This is 2017, nina lowo - money is meant to be spent.
May God continue to bless our Aare Afe Babalola, the gift that continues giving. ONIGEGEWURA, when you visiting Baba at ABUAD again, tell me to accompany you, it's been 8 years I saw that School last. God bless you.
As to your questions, here are my answers:
1. Aare Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke, Osun State Nigeria.
2. When was Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti established? The School was established in 2009.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1. Aare Afe Babalola SAN is the Mayegun of Modakeke, Osun State.
ReplyDelete2. Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State (ABUAD) was established in 2009.
Will like to buy the autobiography. Where can one pick it up (online or in store)
ReplyDelete1. Mayegun of Modakeke Osun State
ReplyDelete2. 2009
Lanre Balogun
Mkbalogun@yahoo.com
1. Chief Aare Afe Babalola is the Majegun of Modakeke also hold the title of Balogun of mobaland and Aare Bamofin of Oyo Empire.
ReplyDelete2. Afe Babalola University was founded in 2009, The Federal Government granted the University license to operate as a private university in November 11, 2009. After the NUC visited in May, 2009. But academic resumption did not take place until January 04, 2010. And Matriculation of 240 students to 3 colleges (Law, Science, and Social/Management ) took place at Bimbo Owolabi Hall in March 10, 2010. By May 19, 2010 the university was deem to be the fastest growing university in Africa.
1. MAYEGUN OF MODAKEKE -IFE STATE OF OSUN
ReplyDelete2. 2009
1. MAYEGUN OF MODAKEKE -IFE STATE OF OSUN
ReplyDelete2. 2009
1. MAYEGUN of MODAKEKE kingdom in ile IFE State of OSUN
ReplyDelete2. 2009
1. Chief Afe Babalola is the Mayegun of Modakeke in Ife, Osun state.
ReplyDelete2. Afe Babalola University was established in 2009.
Once again nice piece Onigegewuru. May the foutain of creativity keep flowing.
Interesting. Keep the good works, truly a man's gift will open great doors unto him...
ReplyDelete-Taiwo