A posthumous birthday celebration of Chief Bola Ige by Remi ODETOMI
Hon Remi Odetomi, a three-term chairman of Ogbomoso South local government, who built the Council Secretariat at Sunsun, Arowomole, and who is former Commissioner in Oyo state (during the tenure of late Senator Abiola Ajimobi), sent this piece via WhatsApp. Late Chief Bola Ige’s birthday is September 13.
It is compelling for me to always celebrate a great man, towering in deed and indeed even in death. I will not cease to adore the exemplary Uncle Bola Ige.
He was a great politician whose administration was people-centered as the Executive Governor of the old Oyo State.
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I proudly identify as one of the numerous beneficiaries of his free education program. I began my secondary education (form 2) at Baptist Grammar School, Oko on passing the Conference of Principals Examination which was conducted in 1978 with a view to fixing successful candidates to form 2 given the low number of students in form 2 at that time. At the school, I met one wonderful young man, a teacher named Rasaq Alabi who hailed from Ile Eleuji, Isale Afon, Ogbomoso. He identified me as a boy to love and care for and he did so. He would invite me to his room at Oko and feed me. Whenever it was time to pay school fees, which by the way was due each term, I was unable to pay on time most times. He would stand for me so that I wouldn’t be sent home until I paid.
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Then I got a transfer to Ogbomoso Baptist High, Ogbomoso for 1979/80 Academic Session. Chief Bola Ige became governor of old Oyo State in 1979. He brought in a genuine and holistic free education program. We were given free text books on all subjects we were doing. We were given big notes and all other writing materials in excess. His government provided lockers and chairs and all other things that gave me and others like me an opportunity to study without pressure in an enabling environment, without which would probably not have been. All what our parents would need to provide were uniforms and food…no more no less. It was that opportunity that made me complete my secondary education.
This is a testament to the benevolence of the great Bola Ige, a genuine awoist and a profound example of selfless leadership.
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Eventually in life, I would have several physical encounters with him. For this piece, I want to share just two of such meetings. For the 1982/83 Academic Session, I, Bro. Sayo Oladejo (now Rev. Prof. Sayo Oladejo) and one Bro. Akinboro (of blessed memory) were living together as auxiliary teachers at Community High School, Alayin, in Surulere L. G. of Oyo State. When Chief Bola Ige was campaigning for second term, he visited Alayin and I was one of those that went to listen to him. At that occasion, he exhibited his oratory power. He ended his speech on that day by addressing the youths at the campaign ground thus: “You all my children, when you get home tell your parents that you met your governor, Uncle Bola Ige. “
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The then Chief of Alayin, Chief Ige and the father of the present Chief of Alayin came and presented a cow as a gift to the governor. Chief Bola Ige said to the people, ”E ba mi ki baba, won fun mi ni maalu kan (thank baba for me, he gave me a cow).”
The second meeting with him was at his Bodija residence. It was in November 1998. Chief Bola Ige and Chief Michael Koleoso invited all the chairmanship candidates under the umbrella of Alliance for Democracy (AD) for a meeting with a view to strategizing for the 1998 L. G. Elections. Both Chiefs Ige and Koleoso addressed us as candidates. After the meeting, we all ate. One of us, after the meal, washed his hands with iced water, to which Chief Ige retorted that he was wasting resources and that instead of that he should use the water that was not iced. As the main person who founded Alliance for Democracy (AD), as the meeting was on, there were repeated telephone calls that people were waiting for him to address a mammoth crowd in Ibadan North L. G. After the meeting, he went straight to address the crowd in Ibadan North L. G.
There are a lot to say about this great man of honor. And as we grow, we will continue to bear testament of his legacies of incredible benevolence and great administration, born of genuine love for his people and country.
Chief Bola Ige remains an epitome of true leadership.
Uncle Bola Ige…a great orator, the Cicero of Esa Oke, Okunrin Takuntakun, I adore you even in death!
Happy Posthumous Birthday.
You live on!
