Echoes of Akintola’s achievements ring at 59th memorial prog, as Soun recalls how his father, others recovered late premier’s corpse (Photos)
Femi OGUNLANA
Photos by Abdulrasak BELLO
The 60th edition of the annual Samuel Ladoke Akintola Memorial programme next year will be more elaborate and be a grander occasion, participants including the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III, have vowed. This was a highlight of the 59th edition of the event held Thursday at The Great Hall, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.
This is as a team of panelists and other speakers regaled the audience with the many achievements and legacies created by the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, GCON, who was assassinated in the Nigeria’s first military coup on January 15, 1966 at the Government House, Ibadan; the achievements they however claimed were erroneously or mischievously attributed to his predecessor, the avatar, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Akintola was Premier between 1959 and 1966.
Also, at the occasion, Oba Olaoye revealed grippingly how his late father, Prince Samuel Oladunni Olaoye, and two others, braved the odds to retrieve the corpse of the late premier from the Adeoyo Hospital’s morgue in Ibadan, after his death. His death was received with mixed feelings; his opponents received it with jubilation, the cruel murder, which was sequel to the Western region crisis in which he was the major protagonist, while his supporters especially people of his hometown, Ogbomoso, grieved.
The occasion featured many segments as panel discussion anchored by three distinguished speakers who included Oloye Lekan Alabi, Maye Olubadan of Ibadanland; Mr. Remi Olalere from The Polytechnic, Ibadan; and Professor Rotimi Animasaun, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Also, three individuals and a club were honoured with awards for their contributions to preserving the memory of Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, the awardees are: Hon. Wumi Oladeji, Hon Lamiju Alao-Akala, Hon Sanjo Adedoyin and Ogbomoso Valiant Club (which recently erected a full statue of Akintola at the Isale-General express interchange which it refurbished).
“These are being honoured for their remarkable contributions to the memory of the late sage and in helping to immortalize him. This is in special recognition for their tireless efforts and dedication to preserving the memory of our visionary leader,” Mr. Yemi Adedokun, chairman of the Samuel Ladoke Akintola Memorial Foundation, stated in his speech.
Continuing, Adedokun said, “He (Akintola) lived a remarkable life, he was a visionary leader and sacrificed his life for Nigeria.”
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Informing that the 60th memorial of Akintola would come up in January 2026, he disclosed the initiative started about 25 years ago when he along with other initiators were still secondary school students, as he added, “We however launched the foundation in 2017. Past guest lecturers will be honoured next year at the 60th edition such as Professor Omotoye Olorode, Professor Akinjide Osuntokun, Mr. Akin Osuntokun, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, Prof OBC Nwolise, Prof Olu Obafemi, Prof Enoch Oyedemi, Prof Rotimi Animasaun, Governor Akinwumi Ambode etc. They will be honoured during the sixtieth anniversary.”
Responding to a question during the panel discussion, “What lessons can be learnt from Akintola and how can we apply this to contemporary politics?” Remi Olalere stressed, with much passion, “One of the people that tried to abolish politics of bitterness is Chief SL Akintola. Akintola could defend two points without making enemies. He wanted to create the position of Vice Prime Minister for Awolowo but his colleagues were not on the same page with him – that is however an indication of politics without bitterness. Everywhere he served he left a remarkable legacy. He bought Nigeria’s first Airway. He left an indelible landmark. Remember the Third Mainland Bridge, that was his work, it was his spirit that came up in the Third Mainland Bridge, remember the Lafenwa Bridge, he was the same person that did that. UCH was his work too, it was when he was Minister of Health that he released ten million pounds for them to build the current UCH. He did forty percent of what made AG (Action Group), he didn’t practice politics of bitterness, he was the one that brought down NCNC in Ibadan, he was the one that brought many wealthy individuals into AG like Odutola, Ogbeni Oja, from the NCNC. He promoted politics of inclusiveness and it is the same template used by our president today, to make him what he is. These are some of his legacies, indelible legacies.”
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In the same vein, Oloye Alabi, speaking on politics and governance of SLA and what he would have done differently if he were to be alive today asserted that Akintola would have focused on economic development and devotedly addressed “our economic challenges in the areas of education and culture. His legacy and impact speak for themselves.”
Alabi who also emphasized the cultural angle of Akintola’s contribution declared Akintola as his “hero, then and now,” pointing out, “Akintola had intel the soldiers would strike but refused to flee preferring to live up to his name ‘Akintola’ (the brave one), that is an eloquent testimony of his persona as a man of culture. Akintola didn’t flee, though he had the opportunities to do so; he got to know about the impending doom, he had money to charter a plane to run away, but he didn’t in the true tradition of Yoruba bravery, politicians of today would have fled, but if he had fled that is how history would have recorded it.”
Prof Animasaun, elucidating on the question: “How can Nigeria’s political leaders honour regional influence on national development goals as envisioned by late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola?” noted, “For an individual (Akintola) to be Minister of Labour, Health, Communication and Aviation, (possibly in the history of Nigeria we never had another person like that), you could now see he was a patriot, a grassroots politician, loved by his people. He did not spoil home and that was why he was able to go far, he didn’t underrate people. He is fondly remembered today because of what he did. How will today’s politicians be remembered?”
Prof Rasak Olatunde Rom Kalilu, Vice Chancellor LAUTECH, meanwhile noted it was an honour to host the programme and to get the university named after such an icon, as he expressed gratitude to the SL Akintola family for the donation of his estate in Ogbomoso to the institution “for use for a period of 30 years.”
Chief Oyebisi Ilaka, the Ladilu of Oyo, who represented Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland as chairman of the occasion, submitted. “It is always a pleasure to come to Ogbomoso for any occasion that celebrates this very, very great man, a man who in his time did very many formidable things in our nation, as a legislator, as a minister, as a premier, most of which he does not get the credit he deserves. The challenges are still with us in the area of tertiary education, the establishment of airlines, the establishment of farmers cooperative board, the establishment of industrial bases for this part of Nigeria. His achievements have not been marked, we are still struggling but his life is a hope, we can learn a lot from him. So, it is always a pleasure to turn up here, to celebrate, especially, a wonderful, inspirational Nigerian.”
Senator Ayo Adeseun also speaking said, “I am very very proud of being an Ogbomoso man. Akintola was a brave man, very very courageous. Ogbomoso people are brave and that is why we have many Ogbomoso people in the Armed Forces who fought gallantly in various wars. Unfortunately, they maligned Akintola, used the press against him, damaged him, but history has a way of resurrecting.”
Adeseun, who facilitated the establishments of some institutions in Ogbomoso like the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Iresaapa, The Federal Polytechnic Ayede, and so on, also stressed that the fortune of the Yoruba will witness a significant leap if “We learn the right lessons from Chief Akintola, The future will be very very bright for us,” prophesying, “However, if we continue on the same path, then, we have problems on our hand. In one of his final speeches Akintola said, ‘Egbe ni fun omo Yoruba ti won ba ta eje mi sile, ayafi ti ki i ba se pe ijayin ko ni mo n ja (Woe unto Yorubas if my blood is shed unless it is not your battle I am fighting).’
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“Those who killed him are forever condemned, in fact, the man who actually spearheaded his killing, one Captain Nwobosi, they were thoroughly unfair in killing Akintola, but thank God almighty the Ibos paid dearly for what they did because they are still paying till today, they lost their people in millions.”
He appreciated the organizers, promising enthusiastically, “The next one will be a grand affair, we will do whatever needs to be done to make sure the world knows about it, the governors that didn’t come today we will make sure they come next year, we won’t allow them to stay way because Akintola is a reflection of what Yoruba is in our politics today.
“He was the one who laid the groundwork of what we are benefitting today. We owe him a duty to support what he stood for. Now, we have a government in place, that is Tinubu’s government, I believe he is toeing the path charted by Akintola, he is using Akintola’s template. I sincerely believe that going forward, Ogbomoso’s placement in the Nigerian milieu is assured but we all need to work very hard, we all need to make sure, wherever you found yourself, let the world know you are an Ogbomoso person, and nothing should cause you to look at your community and be uncomfortable.”
Dr Saka Balogun, a community leader, also hammered that the next edition will be grander as he delved into the issue of the Akintola’s family feud regarding the acceptance of Justice Ladiran as a son of late Akintola. Recall the elder children for long denied this.
“Eyin SL Akintola ti wa dara bayi (happenings after Akintola is now cheering). O ku die kaato teletele (It was defective previously). Ti o ba si Ladiran mbe omo Akintola o pe (Without Ladiran Akintola’s children are incomplete). Thank God Soun has also affirmed his paternity. This year brings happiness because Diran has been accepted. By God’s grace next year’s will be grander.”
The Soun, who attended the first ever edition of the remembrance programme underlined his father’s close association with the late Are Ona Kakanfo, while highlighting some of the specific encounters which continued till after the death of the latter.
ogbomosoinsightonline.com recalls that the news of the death of the late Asipa of Ogbomoso drew a large crowd to the Adeoyo Hospital in Ibadan, many who found it unbelievable and so trooped their for confirmation, so great was the multitude that workers in the hospital played a fast one by collecting certain fees to allow the surging crowd into the hospital; his friends and associated had deserted him, no one could venture out to recover his corpse for burial. His assailants had fallen into disarray, the tide had turned against the rebels and so the fate of the body of the late premier wasn’t on the front burner. It was later that day, January 15 that some of his brave friends navigated their way to the hospital to salvage the situation.
“My father was close to Akintola, he used to follow him to Awolowo’s residence at Oke-Bola, he travelled abroad with Akintola on occasions, with his wife and my step-mother, we have all the photos to show this. When Akintola was installed as the Are Ona Kakanfo, if you see the picture you will see my father behind him. Some people thought we just appeared (without antecedent), no, it is not so, we have roots in Ogbomoso. We did not fall down from nowhere.”
Now, dwelling on the last service his father rendered to Akintola, Oba Ghandi disclosed, “It is when you are alive that you can know who loves you, after death, you don’t know. When Akintola was killed, all those who claimed to love him, none showed up, it was my father, Surveyor Bamgbose and another person (whose name people gave as Lekan Salami) that went to Adeeyo Hospital to retrieve his corpse and brought him here (Ogbomoso) in the night and by about 6am the next day, he was interred (my father deserves applause, he said to which people responded with a deafening ovation). When Akintola was killed no one wanted to identify with him, because it looked disgraceful. My father said he could not abandon his friend. So, the family of Akintola is very very important to us.
“So, the two families are close, we are families. After l ascended the throne, I went to see (Bashorun) Yomi Akintola, and Dr Bimbo Akintola; they knew my father as their father’s friend and they were happy about my enthronement. So, by the grace of God, as long as I am Soun, we will promote this foundation and this colloquium. Akintola did come to my father’s house at Ososanmi in Ibadan, we called him ‘uncle,’ he would put us on his lap. When my brother was travelling abroad it was Akintola that read the Bible passage at the verandah of our house, we have the photos.
“So, he is someone we knew well, so, this event delights us, the sixtieth memorial next year will be a grand occasion, that we will be part of too. We thank those who initiated and had sustained the event, they didn’t allow his memory to fade because history is not what we should allow to go into extinction.”
He further submitted, “I am always happy I became the Soun of Ogbomoso because it is a city of valiant. And one of the persons that made people know the city of Ogbomoso is Samuel Ladoke Akintola, he elevated the status of Ogbomoso greatly, and made people know the town. We thank him for his many great accomplishments when alive. It is however unfortunate many of his accomplishments are attributed to his predecessor, it behooves us as indigenes of Ogbomoso to emphasize this and this can be done through books. Let’s support the foundation.
“Akintola led the delegation for the betrothal of my mother. My father retired as a Director in the Ministry of Works in 1969. My mother, a Lagos-bred woman couldn’t imagine herself marrying a tribal mark man, and so, Akintola followed him, and with the presence of Akintola and others like my grandfather John Adebayo, they knew my father was a man of honour. My father, aside from political associates of Akintola, was probably one of the closest to Akintola. My father was Samuel Ladunni Olaoye, he’s Samuel Ladoke Akintola.
“They grew up together in Ogbomoso and knew each other well. When Justice Oladiran was born, it was my father who went to represent Akintola. Akintola facilitated his education of the first child of my father (now late) Tunde Olaoye in Sweden through scholarship to study shoemaking and made him the manager of the shoe factory in Ogbomoso when he returned. During ‘Operation Wetie’ (attack on Akintola’s supporters and Ogbomoso indigenes in the region at the height of Western region crisis), our house was torched in Ibadan even though my father was not a politician but because they said he was Akintola’s friend, we lived among the Ijebus at Oke-Ado in Ibadan.”
Justice Ladiran, in his speech, acknowledging his elder step-siblings, Ambassador Yomi and Dr. Bimbo Akintola, charged secondary school students at the occasion to turn their humble beginning into the pivot to reaching stardom saying his father also began from Ogbomoso.
“In the name of my brother Bashorun Abayomi Adio Akintola and sister, Dr. Abimbola Akintola, they asked me to talk to young secondary students, so as to motivate them. According to our fathers, tita riro la n ko ila ti o ba jina tan a di oge (tribal marks are etched in pain but when they heal up, they enhance one’s beauty), do not let anyone mislead you and persevere. We all started somewhere. Our late father started primary school in Ogbomoso here and went on to make it great in life.
“It’s because he was hardworking, committed to education and was deeply honest, all the important posts he held one would think is not possible, he held positions of four different ministries that you would tend to ask, is he the only one? But at the time they rewarded hard work. Whatever challenge we may face no matter how severe, be determined to leave a good legacy. No one has it easy in all ways. you children, I commend you to face your studies especially girls, don’t allow yourselves to be deceived.
“Emulate our father’s persevering nature, Baba faced conspiracies even after death, as many of his accomplishments were attributed to someone else but after a long time the truth came out. People now know it was Baba that established Cocoa House, that established University of Ife, that founded UCH, that it was Baba that established Nigeria Airways, and so many others like the industrial layout and so on. So, resolve in your heart today, ire Oluwa ki i su o (It is never late with God), resolve to make a positive impact too. Next year, Baba will be sixty years after he died, and we are still remembering him. So you must be determined and be conscious of leaving good legacies too that will make you to be remembered. Baba tried and that is why many of us here today are motivated to attend this programme.”
He also thanked some individuals “who embraced me before my brother and sister embraced me, people like Dr Balogun, Baba Omiya (late Pa Adebayo Oyewusi), Baba Ayo Solar, Alao-Akala and so on.”
Justice Ladiran of the Oyo state High Court went on to corroborate Soun’s assertion that they had childhood together. “Let’s do good. Students, buckle up, do well, you can become anything you want to become if you make endeavours, I thank Ogbomoso, the family, for your support, it is not our father alone that was a politician. So, I am very happy. Thank you all,” he concluded.
Among other guests was the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja III, who was represented.
