Hours after his installation as the Asipa of Osogbo in the Oja-Oba palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, that Alhaji Ajadi Adekilekun Badmus was Oba Olanipekun’s choice was as confounding to Badmus’ congregation of former teachers and students as it was debatable.
The 81-year old Badmus’ undisguised principle nay phobia for chieftaincy titles and government appointment was no news to his numerous disciples.
A teacher, who worked closely with him at the Muslim Grammar School, Osogbo in the 80s, Mr Layi Olawuyi, publicly expressed his astonishment at the development. Olawuyi, the current principal of the Bowen University High School, Osogbo, said Oba Olanipekun deserves more prostrations for the feet because “my boss wasn’t titles freak for any reason.”
In Badmus’ revised autobiography tited ‘My Point’ and published in May 2016 at his 75th birthday, he revealed how the late Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi needed to trick him to the office of the then Governor of Osun State, the late Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke before he would accept offer to serve as the governor’s special adviser on education matters. That was in a morning in 1992.
“Kabiyesi called me to the palace and said I would accompany him to somewhere. I couldn’t have declined his directive; he was my royal father. I never knew where we were going until we got to the governor’s office. Even when we arrived, I didn’t suspect his plan until we entered the office and kabiyesi presented me to the governor whom I never met. His Excellency asked me “why are you avoiding us?’. Kabiyesi quickly answered him ‘he has come to resume.’ That was how I left the Osogbo Grammar School for government job,” Badmus informally told our correspondent recently.
Against this backdrop, Oba Olanipekun is being applaued for causing Badmus to review his stance, leading to yesterday’s historic event witnessed by traditional chiefs, including the Araba of Osogbo, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, High Chief Priest Dr Sola Atanda, the Iyalode of Osogbo, Chief Awawu Asindemade, former Deputy-Governor, Mrs Titilayo Tomori-Ponle, retired Justice Kunle Adeigbe, former Chairman of Osogbo Local Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as well as other Osogbo sons and daughters, not excluding Rector, the Iresi Polytechnics, Dr Kamoru Kadri; a Lagos-based Legal Practitioner, Mr Sola Lamid; a US-based Nurse, Mr Fatai Winjobi, Professor Saliu Amin of the University of Ilorin and Publisher, TheTabloid.net, Chief Tunde Busari who arrived with Mr Akeeb Ibraheem to be later joined by Alhaji Kayode Adebisi.
Some minutes to the installation, performed by the Babakekere of Osogbo, Chief Sulaiman Olanipekun, the Ataoja had justified his choice of Badmus for the title which, according to him, was last held by the late educationist and the pioneer Principal of the Osogbo Grammar School, Chief Julius Omigbodun who passed away in August 2012.
“I carefully took my time to look for somebody of calibre of that late Asipa, Chief Omigbodun and Ajadi fit into my standard. There are three Asipa in Osogbo, this one is the creation of the Ataoja based on his discretion to appreciate and encourage sons who have served the town meritoriously. Can anyone here fault Ajadi’s antecedent in this town?” Oba Oyetunji asked rather rhetorically.
Araba Elebuibon remarked that Badmus was a round peg in a round hole and prayed for a healthy life to enjoy his new status. “With people like the new Asipa, age is a mere number. He is fit and still making contributions to the town and mentoring the young ones. I am wishing him many years of good health to serve the town more,” he said.
After the installation, which did not last more than an hour, Badmus was later hosted by a group of school teachers under the aegis of One Million Teachers, an innovative classroom where registered teachers boost their capacity through online sessions.
Held at the Leisure Spring Hotel, Osogbo, the event had in attendance friends, associates and old students of Badmus who all attested to his proactive disposition to life and his career.
The immediate past Principal of the Muslim Grammar School, Osogbo, Alhaji Taofeek Sanusi was all over the venue, complemeting Badmus and attending to guests needs.
Sanusi said, “Baba deserves more than this because he is a role model to many of us who love to live simple life.”
Leave a Reply