- Reveals What They Have In Common
Sunday 16th of April, 2023, was the 8th day Fidau of the late jurist and former AG of the federation, Prince Bola Ajibola. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was there. And he made a speech about Prince Bola Jabbar Ajibola who he called his great friend. Below are the excerpts of his speech;
“I am honoured to give a speech at the 8th day Fidau of Prince Bola Jabbar Ajibola. Everything you have said about his character, his good behaviour, his integrity are all correct. I can say among the people that are here, I am the only one with whom he shared Primary and Secondary School experience.”
“One very important thing about Bola is that he is very humorous, in Bola’s premises there is no dulling. There is no sorrow, there is no bitterness and when he tells a story, he brings in his humour which is about himself. I remember when we were in Baptist Boys High School, we heard a man who said he had “Ogun Isoye” that we don’t have to read before we pass our exams. And Bola fell into the trap of “Ogun Isoye” and Ogun Isoye consists of “Koluso”, and a cockery feather. When its grinded together, they will mark you in the armpit with a sharp object. Then, you don’t have to read. When you get to the exam hall you will fling your arm and say “ti akuko ba ko iye e ala. Bola failed!
“Let me tell you another one. We were all learning English. So, my own father was a farmer, if my father is a farmer, what is my father’s occupation? My father’s occupation is farming, Your father is a Teacher, what is your father’s occupation? Your father is Teaching. Then it got to Ajibola’s turn. Bola, what is your father? My father is a King, What is your father’s occupation? My father’s occupation is Kinging.”
“He was a man who has the capacity to do good. Bola bought a gun for his own security and he kept it in the roof of his house. I went to his house one day, and I said where is this gun you have bought? He said it is here on the roof. I said you bought this gun for security. If you are being attacked, how will you try to get the gun from the roof? Have you actually tried to know how to use the gun? He said No. He has not actually put the gun together and I said bring it, I put the gun together and I told him, now the gun is put together, you will learn how to use it. He said what do we do? We will have to visit one of my farms. So, three of us, Dr. Osunkeye, Myself and Bola we went to Lato farm, we have a dam, Dr. Osunkeye carried his gun, Bola carried his gun, I did not carry a gun. So, Dr. Osunkeye saw an Atiala, and shot at it, the Atiala fell in the dam. So, Dr. Osunkeye went away.
Bola said this is the first time he is going out with this gun, so, he wants to impress people. How will he be able to say that the first time he went out with a gun, he did not bring something back. So, I said let us get the Atiala in the dam, you tie a rope on my waist, I will go into the dam and get the Atiala and if I am sinking you will pull me out. We were in the process of doing that, Dr. Osunkeye came back and said, you two fools what are you doing? But, we didn’t answer him. So, he got worried, he said you are the Attorney General of the Federation, you are former Head of State, both of you will sink and I will go back and I will say I don’t know where you are.”
“Bola said don’t mind him, I have seen what I will take home, so, I entered until I was able to get the Atiala, and we brought the Atiala home. Alhaja, do you remember this day that we came home with Atiala? We in our community we find Bola’s death very hard to accept, but let us challenge you the children Bola did not have the opportunity that you have. He did not. But Bola was “Atapata dide” and he made use of all the opportunities that he had. Now, we say the school we went to, we are very proud of both the primary School, and the secondary School. That is what made us what we are today, I like that Tribute, that the Vice President gave where he mentioned the products. Chief Awolowo was also Atapata dide.
MKO Abiola was also atapata dide, I must mention myself, in my own case I was Aterofo dide, not Apata, because that Atapata has something hard. Bola was Mr. integrity. He was passionate. He was a professional man. That’s why he was able to rise as high as he rose in life. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen
–ABIODUN OLUSOLA
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