Adieu to my mentor, our prestigious, ingenious father in Ibadanland – “G-68″, Oyo former council vice chairmen forum’s PRO,”Socrates”, pays tribute to Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi

• Life is a collection of moments: Inna Lilahi Wa Inna Ilaehi Rojihuun to the late sage, veteran and tribal aristocrat, Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi

Honourable Monsuru Akintunde Adeyemo (Socrates), Coordinator of the Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria (RTIFN), Oyo State chapter and the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Forum of the former Council Vice Chairmen in the state also known as G-68 has mourned the demise of Abese Olubadan of Ibadanland and a media guru, Oloye Lekan Alabi.

In a condolence message issued by the pioneer Vice Chairman of the Aare Latosa Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Adeyemo described Oloye Alabi as his farherly mentor and ingenious journalist who has greatly influenced his thoughts and deeds as a full blooded Ibadan descendant, Pan-Africanist, trained journalist, journalism lecturer and pro-people politician.

“My father, leader, mentor and benefactor, Oloye Abdul-Rasheed ‘Lekan Alabi! Indeed, you’re a timeless sage and philosopher-king. You’ve immensely influenced my thoughts and actions as a full-blooded Ibadan descendant, Pan-African activist, trained journalist and journalism lecturer. As a communication expert, you mentored me and provided me with both intangible and tangible ‘intellectual resources’.

Adeyemo while reminiscing what he described as parts of his quality moment with the late sage recalled that,”Our legendary mentor, Oloye Lekan Alabi! When it was 50 years of Your Royal Highness’ journalism practice, you gave scholarship awards to the students of our institute, the International Institute of Journalism(IIJ) – the training wing of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and where I lecture. You did not just give the scholarship awards to our selected students, but your Royal Highness also organised a mentorship programme which I was privileged to anchor. Your Royal Highness used the avenue to encourage, motivate and mentor cub journalists and seasoned communicators in attendance, while other veteran journalists present glowingly testified to your umblelished records and excellent professionalism as a veteran journalist and serial spokesperson to many past governors of Oyo State.

“When it was the time to pay thank you visit to Your Royal Highness, the Institute also mandated me to lead the delegation to Your Royal Highness’ residence. You did not just host us to a banquet but also turn it to another mentoring session in the presence of digital, print and broadcast media houses.

Politically, Adeyemo revealed that,”During Omo BAO/Socrates’ pioneer chairmanship of Aare Latosa Local Council, Your Royal Highness wanted us to turn the legendary Yoruba generallismo, Aare Muhammadu Obadoke Olatosisa Asubiaro, Aare Agedegudu’s mausoleum at Aare Avenue Bodija, Ibadan into tourist centre of global standards. You personally took me there as the vice chairman and a face of the local council on the then proposed project, and you did immensely support our administration. Your Royal Highness is parts of key people who made our administration a successful one.

Adeyemo continued,”There has never been a dull moment with Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi. Cadres and comrades of the Pan-African Republik will never forget intellectual engagements, affable receptions and comic reliefs,’Ajasas’ like ‘who born monkey, wit versus wit, Oyinbo onin ori Meji now but planning and actions, Eemọnse and others that Baba did roll out whenever we’re with him.

“Baba Ajengbe, as we fondly called Oloye Lekan Alabi, is a legendary figure of all times. All the cadres and comrades of the Pan-African Republik: Alli Egbesola, Basheer Aderinto, Olapeju Lawal, Adebayo Adeyemo, Ibrahim Adeyemo, Afeez Bello , Daniel James and several other chieftains and chieftainesses of the Republic say Adieu to our father, mentor and teacher.

On Oloye Alabi’s relationship with the late Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, Adeyemo hinted that,”There is a testimony which our late leader and another legend from Ibadanland, Governor Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi gave on Oloye Lekan Alabi. As we all know, late Gov. Ajimobi was a man of unalloyed candour and unfiltered honesty. He would never call you what you’re not or pretend to tell you that you are up to what you’re not up to. As super intelligent, brilliant, resourceful, knowledgeable, creative, ingenious and intellectual as ‘Ajimobi’ was, he revered late Oloye Lekan Alabi as a sage and brain. He declared that testimony openly at a Ramadan Lecture organised by the APC Youth League in the late 2018, in front of Oyo State Government House. Gov. Ajimobi had this to say in Yoruba language:”Tí Óbá Jẹ́ Ogbọ́n Nin Ènìyàn Fi Ńlówó, Irú Àwa Yìí Kò Le Nín Uǹkan Kan Nín Ibi Tí Àwọn Lékan Àlàbí Bá Wà Sùgbọ́n Àbúrò Min Nin Oooo- Paraphrase,’If it’s intelligence is what determines who is rich and who is not, people like us can never have anything in the presence of people like Lekan Alabi but he is my younger brother Ooooo’. Everybody at the programme burst into laughter after the statement of encomias and credence on Oloye Lekan Alabi.

“Though, later I and Oloye Lekan Alabi joked about that statement at Omo Ajorosun Club. Baba Lékan Àlàbí was so humble with the kind words, to the extent of sending a message of modesty, humility and appreciation to the late governor on it. Baba accepted that, truly, he was a younger brother to the late governor but a younger brother of like two or three months. Meanwhile, jokingly, Baba Oloye said he would never say that before Governor Ooooo because if he says so, Gov. Ajimobi might jokingly give him a funny response.

“Also, less I forget, on pro-humanity agenda and the progress of Ibadanland, Baba Oloye also played a key role on addressing the marginalisation of qualified Ibadan descendants from becoming institution’s head of a federal institution of learning founded more than sixty years ago in Ibadan land. Indeed, Baba Oloye did assist in ensuring that our comrade and one of our brilliant scholars of Ibadan extraction became the first indigenous helmsman of the institution.

“Baba Oloye Alabi, a veteran journalist and former multiple press secretary to past Oyo State governors, both military and civilian governors, died yesterday in Lagos at the age of 76. Indeed, we’re already missing his presence, and as Baba Oloye transits to the greater beyond, we say, ‘May Allah rest his soul in Al-Janat Firdaus.

While extolling Oloye Lekan Alabi, Adeyemo hailed that,”The Abese Olubadan of Ibadanland and Cultural Ambassador of the National Museum, Ile-Ife, of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Oloye Lekan Alabi, rests on.
A confidant of the late billionaire business mogul and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola, rests on.
A trusted ally of the late Ààrẹ Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland and the icon of June 12 struggles, Chief MKO Abiola, ‘Odi Gbere Ooo, Odi Arinanko, Otun Di Oju Ala, Otun Di Ti Eeyan Ba Njọnin. An egghead respected by several late Olubadans and by the current Olubadan of Ibadanland, his namesake, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, Ọrun Re Ooo.

Oloye Lekan Alabi was widely respected for his contributions to journalism, public service and the traditional institutions in Ibadanland and beyond. Rest on, Sir, our father, leader, and pride of Ibadanland at home and in the diaspora.

Oloye Abdul-Rasheed Lekan Alabi! May Allah repose Your soul in Al-Janat Firdaus.

From your mentee,

Hon. Monsuru Akintunde Adeyemo (Socrates),
Isalẹ Adeoyo, Isalę Alfa,
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.