Welcome to The B&B GUEST HOUSE, IJEBU-ODE

July 6, 2022

.

.

We are A PLACE TO BE AT YOUR OWN TIME.
.

Latest Post: IJEBU SONS & DAUGHTERS of DISTINCTION
.
1. Fatai Isola OSIKOYA (1927 – 2021)
2. Augustine Olabiyi DUROJAIYE (1933 – 2021)
3. Christopher Oladipo OGUNBANJO (Born December 14, 1923)

.

.
SITE MAP . .

WELCOME GLEE (MUSICAL)
THE B&B GUEST HOUSE CREW
CONTACT US
ABOUT THE B&B
NOW THE PLACE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY, WEDDING, PHOTOSHOOTS
PLEASE COME IN
DUSK TO DAWN
GOOD MORNING AT THE B&B
OZANA BY HOTKID (MUSICAL)
IJEBU, IJEBU-ODE
KABIYESI, AWUJALE OF IJEBULAND
THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND’S DETOUR TO IJEBU-ODE DURING NIGERIAN STATE VISIT IN 1956
A PROFILE: EBENEZER OBEY
A PROFILE: KING SUNNY ADE
“IYE JEMILA” (LYRICS) BY VICTOR OLAIYA
FUN TIMES
IJEBU SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF DISTINCTION

 

 

 
Welcome Glee ( Musical )
.

.
.

.

.

.

.
Welcome to the cyberspace location of B&B GUEST HOUSE, IJEBU-ODE.
.
.

.

 
The B&B GUEST HOUSE CREW
.
Bose, Michael, Kemi, Peace, Bisi, Kenny, & Blessing
.

.

.

.
Bisi, Blessing, Peace, Bose, & Kemi.
.

From left to right

Kenny Bassey (Sanitation)
Adesuwa Irere (Customer Service)
Peace Osiba (Manager)
Ayanfe Lamidi (Meals)
Oriyomi Lawal (Utilities)

.

 
.

.
CONTACT US

0807 261 9794

.

.

.

.

 
About The B&B
.

The B&B is a BED and BREAKFAST facility

It flaunts the story of a place built to HOST you when you are out in IJEBU-ODE and you must enjoy a good night over after your main business for being around.

In a few ways, it is a HIDEOUT.

One, It is located in a serene community where all that goes on is PEACE

It is in a community where noise, auto-horns, human fisticufs are BANNED.

It has deliberate SECURITY, 24 hours of electricity, midnight entertainment and breakfast that starts from 6am and ends at lunch time.

It is also a SMALL PARTY VENUE
Small as in number of guests the host has chosen, and no more.

You choose how you want the party to be and we PLAN and DELIVER it to your taste.

When you are around, you are part of OUR FAMILY

A family that spent several years to think out and build the VILLAGE FACILITY.

By the time we are done with the B&B vision, it will be a place to Come And Live And Be At Rest (CALABAR)

B&B is all YOURS
.
Location:
Odolegan Quarters,
Opposite Equity Resort (Formerly Gateway) Hotel
Erunwon Road
Ijebu-Ode

0807 261 9794
.
GPS location
6°50’31.6″N 3°57’31.5″E
Erunwon
https://goo.gl/maps/TZP6GpfwykANTsaT7
.
Google Road Guide:
.

.

 
Now the PLACE for your BIRTHDAY, WEDDING PHOTOSHOOTS
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 
Please COME IN
.

.

.

.
.

.

.

.

.

 
Dusk to Dawn
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 
Good Morning at the B&B

 
Ozana by Hotkid( Musical)
.

.
Goke agba, moni ma nilari
Magoke agba, moni ma nilari

Magoke agba, moni ma nilari
Magoke agba, moni ma nilari

I tell you back in the days
When me dey Ebute meta
The niggas wey dey oh
Dem no dey follow me play (never)
Folake sofunmi pe
Hotkid please please dey go your way (later)
Now we hustle for pay oh
Now the hustle don dey pay

So I be like oh mama
Mum see your boy don dey global now
We dey go far now
See the kind place we dey shut down now, yeh

We started from instagram
Take a look at me now I’m a super star
We dey go far now
See the kind place we dey shut down now (yeh)

So I be like ozana, ozana, ozana
Omo your boy don dey go far
Ozana, ozana, ozana
Omo your boy don dey kill shows
Ozana, ozana, ozana
Omo your boy don dey shut down
Ozana, ozana, ozana
Iyeee

Ewo bi…
.

.

.

.

.

.
.

.

.

.
For less than N15,000, we pamper you one DAY, one NIGHT.
.
There is a video on instagram at
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCZd46inQ2U/?igshid=17w3ec9754oa3

 
IJEBU, IJEBU-ODE

Ijebu people are considered to be the first among the Yoruba speakers to come into contact with the Europeans, who came to them in the beginning of the 14th century. Ijebu Empire has always been (and still is) an organized and strong nation that was able to protect itself from harm. The nation was divided into five parts: Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu-Ife, Ijebu-Ososa, Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Remo. (Somehow the author does not include Ijebu Waterside) Now, it remains the largest ethnic group among all Yoruba people.

What is curious – Ijebus were the first Yoruba-speaking people to invent money. The empire was big on metal work and metal production, so it is not surprising at all that it decided to create their own coins. They were called Owo Ijebu, and many nations in Africa and Europe accepted the coins. There was also money made out of cowry shells that were called Owo Eyo. It was also accepted in many Yoruba kingdoms.

IJEBU-ODE is a historic Yoruba town in Ogun State, which was established in the 16th century. It is about 15 minutes away from Ijebu Igbo. The city is located between Benin City and Shagamu. It is considered to be the largest town where Ijebus live. It is also known for being the capital of Ijebuland. The Ijebu Kingdom ruler or Awujale, has his residence there.

Today, it is a quiet and cozy city in southwestern Nigeria, which lures people in with its history, culture and tranquility.
.

.

Understandably the largest city inhabited by the Ijebus, a sub-group of the Yoruba ethnic group who speak the Ijebu dialect of Yoruba, it is historically and culturally the headquarters of Ijebuland. The name “Ijebu-Ode” is a combination of the names of two persons namely, AJEBU and OLODE who were conspicuous as leaders of the original settlers and founders of the town.
(**Taken from three separate but consensual accounts on the subject).
.
KABIYESI, AWUJALE OF IJEBULAND

The Awujale of Ijebuland was the Special Guest of Honour at the Nigerian Academy of Engineering Annual Lecture, Life Achievement Awards, and Induction of Fellows on Wednesday, June 24, 2021. The Academy presented Kabiyesi’s profile as follows:

A CITATION OF THE SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR
ALAIYELUWA, OBA (DR.) SIKIRU KAYODE ADETONA CFR, J.P. OGBAGBA II, AWUJALE & PARAMOUNT RULER OF IJEBULAND
.

.

Kabiyesi, Alaiyeluwa Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Awujale & Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland was born into the Anikilaya Ruling House, one of the 4 Ruling Houses in Ijebu-Ode on May 10, 1934.

He was nominated along with five other Princes and unanimously selected after thorough screening by the kingmakers in conformity with the Law. With enthusiasm, notables Ijebu elites arranged for the homecoming of the King-elect from United Kingdom where he was studying Accountancy. The formal coronation took place on Saturday, April 2, 1960, and he was aged 26 years old.

Alaiyeluwa remains a primus inter pares among the Obas in Yorubaland and indeed the first to reckon with in Nigeria. However, by the special grace of God, he has been on the throne of his forefathers for over 61 years as the second longest reigning King after Queen Elizabeth II in the Commonwealth. He is so blessed with the grace of the Lord to have wined and dined along with 15 Nigerian Presidents, 23 State Governors, about 40 Council Chairman in his own primary domain of Ijebu-Ode, three Ooni of Ile-Ife, two Alaafin of Oyo: four Alake of Egbaland, two Akarigbo of Remoland and 15 Olubadan of Ibadanland. A great feat indeed!

Awujale is an incorruptible Royal Father who has weathered through several storms during the civilian and military regimes but emerged victorious and vindicated in his belief for the Rule of Law that prevailed. A Nationalist who believes in the Project Nigeria and a reformer of traditional affairs in Yorubaland. His reign has brought so many economic, social, and cultural development to his domain and Ijebuland in general especially in banking, insurance, transportation, education, industries, trade & commerce. In the area of cultural rejuvenation, the traditional Age Grades (Regberegbe) relationship among his subjects. The Annual Ojude-Oba Carnival that has attracted global attention and attendance with its economic value is an offshoot of this idea, to his credit, he was instrumental to the establishment of Ijebu Development Poverty Reduction programme (IDIPR, Eriwe Farm Village) in line with the urban management program to tackle urban poverty. The initiative has an annual turnover of over N60 billion, and it has remained a case study for researchers from World Bank, Africa Development Bank, Food & Agricultural organization among other global poverty alleviation initiatives.

Alaiyeluwa is also committed to quality education, human capital development, capacity building, research, mentorship, community engagement, good governance, and scholarship of Nigerian youths irrespective of their state of origin, tribe, and religion. In consonance with his belief, he established a professorial chair in Governance for the promotion of good governance at the Department of Political Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. The endowment has added The Institute of Governance and Innovation Studies to award Diploma Certificates, Research to Masters and PhD degree levels in Governance and Innovation The initiation is worth over N2 billions of his personal resources to lure the best brains in good governance, corporate and political leadership to fertilize the students, staff and indeed the entire university community with a view to raising and unleashing good governance champions on the Nigerian community.

Oba Dr S K Adetona, Ogbagba Agbotewole II, the Awujale of Ijebuland D.Litt. (Honoris causa, University of Lagos), D.SC (Honoris Causa, Olabisi Onabanjo University), PhD (Honoris causa, Tai Solarian University of education) has been Chancellor to several Universities in Nigeria.
Alaiyeluwa is happily married and blessed with great children and grandchildren who remain the source of joy to him and the entire Ijebuland.
.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 
History

THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND’S DETOUR TO IJEBU-ODE DURING NIGERIAN STATE VISIT IN 1956

A state visit from the Queen of England is a rare thing indeed, but it did happen when the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth, paid a special visit to Nigeria for the first time on the 28th of January, 1956, four years to Nigeria’s independence.

She was received with a lot of fanfare and was greeted at the Ikeja Airport, Lagos, with a military parade and by dignitaries such as the then Governor-General, Sir James Robertson, his wife, the Minister of Labour, Festus Okotie-Eboh and the Oba of Benin, Oba Akenzua II. She stayed for 20 days and was supposed to visit only Ibadan, Enugu, and Kaduna as the regional capitals.

What many never knew was that she insisted that a private visit to a private individual must be written into her itinerary. It was scripted that she said, “That man used to walk me within the (Buckingham) Palace when I was a toddler”. She therefore made a scheduled stop in Ijebu Ode and stayed the night.

This visit was for a special man, Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola, the Ogbeni Oja, her father’s friend who usually wined and dined with the royals at Buckingham Palace.
.

.

.

Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola attended St Saviours Primary School, Italupe and Ijebu-Ode Grammar School. He started work in the Colonial service and later went into business selling damask and fish. He became a Produce buyer opening large storage units and transportation lines. Chief Odutola became so wealthy that he had a personal bond with George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth. By 1960 he had created a conglomerate including three factories, a retail franchise, a cattle ranch, a 5,000-acre rubber and palm oil plantation, a sawmill, and export business.

He established Olu-Iwa College and Ijebu-Ode Secondary Commercial College both of which he merged in 1964 to become Adeola Odutola Comprehensive College, now Adeola Odutola College and Schools, Ijebu-Ode.

Chief Odutola was one of the pioneers of Nigerian business, and one of the richest men in Nigeria.

He was responsible for establishing various factories in the country, spanning the transport and food industry, He was a member and later President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria in the early 70s.

.

The Queen passed a night at Ijebu-Ode and Chief Odutola was forever remembered as a legend. He was dubbed “Eni ti Oba Obirin wa ki lati ilu Oyinbo” (The man the Queen came to Visit from the land of the Whites).

***(some text taken from herald.ng)
.

.

.

 
Legends of Juju music

A PROFILE
EBENEZER OBEY, born 3 April 1942 as Ebenezer Remilekun Aremu Olasupo Obey-Fabiyi, MFR in Idogo, Nigeria), nicknamed the “Chief Commander”, is a Nigerian jùjú musician.

He began his professional career in the mid-1950s after moving to Lagos. After tutelage under Fatai Rolling-Dollar’s band, he formed a band called The International Brothers in 1964, playing highlife–jùjú fusion. The band later metamorphosed into Inter-Reformers in the early-1970s, with a long list of Juju album hits on the West African Decca musical label.

Obey began experimenting with Yoruba percussion style and expanding on the band by adding more drum kits, guitars and talking drums. Obey’s musical strengths lie in weaving intricate Yoruba axioms into dance-floor compositions. As is characteristic of Nigerian Yoruba social-circle music, the Inter-Reformers band excel in praise-singing for rich Nigerian socialites and business tycoons. Obey, however, is also renowned for Christian spiritual themes in his music and has since the early-1990s retired into Nigerian gospel music ministry. It will be worthy of note to also say that Chief Commander just as he is fondly called by his fans, has played alongside popular gospel music veteran, Pastor Kunle Ajayi during his 30 years on stage concert in Lagos.
Source: wikipedia.

 
Legends of Juju music

A PROFILE
KING SUNNY ADE, born September 22 1946 as Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye, MFR, is a Nigerian jùjú singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is regarded as one of the first African pop musicians to gain international success, and has been called one of the most influential musicians of all time.

Sunny Adé formed his own backing band in 1967, eventually known as his African Beats. After achieving national success in Nigeria during the 1970s and founding his own independent label, he signed to Island Records in 1982 and achieved international success with the albums Juju Music (1982) and Synchro System (1983); the latter garnered him a Grammy nomination, a first for a Nigerian artist. His 1998 album Odu also garnered a Grammy nomination.

After the death of Bob Marley, Island Records began looking for another third world artist to put on its contract, while Fela Kuti had just been signed by Arista Records. Producer Martin Meissonnier introduced King Sunny Adé to Chris Blackwell, leading to the release of Juju Music in 1982. Robert Palmer claims to have brought King Sunny Adé to Island’s attention, his familiarity being from his life on Malta in the 60s listening to African Radio and Armed Forces Radio. Sunny Adé gained a wide following with this album and was soon billed as “the African Bob Marley”.

Sunny Adé has said that his refusal to allow Island to meddle with his compositions and over-Europeanise and Americanise his music were the reasons why Island then decided to look elsewhere.

1987 comeback

In 1987, Sunny Adé returned to the international spotlight when Rykodisc released a recording of a live concert he did in Seattle.

He soon employed an American manager, Andrew Frankel, who negotiated another three album record deal with the Mesa record label (a division of Paradise Group) in America. One of these albums was 1988’s Odu, a collection of traditional Yoruba songs, for which he was nominated for the second Grammy Award and thus making him the first African to be nominated twice for a Grammy. Apart from being an international musician Sunny Adé is also prominent in his native Nigeria, running multiple companies in several industries, creating a non-profit organisation called the King Sunny Adé Foundation, and working with the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria.

In recent times, hip hop music appears to be holding sway with the electronic media in Nigeria with massive airplays. Nonetheless, Sunny Adé’s musical output has continued to inspire a vast generation of other Nigerian musicians, who believe in the big band musical set up which Sunny Adé and late Fela Kuti are noted for. The musician Lagbaja is one of the many musicians whom Sunny Adé’s music has inspired. In 2008, his contributions to world music was recognised; as he was given an award for his outstanding contribution to world music at the International Reggae and World Music Awards held at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.

2009 comeback

At the beginning of another round of tour of the United States and Canada, Sunny Adé, now known as The Chairman in his home country, was appointed a visiting professor of music at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife. In July of that same year, King Sunny Adé was inducted into the Afropop Hall of Fame, at the Brooklyn African Festival in the United States. He dedicated the award to Michael Jackson.
Source wikipedia
.

 
“IYE JEMILA” (lyrics)
by Victor Olaiya

Kanran ko faya reni sotun le fun yen romo oko A fo ko faya reni sotun le fun yen ralakora Kanran ko faya reni o, sotun lo fun yen romo oko (yeparipasa) Iye jemila, iye jemila, baba jemila (Wo se we tan) Iye jemila, iye jemila, baba jemila Mo d’ogoji naira mese (Iye jemila, iye jemila, baba jemila)
Fo kin fi ne omo re wo ko

(Iye jemila, iye jemila, baba jemila) Wo ke mo fo oruwo kan soso raa ne (Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila) Ee si oruwo meji raa ne (Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila) Aare, ko de ti ri kio se waami ke? (Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila) Wo ke mo fo omi rawa edaa wa (Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila) Se ami san kaakiri aye

(Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila)

Kaa ba pade loke (Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila) Dandan ni ka pade lodo (Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila) Kaa ba l’eko (Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila) Dandan ni ka la pade n’ijebu (Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila) Kaa de pade n’ijebu ke (Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila) Dandan ni ka la pade ni stadium hotel (Iye jemila iye jemila baba jemila) E buru o, woo se o (Iye jemla iye jemila baba jemila
.

 
 
FUN TIMES
.

.

.
ALL HAIL NIGERIA
.

.

.
IJEBU SONS & DAUGHTERS of DISTINCTION – 1
.
OTUNBA Fatai Isola OSIKOYA (1927 – 2021)

Raji Sanni Osikoya (a.k.a R S Manager), Giwa (President) of the Obafowora Age Group of Ijebu-Ode, was dashing, rich, and popular in Ijebu in the first quarter of nineteenth century. But he died rather young, and suddenly, at 33 years of age leaving behind a 6 year old son, Fatai Isola Osikoya who is the subject of this Tribute.
.

.

.

Born December 10, 1927, Alhaji (Abdul)Fatai Isola Osikoya attended Moslem Primary School and Ijebu-Ode Grammar School both in Ijebu-Ode. After passing Cambridge examination, he had a brief stint in Kaduna as a clerk in Government Treasury, and later at Lands Department in Ibadan as a draughtsman before proceeding to the United Kingdom in search of the golden fleece.
He studied building engineering at Brixton School of Building (now University of West Bank), missed the opportunity for a post graduate study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, which he qualified for by coming top in his graduating class but the Western Nigerian government which sponsored his university education insisted he should return home to work for government.

He served his bond with the government, found employment with Shell Company of West Africa  Ltd as construction engineer and later established his own construction Company, FISKO Construction Engineering Company Ltd.

Otunba Fatai Isola Osikoya would say he was rascally  while growing up but a review of some accounts of his rascality actually could also be taken to mean he was very principled as a young man. He showed commitment to the Islamic faith very early in life and did not waver until he breathed his last on June 5, 2021 at 93 years.

Otunba Osikoya was a veteran pioneer of sorts.  He was one of the children who first used the Isoku premises of Moslem school in 1938 (I was in the school 1956 – 1961).

As a secondary school student in Ijebu-Ode, he combined his talent of free hand drawing with entrepreneurship when he named his pioneering endeavour to produce graphic design works and sign writing for commerce as “OSI SIGNS”. He grew the endeavour into commercial success, mentored others to take it over and the business, “OSI SIGNS”, remained very popular and respectable in Ijebu-Ode even after he had gone overseas to study.

As the first indigenous graduate engineering builder in Nigeria, he, along with his colleagues, championed the establishment of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON, established 24th April, 1990) and became its pioneer Chairman. That was after he had led the formation of, and served as the pioneer President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, (NIOB, inaugurated November 5, 1970).

He was a Corporate Member of the Institute of Building, UK and also of the Building Surveyors Institute,  UK.

Otunba Osikoya was unique in his commitment to family, community and his faith. His story is inseparable with Islam and its development in Ijebu-Ode in his life time and he raised that religion’s tenet of ‘Giving’ to a level of art. Scholarships, construction of monuments, promoting girl-child education, donation to worthy causes, and organisation of mentorship and educational programs for youths counted as priorities in the list of his preferred investments.

Otunba was a family and community man through and thorough. Having his root in two very prominent families: the Agbomiyans his paternal family, and Alli Oduwoles (fully expressed as Eniodunmo Alli-Ige Oduwole dynasty), his maternal side, it became a bond, indeed a covenant, that he led all through his adult life a leadership of shining examples, discipline and united commitment to human and community development.

At 6 years old in 1933, the interment of his father did not quite register the true import of the unusual ceremony to young Fatai Isola Osikoya. His only recollection, and connection to the day, was a big crowd and a very bright evening. Darkness was pushed away by the large number of gas lamps, and huge lanterns of sorts, brought in by natives to provide lighting and he saw that as remarkable. It was so bright in the night that he must have, metaphorically speaking, wished the brightness never went dim. And for the remaining 87 years he spent on this side, Otunba FISKO kept the shining brightness of his families, community and society always aglow.
.
.

 IJEBU SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF DISTINCTION – 2
.
.
.

TRIBUTE to Senator OLABIYI DUROJAIYE
by
Prof Ayo Ogunye

(Olabiyi Durojaiye : Molusiani Octavus No 54
Ayo Ogunye : Molusiani Octavus No 467)

Senator Biyi Durojaiye was admitted into Molusi College in 1949 with the 1st set and was given the College number 54. Molusi College Motto is “Only the Best Is Good Enough for Molusi College” Senator ‘Biyi Durojaiye epitomized the College motto: “To excel, to excel and to excel” in anything he did and because of this, some people misinterpret his intentions sometimes.

I was admitted as part of the Molusiani Octavi, the eighth set into Molusi College in 1956. I never met this icon in Molusi College. I joined the barbing and the debating societies of the school. During debates amongst us or between Molusi College and other schools, whenever any Molusian debater made a good point, Bernard Shaw, Bernard Shaw would rent the air. I asked the seniors who was Bernard Shaw. I was answered that one old boy, first set called Mr. Olabiyi Durojaiye. Why? I was told he read all Bernard Shaw books, a good debater who read an average of 100 novels per year while he was in the school. At this time also, the picture of this Bernard Shaw – Olabiyi Durojaiye – was always advertised by Wosely Tutorial College as a brilliant distant learner reading tutorials by Wosley to pass four A-levels from home learning. I wanted to meet this man. Finally, luck ran in my favour. His school son, late Mr. ‘Segun Sosanya introduced me to him. Since the introduction, about 60 years now, I had been part of him and he had been part of me. I am accused that I never saw his faults. It is true; I did not see his faults. He had motivated me to excel and this is the reason why I did not see his faults.

He continued private studies at home while on full time work. By 1960, four of them from Molusi first set had passed their degree examinations, three of them in the Sciences: Late Professor Osiyale Molusian N0 47, Late Mr. Jonathan Rowaiye Molusian N0 46, Late Mr. Olatunde Balogun Molusian N0 57 and in Social Science, Mr. Olabiyi Durojaiye Molusian N0 54. The self-made man continued to read at home, preparing for a professional career after retirement as Director of Administration from Central Bank of Nigeria. Again, he studied law at home and put in for University of London LLB examination. Alas! He was the only candidate to pass the Law degree in Nigeria as an external candidate of the University of London that year.
.

.

I remember in December 1960 or 1961, at the Ijebu Students Association Congress at Molusi College, he appeared with late Chief Akinola Adaramaja who made a First-Class degree in Law from University of Hull. Everybody was milling round them. It was there I got the inspiration to read and become a graduate. Owing to my studying outside Ijebu-Igbo between 1961 and 1970, I had no contact with him. It was after my return to the country after my PhD that he looked for me to congratulate me. But I told him that he inspired me and since then he had been my mentor.

Senator Durojaiye is Molusian personified. As a MOCOSA President, he moved the Association forward and I became a strong supporter of the Old Students Association. Until recently, the Senator would not miss the meeting of the Association. I remember a particular incident on December 1, 1996 when the MOCOSA AGM was on and the ordinary meeting of another organisation which he mid-wifed in Ijebu-Igbo was going on. Both of us were jostling between the two meetings.

The establishment of the Congress of Ijebu-Igbo Community, CIC, was his baby. He consulted late Dr A K Fasina and me before other people were invited. The CIC is the most elite organisation in Ijebu-Igbo today. He was the pioneer President of CIC. He readily hosted the Congress and contributed cheerfully to any cause the Congress might be pursuing.

He loved me. He was a great encourager. I remember an incident in 1983, when the company I was heading – General Oil Ltd – needed to repatriate the proceeds of a purchase of lubricating oil from SUNLUBE to USA. This was a time when foreign exchange allocation was very stringent through Form M. He was the Director of Administration of the Central Bank then. I put our case before him. He said, ‘Prof., the Director of FOREX was my Deputy before his current position but I had made it a principle not to ask him for FOREX favour.’ Reluctantly because of his love for me, he called the Director of FOREX to his office. He opened by telling the Director that he had made it a principle not to ask for FOREX favour from him but this man with them i.e., me, is very special to me and he was going to ask for the first favour from him since he left him about 18 months earlier.

The Director told me to follow him to his office. He personally received my Form M and told me to go. I left for holidays in England and I told our company Finance Manager to collect the approved Form M from our bank. After 2 weeks, the approval could not be collected by our company thinking it was not approved yet. Mr. Durojaiye was crossing from London to India. I met him at Heathrow airport and I reported. He phoned Lagos immediately. The FOREX Department trembled. I was asked to come and collect fresh Form M. My company collected new Form M, filled, and submitted before I returned to Nigeria. I personally went to FOREX Department at MANDILLAS Building to collect the fresh approval when I returned. They accused me of reporting to the Senator because they could lose their jobs. I apologized to them NOT knowing that the former Form M was delivered to our bank four days after the initial submission and that the bank was only going to release it to me personally. The bank had never seen any express approval of Form M like that and it was kept in the strong room for me to collect personally. In the end, my company, General Oil Ltd obtained two Form Ms for only one importation. Senator Durojaiye received no gratification for the approval of FOREX amounting to $1,500,000.00 in 1983. When the owner of the company imported seven Mercedes 190, I thought one would be given the Senator but none was given to him. He did not ask for gratification for this great help to the company. That was Durojaiye.

He loved me and I loved him also. He was following the progress of my house in Japara, Ijebu-Igbo when it was being built. He discovered that my 41st birthday fell on the weekend in 1983. He called me on Friday, July 29 asking that we met in Ijebu next day. On Saturday by 7pm, he called on me in my father’s house where I had been living. He told my wife that we would move to our new house which was nearly 100% complete. We went to my house with his wife of blessed memory. He had already bought a bottle of Schnapps. He prayed and that was how we moved into our house in Japara on my 41st birthday.

He was always there for me when I needed an encourager. It had never been bed of roses for me all the time. The cruel arm of business rivalry nearly cost me my life. The most precarious incident led to being accused of planning to assassinate a business associate. When the Panti Police Formation descended on me on August 30th, 2006, I asked that I be allowed to report with my lawyer the next day. The next day, I reported with my lawyer, Senator Biyi Durojaiye, and an entourage of University of Lagos Professors and my wife Mrs. Sola Ogunye. At the end of the preliminaries, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Panti handed me over to Senator Biyi Durojaiye that I should go on my recognition instead of being detained behind the counter to be bailed. That was not all. The American partner in the business also reported me to EFCC being accused of financial crimes. When the EFCC operatives came to pick me at my Magodo residence, I asked to be allowed to report with my lawyer. The request was granted. The next day, I reported at EFCC office with my Lawyer, Senator Biyi Durojaiye and my usual entourage of Professors. The EFCC gave me two weeks to address the allegations against me. After two weeks, I went back with my Lawyers – Senator Biyi Durojaiye and Mr. Babafemi Durojaiye, the Senator’s son. At the end of the day, I was absolved by EFCC and left for my house. Neither the Senator nor his son ever charged me a kobo. Babafemi is now my acclaimed Lawyer. The Senator had a soft spot for me. I also had a soft spot for him.

I have not written on his political life because I told him that politics was not meant for his personality. In January this year my senior, Mr Segun Olusanya and I, visited him to advise that he quit politics on his 88th birthday but he decided otherwise.

When his late wife was alife, I was one of the privileged who would enter her bedroom. I am a proud uncle to all his six successful children. They mill round me.

I thank God that he talked to me on Saturday evening on the sick bed before his last breath on Tuesday morning. His voice was very sharp and I thought he had returned home for me to learn he was still in the hospital.

My mother taught me to honour anyone who does me favour. From the foregoing, people should appreciate why I did not see his faults.

To you, Bukky, Laolu, Bolaji, Babafemi and grandchildren this is the time you will enjoy the derivative of your father and grandfather. God will be with you and protect you in all you do in Jesus Mighty Name Amen.

I have lost a very dependable uncle and senior. Sleep well Senator Augustine Olabiyi Durojaiye, The Otunba Kolawolu of Ijebu Igbo. Adieu until we meet again on the day of resurrection.
.
IJEBU SONS and DAUGHTERS of DISTINCTION – 3

CHIEF CHRISTOPHER OLADIPO OGUNBANJO

Chief Christopher Oladipo Ogunbajo is a corporate lawyer and philanthropist from Erunwon, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State in Nigeria. He was an early advocate of domiciliary accounts in Nigeria which later came to existence through the promulgation of the Foreign Currency Decree 18 of 1985.

In the late 1960s, he was among the group of businessmen who supported local equity participation in foreign firms operating in Nigeria.

He was educated at St Phillips Primary School, Aiyetoro, Ile-Ife before proceeding to Oduduwa College, Ife for his secondary education in 1936. Two years later, he transferred to Igbobi College in Lagos. He began work in 1942 as a junior clerk in the Judicial Dept in Enugu and was subsequently transferred to Port Harcourt.

He left the civil service in 1946 to study law at the University of London, Ogunbanjo obtained a law degree in 1949 and was called to the bar in 1950. On his return from London, he worked briefly for the law firm of H.O. Davies before establishing his own private practice; his firm added two more partners, Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Michael Odesanya in 1952 to become Samuel, Chris and Michael Solicitors. The partnership was dissolved in 1960 and his practice became Chris Ogunbanjo & Co. The new practice specialized in corporate law.

Ogunbanjo’s familiarity with corporate law led him to be a significant shareholder in various Nigerian companies like: West African Batteries, Metal Box Toyo, Union Securities, 3M Nigeria, ABB Nigeria, Roche Nigeria and Chemical and Allied Products Ltd

.

.

He is
– A distinguished corporate and eminent lawyer
– An industrialist and Board Room Group
– A Community and Servant Leader per excellence

EARLY LIFE
Chief Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo was born on December 14, 1923 into the family of Rev. Canon Ajayi Ogunbanjo and Madam Christianah Towobola Ogunbanjo at Erunwon, Ijebu-Ode.

EDUCATION
– Igbobi College, Lagos.
– London University, Bachelor of Law Degree

CAREER
– Barrister & Solicitor, Supreme Court of Nigeria.
– Pioneer Member, Nigeria American Chamber of Commerce.
– First President, Nigeria American Chamber of Commerce.
– Honorary Life Vice President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
– Chairman, Centenary Foundation, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
– Honorary Life Vice-President, Nigeria Association of Chambers
of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture, NACCIMA
– Life Patron/Merit Awardee, Nigerian British Chamber
of Commerce & Industry.
– Founder, Samuel, Chris & Michael Solicitors
– Chairman, “Liberty” Nigerian section of the
International Commission of Jurist
– President, Nigerian Maritime Law Association.
– Chairman, Nigerian Council of Management Education & Training
– Chairman, Study Group set up by the Federal
Government on Nigeria’s industrial Policy
– Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso.
.

Chief Ogunbanjo at his 98th birthday
.

PHILANTHROPHY
Chief (Dr.) Chris Ogunbanjo is a great philanthropist and a community man. He donates to several worthy causes and helps to shape the lives of the future generations.
– He built a 24-stall market for the Erunwon Community.
– He established a Charity institution known as
“The Chris Ogunbanjo Foundation” whose principal aims and objectives are:
a. To promote the achievement of a stable society in Nigeria through proper analysis of causes of conflicts.
b. To encourage the promotion of industrial society and private enterprise generally, thus moving Nigeria forward from its present stage of under-developed to an industrial society.

HONORARY, NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
– Honorary Doctorate Degree, Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife, Doctor of Civil Law D.C.L.
– Honorary Doctorate Degree, University of Lagos
(UNILAG), Doctor of Law LL.D
– Honorary Doctorate Degree, Ogun State University,
Ago-Iwoye, Doctor of Science D.Sc.
– Honorary Doctorate Degree, Ladoke Akintola University
of Technology, Ogbomoso, Doctor of Technology D.Tech
– Merit Awardee, Ijebu Ode Development Association
– Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR)
– Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON)
– Orange Nassau by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

MEMBERSHIP
– Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Education.

SOCIAL LIFE
– Past President & Life Member, Lagos (Doyen) Lions Club
– Director, Lions Club International
– Patron Association, Lady Pharmacists
– Grand Patron, Ijebu Ode Chamber of Commerce,
Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY
– Father of the Ijebu Anglican Diocese

CHIEFTAINCY TITLES
– Olotu of Ijebuland
– The Lerinja, Egbaland.
– The Gbadero, Lagos
– Baba Oba, Erunwon
– Baba Oba Oloko, Ijebu Imusin
– Asiwaju, Ijebu Imusin

.
ORIKI IJEBU
.

.