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Remembering Sheila Solarin
Remembering Sheila Solarin (May 31,1924 – Oct. 21, 2012)
Tai was my greatest motivator
From the first time I met him in 1947
Till his death in 1994
If more people had listened to him ,
Nigeria might have made better progress
Sheila Solarin
At the school gate I asked whether I could see mama . “Yes, she is there go and meet her “, the security officer replied .I walked down to her house which was about 20minutes walk I got to her residence , a bungalow that has no fence and no security personnel. As I met one of her maids, a Togolese and told her I wanted to see Mama then I heard a soft-spoken velvet voice saying ” Tell Taiwo to come in, let him come in “, that was Mama, she recognized my voice because I had been used to the family .
The late Sheila Solarin and Taiwo Abiodun
” Stand up, stand up Taiwo “, she urged me as I prostrated to greet her. Immediately the giant domestic animal sighted me it started barking but Mama patted the lovely dog, Rosa to stop. ” Mama I am here again for interview”, I told her. ” Ask your questions”, she responded .
In order to make my story unique I demanded to see the late Tai Solarin’s ‘war clothes’, she did not argue as she went in and brought the khaki shirt and shorts and I took the photographs . I asked questions and she was not tired to answer .She did not say my questions were foolish as I asked from relevant to irrelevant
I asked how she felt about the former Head of state who incarcerated her husband and whether she has forgiven him for what he did to her , the old woman looked down, shook her head and said ” whether I have forgiven Babangida? Well, he contributed to the poor health condition of my late husband until he died .What type of forgiveness is that ?.My husband was detained several times for saying the truth and looking for a better Nigeria , was that an offense?”
Asked to talk about Nigerians , she said ” Nigerians are hard working and ready to work if there are jobs as they could cope anywhere in the world .But where are the jobs ? .I am more concerned about the youths ” , she said . “Mama, can I see where Tai Solarin was buried ?”, I asked , she rose while her dog, Rosa ( who has become her companion ) followed us and we got to the place , I took a lot of photographs.
On a personal note since we had become a family and she asked after my welfare, family and how I was faring in journalism profession , she said ” since I know many of these media don’t pay very well”,but I told him we were being paid as at when due where I worked. “Oh, I love you for saying the truth , that is good and that means things are changing “, she responded .
I asked why she preferred Audi Car product to other products ( As I could see many used ones there) , she said ” it is a strong car”. Mama, I was told you have a Zoological garden , she said ” all schools are supposed to have , we have snakes , some reptiles and other animals there , go and have a look”, she said. Again I asked her whether I could interview Tunde, her son , she said ” Will he grant you interview? I know him, he would not”.
Mama who owns all these cows ? She replied ” they belong to my son, Tunde , I can’t be doing all these” . Later , she told me she was going to the class and I asked ” Mama , going to the class? ” , she replied” Yes, some of those I teach at home had just left .I teach English language .”
When I returned to the office , The Nation newspaper , the Sunday Editor , Mr .Lekan Otufodunrin was happy as he grabbed the story and gave me three pages , then gave me 2,000 Naira for a job well done .He splashed the photographs of the ” war clothes” of the old ” soldier” on center pages of The Nation‘s newspaper . At another time I asked Mama why she did not go to church and she responded” This is 10 o’clock Sunday morning , why didn’t you go to church and waste your time? . Nigerians are full of hypocrisy .They should go out , work and assist people .They waste too much time on what does not matter” .
I once asked her about her big and frightening dog, Rosa ,” dead”, she replied. “Why didn’t you have a gate and fence round your house for security purpose?, she replied ” I don’t need that”. As I finished my interview she bade me goodbye and safe journey back to Lagos. But one thing I will never forget from the old woman is when she asked how I went to school and I told her that my older brother , Professor Rowland Abiodun sponsored my university education from undergraduate to the Post graduate level, she demanded for her e mail and I gave her, ” I will write him to thank him for I know what it is to sponsor one’s education”, she promised
She asked where my twin brother was , and I told him he was far away in Canada, she said ” oh , I was there several years ago and that place is always cold .Is he a boy or a girl , are you identical or not , is he also a journalist? ” She asked me all these questions three years earlier and still remembered later.
Mama was very articulate and has good retentive memory despite her old age . She once lectured me about Cancer, as she said she once had cervix cancer when she was young but was quickly detected and treated . ” So cancer can be treated if detected early”, she lectured me. She was ready to discuss anything under the sun and would not say it is private or take an offense. I remember when I asked her why she had two children, she replied “why do we need to have many?, what for?” She was truthful, faithful and straightforward to a fault. She was ready to tell the truth no matter whose ox is gored . I remember when she said ” when a man lies , he needs 99 percent of more lies to cover up the one lie he has lied” ( he was referring to a former Head of state ).
I became a friend to the family, as I had interviewed Corrine her first child before “. As we all remember Mama Sheila today , I remember her soft vspoken, lovable, cheerful, harmless, beautiful, dutiful and caring woman .I remember her golden framed- eye glasses , her hearing aids , walking stick, smiles, her golden hair, her clean feet in her beautiful sandals and of course the day she called me and said ” So you are Babalawo of The Nation?”, laughing. She gave me six books , I so much treasured and I kept them in my library in Owo, my beloved home town.
The late Sheila was a British and wife of the late atheist, Tai Solarin .The duo established May Flower School , Ikenne in Ogun State and were both atheists.
Sheila contributed a lot to the development of education in Nigeria .She was always behind her husband who was always incarcerated because of her politicyal contribution because of his radical ideology.
As I was leaving Mayflower school and glanced at the the iron cast sculptures of Sheila and her husband placed at the entrance of the school I said, in spite of being atheists they are still loved.For the duo or the Solarins it is Veni, Vidi, Vici.
Memories , memories and memories .
Behold the grave of Ogedengbe Agbogungboro!
The grave site of the Yoruba Generalissimo, Ogedengbe Agbogungboro is an eyesore.
Inspite all his war exploits , his grave is unmarked.Taiwo Abiodun was there .
BoN and Chief Obanla IV at the graveside of Ogedengbe
He was a great warrior and known for his war exploits. When he was beheaded in the war front , he acted fast and beheaded a woman , put her head on his neck then searched for his own head, found it and replaced it , then returned the woman’s head on her neck and the war continued!. It was not a fiction, it was real. His war jacket was very, very heavy that two hefty men cannot lift it up but surprisingly it was always hung on the spider’s web [ faran owu].
Imagine this scenario : When his foot soldiers were weak and tired in the war front and the battle was hot he touched the trees with his bare hands and the trees turned to soldiers and the fight continued . He appeared and disappeared at will with his magical power . He was very powerful as he shot arrows from his house attacking enemies in the battle field without getting there. He was feared by the natives and non natives.He was honoured and respected. His eyes, hands,legs, infact all parts of his body were instruments of war. This is ORISARAIBI OGEDENGBE AGBOGUNGBORO of Ilesha!
He was a chain smoker and was extra ordinarily careful as he always avoided being poisoned, he used to send his wild dog to buy tobacco from the market and the dog must be greeted by all and sundry .And whoever did not salute the dog will attract fine or punishment from the Generalissimo .According to stories , the dog was not seen again after Ogedengbe’s demise.
Ogedengbe
According to High Chief Oyekanmi Ogedengbe Obanla IV who presently holds the tittle, he said ” In Ogedengbe’s compound were cell rooms where he used to punish his erred slaves in his courtyard.Not only this, he had some rooms where he kept his charms , juju , arms and ammunition , daggers, swords and other war materials . He had specialized heavy saucers he used to eat from”.
He added ”The warrior had a big shrine where he worshiped before embarking on his war.He fought the Kiriji War allegedly caused by a woman”.
Some of his guns, swords
The High Chief took this reporter round the compound and some rooms , he said ”Some of the jujus and ammunition are still in some rooms till this day, infact there are some objects you must not touch and rooms forbidden to enter! .Some rooms have no windows.”, adding that there are about four courtyards in the compound .However, one needs a torch light or a candlelight to go into these dark rooms, and some of the rooms look secretive and fearsome., but inspite all these , most of the iron and woods used for the building which could be about a century old are still strong .
The High Chief put on the Warrior’s charmed ‘war clothes’ and said ” this is the war cloth and attached with all types of juju gourds.But the High Chief says he is not happy for the grave of the great Yoruba Generalissimo is not befitting.Asked whether he contacted the Government , he said ” the Osun State government promised to turn this place into a monument while we are still waiting” .
Ogedengbe Agbogungboro house in Ilesha
Ogedengbe’s Grave in the compound
A visit to his grave site in the compound could make one cry as one would be surprised that inspite the fame, power and exploits of this man called O SOKO EKITI, SOKO AKOKO (Husband of Ekiti and Akoko) his grave site is unmarked.
The heavy eating saucers he used
When he was being taken into exile by Captain Bower, one of Bower’s aides who came with him struck Ogedengbe’s second in command, Alimoro’s head but the sword cut into pieces and Alimoro cut the aides’s hand .As Ogedengbe saw the hand on the ground he picked it up , blew air on it and glued it back to the stump!
”We offered sacrifice every week here in the compound and worship Ogun , the god of iron called Iwude.
”We keep a monkey here called Gboroko Kapee for a purpose,the late Ogedengbe had four, my late father Ogedengbe has three while my late brother Ogedengbe who did not live up to one year had also”. He spoke about the mystic behind the monkey, according to him a man once came here to harm my late father who was on the throne but the monkey started behaving strangely and attacked the ma , when he was searched we found charms he brought along to harm my father..Again a strange bird , an owl came here which is a bad omen and the monkey started screaming , a lovely person was reported dead the following day.
Gboroko Kapee
Asked where Ogedengbe’s charmed war cloth is , the man looked up and said ” sadly enough they took it away , however some untrustworthy fellows must have conspired for without that they couldn’t have taken it away.
His war jacket was very, very heavy that two people cannot lift it up but surprisingly it was always hung on the spider’s web [ faran owu]
High Chief Oyekanmi Ogedengbe Obanla IV
The High Chief said ”War is a profession that runs in our family, many of Ogedengbe’s grandchildren are in the Military, Police among others”.
The late Chief Ogedengbe was born in Atorin , which is about 20kilometeres to Ilesha in the present Atakomosa East Local Government area.His father’ s village was Oke Orisa Village.
He always floored his mates in wrestling competition thus he was given the nickname of Ogedengbe while his real names are Orisaraibi Apasanforijiwa.He was once captured and taken to Ibadan and that was where Basorun Ogunmola they gave him facial marks in order to humiliate him .
On the walls of the living room are some old pictures of the great generalissimo with gourds ( ado and strings ) tied on them evidencing his power, and also a photograph of some of his warriors. But the most painful aspect of this story is that of his grave which is unmarked .
Is it fair for such a powerful man of high caliber, a Yoruba generalissimo to be forgotten despite all his exploits?
Taking my own pound of flesh
Time: 5:30pm.It was in June , during the raining season and it was raining heavily. The rain was splashing on the rooftops while the sound of the falling ‘iced’ cubes from above was heard as they pelted on the iron roofing sheets. Thunder and lightening followed.Fear gripped many as they remembered Sango the Yoruba god of Thunder believing he has come to revenge or to deal a fatal blow on those who offended him. Again, the sound of the thunderstorm was more than the booming of the guns and rockets during the Gulf war or Liberia war when guns boomed sporadically .My visitor kept crying ” Oh my God how will I get home today ?. My husband must have been expecting me back home .It’s now 7 o’clock in the evening and we had closed since 3 o’clock“, she lamented , shaking her head intermittently like agama agama lizard. That is Ketchy , a beautiful lady , a superb damsel who makes a strong man weak
Ketchy is a paragon of beauty.She is slim with figure 8.Her straight legs and eyeballs could make one go crazy capped with her skin color .Her fingernails, toes and long hair are all natural .Her rotund buttocks are not padded , she combines beauty with brain. She once contested in a beauty contest and won. She cat walks, her figure 8 could make you borrow money and give her.She is rich and respected .Ketchy is a big girl and has dined with the high profile people in the society , in fact she has throttled the globe.
I was happy that I got her at last. I looked at her , shook my head and smiled . I drew her nearer ,held her two God’s given soft oranges planted on her chest and as I sighted her smooth- cream- colored skin they all ignited fire in me and made me exploded like tornado. I held her tight , kissed her and almost tore her lips apart as my own lips were full of lip- sticks .My lips were red. As I pushed her into my sofa chair -she did not struggle with me , but just went down and closed her eyes. I quietly but nervously unzipped my trouser with eyes dazed ,she too was murmuring and saying inaudible words and twitching her body begging me to come as she could not control herself again.
I quietly removed her skirt.When I sighted her string pants I started salivating and panting like a dog .Her thighs are smooth . So you are gifted with this inner beauty of the goddess ? I soliloquized .I untied the string ,flung it somewhere and went ahead to play with her tits until she became weak and begged me to come in.As I was going in, there was no signpost of ” no thoroughfare here” as the road is like Lagos / Ibadan expressway.No blockage, no obstruction, no traffic hold- up, no culvert, no T- junction, no left or right turning and above all there was no accident.The road was more than smooth.After devouring ourselves we slept off.
At 3am , I woke up, and I took a shot of ogogoro the local gin to enhance my sexual performance again . Yes, I had paid in advance for the gin mixed with local herbs and I took Via1gra along with it.
Yes , I had already prepared , In fact fully prepared for her .I canvassed her to exercise patience and that the rain would soon stop. But immediately I mentioned “rain” , the rain started all over again and all the trees in the environment began to bow down for the heavy rain came with heavy breeze,blowing .All roads had been destroyed while erosion had taken over some areas , old and dilapidated buildings gave way while the town shook to its foundation . Ketchy’s car which was parked outside my house had been washed away and got stuck among the debris .The rain was like the Noah’s period when the world was destroyed by flood. When I sighted her on the sofa chair she was sitting she had slept off and I quickly made a quickie as we devoured ourselves like hungry lions.
I had told my colleagues in the office about my visitor I had been longing to see .I had vowed to go for eight rounds if Ketchy turns up.I vowed, I made promise and I planned it to the highest level of execution. And now the ball is in my court.
But who is Ketchy and why did I behave in this way?.
Ketchy was my school mate at St .Yeso Grammar School.She came from Lagos to join us in the village .She was a very beautiful girl but very arrogant and too full of herself .She refused to date any of her age group or classmates but preferred working class men like Bankers, Medical doctors , lawyers and so on .Let me quickly add that she was very brilliant as she made “A”s in all her science subjects . Immediately after her secondary school she went to the university to study Medicine , graduated at the age of 26 and bagged her MBBS CH.
Ketchy worked for five years and had all she needed, Infact she was more than comfortable with three houses and two yachts.As a worker now she is dating Pilots, Ambassadors, Ministers and Company directors which made her rich , very rich than her colleagues .
When Ketchy was 38, she wanted to settle down but with the hope that she will still get one of his former lovers to marry.
Did I forget to tell you that she aborted eight times ? Did I tell you that she once fell and fainted while climbing a staircase as a result of being anemic due to abortion?
Did I tell you how a Pilot’s wife came to beat her up and made her abort the pregnancy she had for her husband ?
But how would I have loved to befriend Ketchy when I knew all these?
Ketchy was my former girlfriend but she betrayed me when it was five days to our wedding day as she eloped with a Pilot and spent three months in the United Kingdom while I was here in Yeso village shaking my legs and head and biting my lips and fingers .It all happened in 1988 when she didn’t turn up for our church wedding.The officiating Ministers and well wishers were all glued to where they sat and later left for their various homes jeering at me, some cursing while others could not believe.It was a disgrace .When I got home brown I saw a brown envelope and I opened it there I saw a letter and behold it was a letter from Ketchy that I am not a prosperous man and that she doubted my future as a secondary school teacher.The letter is still in my drawer till this day.
I swore to God almighty that I would one day revenge .I wondered ” Why did they despise a school teacher? Must we all be rich? Should I throw away my Vespa motorcycle ? Should I go and steal to make it in life?”
When Ketchy ditched me in 1988 and went to London , I was a school teacher with a Bachelor of Education degree.From there I went to enroll for my GCE and made all my papers .I put in for Law and in a nutshell finished , went to Law School.Within the spate of four years I had made my name because I worked in a very popular and radical lawyer’s Chamber,thus I became known too.
One day I met a lady whose car broke down on Apapa Expressway , immediately I sighted the lady I knew it was Ketchy, but she didn’t recognize me .How will she recognize me when I had my Black Suit with tie on, when I was expected to be in our town holding a piece of chalk and cane ?. When I should be riding my Vespa ?. No way ,she can never thought it was me .One thing led to another .I promised to marry her .
She told me she was still in her husband’s home and would plan to divorce him.
” I am two months pregnant for my husband but I will abort it in order to marry you. You know how good the combination of a lawyer and a doctor is ?”, she said. That was how we started our love. Still I did not disclose to her who I was because I had changed and looked robust.
THIS IS A TRUE LIFE STORY , NAMES and places HAVE CHANGED
To be continued
Apply wisdom to this Ekiti election
Apply wisdom to this Ekiti Election
Ekiti State known as Fountain of knowledge is full of highly intellectual , good-spirited , honourable , gifted and respected people but they should add wisdom to make it complete.Today,the old and the educated ones will add wisdom while the foolish and greedy ones will allow money to rule them as the Mother of all elections holds. However taiwoabiodun.com writes
Today , Saturday, July 14 my advise to some of these political thugs before leaving their homes is to sing ” Nearer My God to thee”, I am coming home”, ” This world is not my home…”
Today blood will flow as guns will boom. People will be killed while some will be maimed for life. Many children will become fatherless while wives will become widows except only if……..
Unfortunately some political leaders will not be affected same with their family members for they would have adequate security.When two elephants fight the grass suffers, this we all know.
Some supporters of these parties , sorry, political thugs after smoking Indian hemp and taking hard drugs along with the 4k offered them will be on the street with cutlassses, guns and other cudgels and will surely do their worst to rig the election in support of their candidate.
These people , sorry , these political thugs who will work today must have forgotten that they left behind their aged parents, siblings and defendants at home .Now they would be happy in advance over the political appointments and mouth-watering money these politicians promised them but it is Fa Fa Fa foul!!.
No, I am not a prophet of doom but it is in our character , not only in our character but it has been in our blood and in our political character to foolishly become múgùn, mùmú, dondi united , follow follow,zombie to these politicians who are being guarded by armed -to-the-teeth security men but send innocent [or foolish] thugs out to unleash terror on the innocent people for a token!.
I remember many houses were torched and people were killed in the 1960s known as Operation Wet e and Wild Wild West also in the 1980s during the political era of UPN and NPN, in Ondo state , some houses were reduced to ashes and dunghills , Infact they have become museum.Till now some of the burnt houses are NEVER rebuilt again while those they supported lived well thereafter.
But wait , why are we troubling ourselves? I learnt that Ekiti State is called Fountain of Knowledge , why did they refuse to put their knowledge into use ?
Oh sorry, they have knowledge but what of wisdom? , but it would have been good to add wisdom to knowledge which could have made them greater after all.
Today’s election will be bloody except kogberegbe soldiers, policemen and paramilitary officers do their job. Let the riggers and thugs be caught and dealt with .
I wish the thugs learnt a lesson from the sitting governor Fayose who cried like a baby and openly confessed that if he as a governor could be treated like this then one should guess what would happen to the ordinary man in town.
In the Bible when a war leader is caught the followers give up.They surrender .When David killed Goliath the story ended. The battle on the ground is between Fayose and Fayemi , remember they are from the same Ifa Oracle family.
After the election the two ‘FAs’ will still eat from same pot so why should we die for these people?
It is a pity some of our politicians are being deceived by their marabouts, prophets and Alfas who feed fat on them and tell them fake visions that they will win but have forgotten to add to it that they must not shed blood.
Although hardly can we find honest politicians in Nigeria as one could remember that Cynic Philosopher, Diogenes who in the daylight was carrying a lantern about in the public places looking for an honest man, but he died without seeing any.I can say categorically that none of our politicians is honest.They are the same , the only difference is that one is better than the other and One is worse than the other.
I predict today that there will be rigging, mudslinging, fracas, killings and maiming as blood will flow no thanks to attack and counter attack.I also predict that there would be relative peace if the soldiers do their work with total commitment and voters and political bandits behave .But will they behave?
From Bobo T,
T Bobo
BoN
Why did I vote for Aketi ?
Adventure of BoN
Why did I vote for Aketi ?-Ibrahim
BoN: I am sad and everybody is sad (crying)I will not vote for Aketi again
T Bobo: You are always sad , idiot, bastard.I will vote for him and he will serve 10 terms
Bobo T: Don’t call BoN idiot or bastard pls,but BoN why are you sad?
BoN: If I talk you will cry along with me.I pitied Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba’s students, parents and guardians for the increment in their school fees!
Bobo T & T Bobo: ( loud cry) We have accepted our fate .Go to public places like market, church, mosque even Alagbaka Government House and ask the market women ,religious leaders, civil servants and others , they are all ‘praying’ for the governor
BoN: We will all vote for him to do second term,third term , fourth term and tenth time .Go to the market places (burst into tears again ).
Your Excellency ,
For the past four weeks I had been very upset because each time I remember how Alhaja broke down and wept when the Adekunle Ajasin University students’ school fees was increased from 31, 000 :00 to 150,000 and 200,000 Naira . I feel sad.
Alhaja is a widow with five children in various universities, three in AAU. Oh my God, when I heard the sad breaking news that Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba , Akoko School’s fees had been jacked up and after demonstration you agreed and asked them to be paying fees between 120 and 15000,00 naira .I broke down and shed tears .
“Oh my God ! , Oh my God!! Is this what Arákùnrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu ( SAN) promised us? Oh my God “, Baba Kunle who fought tooth and nail for Arákùnrin to be voted for in his ward looked ruffled .He cursed the day he voted . ” I will never believe anybody again in my life again, this man came and campaigned that he will not increase school fees , see what he has done now”,he lamented over the phone.
BoN is angry
Mama Alakara ( she sells bean cake ) has three daughters who are teachers in Ondo state and the old woman contribute to her grandchildren’s school fees from the proceeds of her akara, why? All her sons -in laws are also Civil servants.I was informed two weeks ago that Mama had died while one of the children collapsed .She was not grieving because of the old woman who died but ‘ who will pay their fees again?’
As I am writing this piece , I peeped through the window, saw some students hissing and cursing (????)and I pitied these students .I pitied their parents and I pitied their guardians .Now , armed robbery will be a child play while prostitution will now be a normal thing, after all they must pay their school fees!
Sir, Let me briefly tell you my story .
My father was already old before he gave birth to us .We are four from my mother side ” My older brother is Gbenga, my twin brother , Kehinde ,Myself -Taiwo ( BoN, Bobo T, T Bobo) and our last born is a lady, Idowu.
In the ’70s our father was already old.Yes, he had us at old age .He was in his late ’70s already and I used to ask my late mother why she married an old man like my father .We went to All Saints’ Modern School, Owo, Ondo State .In actual fact he always paid our school fees before we resume for the new term.Later we went to Adeyeri Grammar School , I came out with GRADE ONE , this was rare in those days !
In a nutshell in 1985 our father died! That was the very year I gained admission into the University of Ife ( after my HSC , Igbobi College, Lagos) and Wahala de!. Who will be responsible for my upkeep?
Who will pay for my handouts? Obafemi Awolowo University then was not paying tuition fee but what of other necessary things like handouts, hostel accommodation(15 Naira then) , feeding among others.
During the burial meeting of our late father while our other siblings were discussing and planning how the party would go , one of my brothers , Professor Rowland Abiodun [of Fine Art Department, Obafemi Awolowo University) sat on the table, looked round and in annoyance burst out ” We are discussing how to bury Baba , it is good , but what of these boys ;Taiye and Kehinde who are in higher institutions?”. .All attentions were focused on how to give our father a befitting burial.
The Professor said ” Taiye and Kehinde don’t worry I will take care of you by God’s grace but don’t disappoint me “.
Money had value then and difficult to get.At Alacarte , in OAU one would be fill his tommy with 50k ( NOT 50 Naira) for a plate of rice.Later my brother relocated to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA where he has been since 1988.
From the United States he sponsored all my University education , OAU IFE, University of Calabar and Lagos State University ( LASU) . If I had not gotten such a brother I bet you I would not have gone to any higher institution in my life .
And back to you sir, Arákùnrin, I hate politics , I don’t write about politics for I believe they are all liars , however, that is my personal opinion.
During my visit to the United Kingdom my late wife campaigned for you ,she forced me to campaign for you (because she knew I hate politics ).
I remember when you campaigned that you will not increase students’ school fees .I jubilated .
Yes, I jubilated for the poor students had seen a messiah .I jubilated for most of these students’ parents are farmers and had little or nothing to give their children.I jubilated because some of these students sponsored themselves .I jubilated because our man who was robbed or denied from becoming the governor later was voted in. I jubilated because our man is from Owo, my beloveth country home .
So the stories in the Bible are true? .So there is somebody called Jeroboam in the Bible .So it is true he was ill-advised by his friends .Oh my God so what we called proverb is not ordinary one , it is real I remember Jeroboam who said “my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scorpions”, And Jerobaom did , he made their yoke heavier than that of his father .What happened to him later is in the Bible .
Sir, you have disappointed us , and not doing what you promised. An old man who called his name Ibraheem cried ”Why did I vote for Aketi?”
I wish you disguise or send your staff to the market , to all the ministries , churches , mosques and other public places to feel the electorate’s pulse.No, no, it is a sad story .No one is talking good about your administration at all.You have increased their yoke.
Yes, it is true you need money and other institutions are paying higher and you can increase the fees but would have been gradual but from 32,000 to 150,000 Naira is too harsh.
According to reports you said you were not the one who increased the fees but the Committee set up to look into the school’s case and recommend , my lord that is not an excuse , remember that was how Jeroboam too was ill -advised by his peer group.
Our governor you have disappointed your people. Those who voted for you are crying.
Now, I am sure many students will withdraw from school, many will turn to criminals while others will be cursing the day they voted you into power.
Now students will withdraw from school to learn skills while deaths of pregnant women will be on the rise and secondary students will be trekking home.
Maternal Care will go into oblivion as you have asked those coming to deliver in Iya Abiye hospital to be paying .while secondary students will be trekking to school since you have asked them to be paying.
Painfully, the past state governor Dr.Olusegun Mimiko will be laughing wherever he is now while the electorate would be biting their forefinger and the only word that would come out of their mouth is ” if”.
And the complete words are ” if we had known , we wouldn’t have voted Aketi into power” , while me too is now saying ” I said it. I that I hate politics “
I am still regretting for jubilating for you.
Sir,your popularity is waning.Whenever you passed bye and people wave at you it is a lie .
.Don’t let the sycophants decide for you . Ondo state people are not happy with you.That is the bitter truth .Yes, you will say time heals wounds, but not for the Ondo people we all know.
Adieu, my Bose
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Adieu, my Bose
Sleep on my beloveth Bose
We both trod the path in the past
Now you are going alone
But don’t worry I will join you one day
To continue from where we stopped
It’s just a matter of time
Goodbye and goodnight
My beloveth Bose
I removed my belt, wrist watch, bling bling , shoes and raised up my hands to be searched .I then passed through the screening gate .My eyes were red, swollen and heavy but I maintained that bold face .As I looked back at her and the poor boy our eyes met.They cried loudly and waved their hands again.Not knowing that would be the last time I would see her .
The above drama was displayed at Gatwick Airport , United Kingdom before boarding the plane back to Nigeria on the 17th of January 2017.
Before I left Longheath Gardens, Surrey, UK we discussed how we would start our own on- line media. She studied English from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria and capped it with a Master’s degree while in the UK where she had spent almost 14years and already a citizen. Infact she had just arrived from the United States to meet her nieces ( the Lambos ) to inform them of her application to one of the Universities for her Phd program. She was a British citizen by naturalization .Yes, we were good combination, she read English and was good and me too can walk all the length and breadth of Lagos and Yoruba land sourcing for stories and she in the UK had known many places too.
Bose, ever smiling
We had a big dream, big one .Dream that was later shattered into pieces. Dream that was never realized. Dream that never berthed .Dream that was shred into pieces. I am pained .
Then the big sad news erupted like volcanic eruption in the evening of March 22 last year as my cellphone rang and the following conversation ensued : “Is that Mr.Taiwo Abiodun, I am sorry your wife can no longer breath again , her breathing is bad”, an Apostolic Church Pastor in the UK where we both worshiped told me on phone .I asked “Is she 
Bose with her confidant, and next of kin Mrs.Kennie Aderiye[nee Lambo]
Is she dead?Tell me ”.” Yes, she had just passed on”, he said in low tone. On hearing the news my heart sank .I became restless.My head was swollen. I developed headache, stomach ache .I walked like a mad man .I was confused .”What type of pastor is breaking this sad news to you .Does he know where you are? Is this how to break bad news?” , my former boss Mr .Olayinka Oyegbile [Deputy Editor Sunday] cried. Yes, I was in his car going home with Mr.Yemi Ajayi, head of Computer section Sunday Desk, at The Nation newspaper .
I managed to get home.Time now 11:30pm . I live alone .Living alone is bad .It is suicidal .It is not good .I went to the kitchen , grabbed a kitchen knife .Different thoughts flooded my mind : should I stab myself and go the way she went? .who will know ? . What will people say ? I later called my landlord and told him what happened at 12:30 am .I waited impatiently to hear the cock to crow.I went to bed thinking it would be a dream.Yes, we used to dream that something happened , and would be dream not reality. I prayed it should be a dream.No, it wasn’t .
The following day I started receiving calls , calls from local to international. .And I was weeping like a baby. It was a big loss. A big blow. My eyes were swollen. I blew my nose .I looked askance. Living alone is bad and dangerous , unfortunately I am now used to it .
Ours was pure and undiluted love.Ours was love wantintin, Love in Tokyo.
Bose with her sister, Dr.Esther Lambo , Dr. Bola Ogundimu [nee Lambo] and Lambo’s grandchildren in Atlanta
I had prayed to let us become the Greek mythological Baucis and Philemon ,the couple who loved each other and prayed to God not to see each other’s death .And they later became a tree and one became a rope and intertwined .Today , if you see a rope that twined on an oak tree that is the couple .I would have let us become …..we loved ourselves .
We met in Owo in 1981 while she was in her final year at St Catherine’s Girls school .Immediately after her school 
In Owo in 1981,self and Bose
certificate she went to live with her sister in Ibadan and trust me , I pursued her there. While briefly in Lagos we gave ourselves no breathing space . In Ilorin where she schooled and stayed with her sister, Dr.Esther Lambo ( wife of Professor Eyitayo Lambo , former Health Minister ) I was there.
Bose with Dr. Bola Ogundimu [nee Lambo] in Atlanta, USA
No lady came across me that I fell in love with like Bose for she possessed exemplary character , she had that beautiful face with a gap tooth and rotund body .That is the story of Peter Taiwo Abiodun and Evelyn Bose Abiodun [nee Aragbaiye].She walked gently and ran away from trouble .She was NEVER a fault finder like some women who complain , talk and talk and talk without an iota of sense .Yes, she was unlike some women who would all their lives be messing around with men . She maintained good culture .She could stomach many things . She preferred to keep quiet when annoyed and walked away , she could be confided in , she was neither loose nor garrulous.
She was unlike me a talkative, going out type, and rascal .
What could have snuffed life out of her? you will ask .
Yes, it is that dreaded monster that knows no bound irrespective of sex and age ,race, culture and irrespective of medical facilities and daily research on it.
Painfully it all happened where all facilities are available .But what exactly killed her ?
Bose in Carlifonia , 2016
Bose at St.Louis, Missouri in 2016, during the 50years anniversary of St.Catherine’s Girls, Owo
It is that terrible , stupid, idiot ,good for nothing monster that consumes anybody irrespective of status , sex, height .She died of Cancer .
When I was informed ( after keeping it for weeks ) that she had cancer , I was shocked for she never exhibited any trait of sickness at all while I was there .
She only complained of dizziness, fatigue and that was all.We went to her GP for check up .She forced me to check my BP for I have phobia for these medical …..
We would leave our baby at home and go to places , many places like London Bridge, Essex, Cardiff, Manchester , we traveled by air, sea and underground train. We went to theatre , rode in a boat, ship and went to tourist centers .Yes we visited many other places not knowing that was the last enjoyment we would have. And the questions that came to my mind is ”Did she have the premonition of her death?
We took pictures, laughed and ran about like babies. She would call me Babalawo of The Nation and she would introduce herself as ‘ Iyawo Babalawo of The Nation’, Oh my God. It was as if we had just met .
Every morning I would walk down with her to her workplace and she would call me after closing to come and join her to walk home .
It was love , we walked together, ran ups and downs like babies!
‘Taiye, Bobo T, T Bobo, I am Babalawo of The Nation’s wife ”,she would hail me .She understood me the more , accepted my rascality .
And the service of songs was held in London led by Mrs .Kennie Aderiye( née Lambo) and another in Nigeria .
At St Patrick’s church we were billed , and this is a story for another day .I will write epistle on ‘ burial in Anglican churches’
Yes, we all gathered together. Her school’s alma mater , St Catherine’s Girls school came to pay their last respect.They also contributed financially.She was popularly called Evelyn Aragbaworld among her classmates.
Professor Eyitayo Lambo and his wife , Dr.Esther Funmilayo Lambo wept as they saw the corpse .Yes, Dr.Lambo summoned courage to give her younger sister her last respect. Bose was the last born of the Aragbaiye family.Can one imagine the pains and agony, no wonder we gnashed our teeth. She had seven living older brothers and sisters .
The Lambos were fantastic, they did not forget their great auntie who took care of them when they were young.Rev.( Mrs) Ladun Adenikinju ( née Abiodun ) was proud of the Lambos for flying the corpse down to Nigeria as she said ” Ori Ade ko nsun ‘ta” ( Kings are not buried in foreign land).My great thanks to Rev[Mrs Lovett Adenikinju for her support throughout the period.
How many can fly a corpse down to Nigeria? It is very expensive .No wonder many are buried over there, what of the logistics , mental torture and stress one goes through to bring down the corpse?.It was a painful exit .Need not to tell how we broke down and wept when asked to identify her corpse for the first time at LASUTH, Ikeja – Lagos. Bose was sleeping peacefully in that trunk box with her scarf/muffler on her neck .
And the question on everybody’s lips is ‘Why Bose? why?’. Mr Dare Aragbaiye was present at the wake keep.He was too sad , very sad seeing his younger sister going six feet below the ground.No,ooo.He wept.He is a complete gentleman who hardly speak but always smile, but that day , no smiling.
[from left] High Chief represented The Olowo of Owo , Oba David Victor Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi III, Charles, Professor Abiodun Olotuah, self[ BoN] Mrs.[Deaconess Remi Ogundowole and Stella
Great thanks to St.Catherine’s Girls School old students who played the roles of sisters, friends , mother and all in all.Many were present too numerous to mention their names.They played moral and financial for the burial . I pray May the Good Lord bless you all.
But I need to greatly thank Owo Socialite Club in the United Kingdom who contributed a lot.The Owo Socialite Club members , President of Owo Socialite Club, Prince Yomi Obasusi and his General Secretary in person of Mr.Sola Ladenegan who strongly supported us will forever be remembered for their advise and roles they all played before, during and after the burial ceremony both in the UK and in Nigeria .
In her honor the Olowo Of Owo, HRM Oba David Folagbade Olateru -Olagbegi III sent his royal staff to honour Bose. Dr.Bolu Ogundowole and his wife,Mrs Remi Ogundowole , Mr.Ademola Adetula [ former MD The Hope Newspaper , Mrs. Idowu Omolayo, played major roles to make sure she was given a befitting burial.
Thanks to my twin brother , Kehinde Abiodun for his moral and financial support.To Ulado and his wife Ibidun , GEE DEK, we thank you all.I will not forget Ranti Bular, Taiwo Lawal ,Theophilus Olowa ,and host of others
The FUTA staff and students we say a big thank to you. The Nation newspaper and other media that covered the event we thank you all for the comradeship, Thanks to Mrs Bosede Adelaja of Vanguard Newspaper.Our thanks also go to Engineer Emmanuel Akinlotan, Engineer Banjo Sule, Mr.Gbenga Adenikinju, Shagari Estate residents.
To the Aragbaiyes, it is painful losing the last born in the family,although the elderly ones could not turn up but thanks for your cooperation and condolences especially from Elder Bola Aragbaiye, Prophetess Dupe, Dr.[Mrs] Esther Lambo,Mr.Olu Aragbaiye, Engr. Akin Aragbaiye , Mrs.Funke Ajidahun and Mr .Dare Aragbaiye, this is a big loss to the family.
Mrs. Susan Ilori Famuyide , Mr and Mrs Musiliu Ayinde Adetunhji Adesina, Mr.Tunde Obasemola, Mr Jide Obasemola, we are grateful to you all .
The only consolation we have is that she left behind three beautiful children behind; Charles, Stella and Nathan.
I flashed back and remembered how we started in 1981 and hot teardrops fell from my cheeks .So Bose is gone?.
But don’t be in a hurry, death for we are all coming over there .
I have instructed our children that I should be laid by her side when I’m gone.
St Catherine’s Girls , her alma mater prayed for Bose before the coffin was lowered into the grave
The Lambos : Taiwo Lambo, Mrs. Kennie Aderiye ( née Lambo) , Mrs Dolapo Famakinwa( née Lambo) Dr.[Mrs] Bola Ogundimu ( née Lambo) were great as they contributed to bring their auntie’s corpse home from the United Kingdom
My ‘Queen’ going to her final resting place
Great thanks to Professor Rowland Abiodun for his financial and moral support, The Olowo of Owo Oba DVF Olateru Olagbegi III who sent the royal staff of office to honour her and was represented by one of his High Chiefs, Mrs. Yemisi Oriku ( UK), Mrs .Bolanle Akinwale, Akinwale Dare, Ulado, Matthew Obajuluwa, Hon.Murtala Hammed.The children of late Dr. Sanya Abioduns, Mr Yemi Abiodun and his wife, and the Abiodun family are appreciated.
Thanks to Members of Owo Socialite Club in the UK, Barrister Adesina Oladokun, Madam Asede Imade among others are highly appreciated. Mrs.Yemisi Oriku,Abigael Shanu Ojo.The Online Editor- Mr.Lekan Otufodunrin, Deputy Editor Sunday Nation desk-Mr.Olayinka Oyegbile, Mr, Yemi Ajayi [The Nation newspaper] ,President Yoruba Indigenes Foundation, Dr .[Comrade]Aderibole , Mr.Roland Kayode Joks, Engr. Adebanjo Akinsuyi , Mrs Bimpe Adewale ,the Olunaun of Unaun, Oba Obabiire , and host of others too numerous to mention.
A ko ni fi iru re san funra wa o, ojo a jinna sira o.