In Owo , he needs no introduction. He is popular and known all over the place. He is 5feet and 10 inches tall. He is huge with pot bellied .He is energetic and hard working . In fact he is called from the neighboring villages to come and work for them.Yes, he is a one- man grave digger. He is an unaccompanied grave digger.
His
secretary and office are his ears and places where people are
mourning and wailing for losing their beloved ones - whether old or
young .That is where his daily bread comes from.It is the source of his living.
For the man called Bamilotuwa, his
work place is at the graveside ; he single -handedly digs grave , and assists to lower
the coffin into the grave while he covers it alone with sand to the
amazement of everybody. At times he fights whoever tries to assist
him as he does not want assistance.
Welcome to the world of Tunde Olagbende popularly called Tunde Anunkansogbo, meaning Tunde who single- handedly digs the grave or the solo grave digger .
.Many times he would place his cloth on his shoulder, half-clad and walks alone and he is being saluted with great response . At times he would stop to greet in order to know what is happening in the environment , that is the pot -bellied hardworking Anunkansogbo for you!.
IN THE THE BUSINESS FOR DECADES
Tunde
said he has been in this business for a long time , he said '' I
cannot steal and that is the profession I know and can do to earn a
living , and I have been doing this job for over 20years'' .
Asked to tell how many graves he has dug, Tunde replied '' I have lost count of that . I cannot count
the number of the graves I have dug in my life . Take for instance I
dug your mother's grave ( referring to this reporter's mother's grave),I dug Engineer Musa's father's grave , I also dug Pius
Olabode's mother's grave, I participated in digging Oburegede's grave, I
also dug Pa Laleye's grave and Oluwasibogun's grave.I cannot remember the
number of graves I have dug in compounds, houses, church cemeteries
irrespective of the deceased's religious affiliation'', he said
WHY I'M CALLED ANUNKANSOGBO
He
is being called Anunkansogbo , not only because of his cheap services but
because he is fast, and does not charge high like others.
Tunde is very hardworking and very honest. At parties when he sees any
lost item he gives it back to the owner without asking for
compensation.He said '' just give me the job I will not waste time, I
have no time to waste. I can do it alone , no matter what .I used to collect 10,000 naira to dig a grave. I don't charge high. My charge is reasonable compared to others. I used to dig
three to four graves in a day when there is business''.Asked whether he uses drug, but he emphatically answered ''N, what for ?''.
NOT AFRAID OF THE DEAD
On
whether he is afraid of the graves or the dead while digging or had any
nasty experience in the course of his work, but he swore ''I am not
afraid of the dead. I am their father, I will beat them if they
attempted it. I eat and sleep very well. I spend one hour to dig the grave''. After burying the corpse he too would join the deceased's children to celebrate, and he would dance with them too''.
Tunde dancing at a burial ceremony
I'M HAPPILY MARRIED
Before,
many looked at him to be a non -serious man or a man who ''cannot do'' or
'' perform'' but he later proved them wrong few years ago when his wife
gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. He announced to the world that
he has married and his wife had delivered a bouncing baby boy .''My son is christened Olamilekan, he is a boy'', he said .
While
many erroneously thought he does not know what he is doing, Tunde proved them wrong again for he is very wise and clever, according to him he has saved some money to take care of his family and would soon stop digging
grave as he planned to retire from the job .
STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF AKETI
Tunde
campaigned vigorously for the present Ondo State governor , Arakunrin
Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) to become the State Governor . He showed his
muffler with the APC logo.
His
words '' I love Aketi that was why I campaigned for him and I thought when he
becomes the Governor I would get a job in the Local Government .Please tell
Aketi not to forget me o''.
RETIREMENT
Asked when he would retire from this rigorous job , Tunde said he has stopped digging graves, he said laughing. While those he sat with denied, ''he is still digging'', one of them countered him.
I CAN'T HAVE TWO WIVES
Asked
whether he will have another wife in addition to the one at home but
he screamed , ''No, I am comfortable with the one I have at home''.
NEEDS HELP
The
man who is almost 60years needs assistance, so we are appealing to the
APC party members in Owo, Aketi the Ondo State governor and well wishers to assist the man
who vigorously campaigned for him.
POPULAR
He knows everywhere and knows everybody in Owo no matter your status . When a person dies in Owo ,he is easily sighted.
When next you see him in your area note that he heard of a deceased person and wants to do his job. Please employ him.
Hon.Muri Ahmed described Anunkansogbo as a very hardworking and honest man, ''You see, he is hardworking, honest and does not fight .He goes on his own jejely ( without making trouble)
Agbaminoja Bunmi confirmed what Ahmed said ,'' the man knows everybody and would be the first person to greet you if he sees you. He needs help because he cannot continue digging like this''.
Up to you readers, next time you see Anunkansogbo in your street know that he has a digging business there.
Comrade Oluwadare Ijawoye , ASUP chairman and Ade Arikawe , Secretary (RUGIPO Chapter ) SACKED
INTERVIEW GRANTED BEFORE HIS SACK
THE RETIREMENT AND THE RECTOR
We alleged Mr Banji Alabi , that the present acting Rector is over 65 years , like I did tell you that the retirement age of a Rector is 65, he ought to have retired last August 2019 , but he doctored his age .This man ought to have retired , the law says that at the point of entry if you want to apply for rector your age should not be more than 59, and if he is claiming 59 then he is not suitable to be a substantive Rector. We now challenged Mr.Banji Alabi, he was saying it was Mr. Governor who wanted to make him the Rector . What they did was that the advert they did they expunged the age. I will send the advert template, the advert was placed in newspapers in national dailies. As we speak the school is owing us five months salary.
( Listen to the rest interview from the video)
Above is the interview he granted before his sack
Before Mr.Governor came on board Mimiko was owing us five months , before then we had what we generate here to pay and that was what led to the accumulation of salary arrears, as we speak now, we are being owed five months, two months of Mimiko and three months of the present government.
FIVE VEHICLES BOUGHT FOR 68M naira
It was a GT Mercedes Jeep, of course we are not against being buying official car and it should be in the car pool, whenever he's coming to the school the driver would drop him..We didn't see the official car
ARRESTED
Yes, I was arrested about a month ago . We had earlier written Mr. Governor that he should please intervene in the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic that the way things are going that school may go into extinction , God forbid , aside being a lecturer there I graduated from that school , I am an alumnus of that school , I am a stake holder. I should be able to lend my voice in the matter of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic .
He reported us through the Management , they reported us to the Commissioner of Police , the Area Commander invited us , we were arrested and we wrote our statement . They called Bursar, they called the Director of Internal Audit , they called some of the scheduled officers who were supposed to write the voucher they denied they were never aware of any transaction of that nature.
Aside that Mr.Banji Alabi always meddle with day to day running of that Institution, it is not his duty.It is the duty of the rector or the Management .It is for him to make policy as stipulated in the extanct law that established Polytechnic. But he was the one if anybody does anything he was the one who orders the Rector to give them query and he's frustrating the staff from performing their job .Fears have gripped workers even when they were hungry because we believe in stomach infrastructure , we can't expect somebody who is hungry to be teaching effectively .
.
NEW EMPLOYEES
The new employees as we speak, is that even when we are agitating that the 2017 promotion should be done but Banji Alabi refused and said no money is available along the line you are employing between one, two,three, two hundred, 250 new members of staff and yet you are saying there is no money to do promotion when our counterparts in the Civil service had already collected their promotion 2017/18 even 2019 is almost done and we now said that he does not have the interest of the workers, workers' welfare is not his priority .His personal interest is the priority .He does not have the welfare of the workers at heart , and we felt that kind of person is not worth to be the Council chairman.
THE 500Million naira
That is part of what they have been spending now . At least this money has been released for over five months and yet nothing tangible has been done with it .
RELEASE FOR WHAT?
The money was released to pay the remaining two months arrears of Mimiko, that was 2016 and 2017 January but the management Council refused to use the money , they claimed the money is for capital project as we speak no single capital project that had been done with that money and the question we need to ask them is that where is the money?. Where is the money even when workers are suffering .Workers are being embattled with untold hardship
and yet they are trying to silence the Union on Campus.As we speak now I am on suspension with my General Secretary for dare writing Commissioner of Education .
IJAWOYE; ASUP CHAIRMAN
It took the intervention of well meaning Nigerians and National ASUP body to settle the issue amicably .As we speak now before his arrival, before his emergency as chairman the total number of students we were having was over 10,000 students , now the students' population is less than 2,000, we must ask him him 'how did he do it? if before his emergency of him in March last year we were having over 12,000 students and now we having less than 2,000 it shows he does not know how to run a tertiary institution and one of the things he did was to increase students' school fees and he now blackmailed Mr. Governor that it was Mr. Governor who directed him to increase the school fees of the students and that was what led to students to go to other places, to go to Federal Polytechnic Ile Oluji, Federal Polytechnic Ado, go to Iree Poly, Osun state Polytechnic , Yaba Tech, Edo State polytechnic ,Auchi .The students we are supposed to have if we are running the same programmes at the end of the day they would come out to be a Diplomats , our students are paying above 100,000 while others in other schools are paying 40,000, 27,000, 21,000 naira .If you are a parent Sir where do you think you want to put your children ? you can' be wasting money , that is why most of the students are not going to Rufus Giwa Polytechnic.
RUGIPO STAFF SCHOOL
And one of the recent things he did is this issue of Staff School , it has become a news on social media and news in the print .The Staff school in Rufus Giwa has been shut down , a school that is having over 800 pupils and he said that it is not breaking even , he closed it , he sacked all the teachers there .This is anti -government policy .The government did not ask him to do this , he was doing this because he did not like the workers .I am from Owo.
.
DO YOU KNOW ALABI IS FROM OWO TOO?
Of course, I know that is why everybody is wondering that why is he doing that kind of thing .
BUT EVERYBODY WOULD BE WONDERING YOU ARE ATTACKING HIM TOO
NO, no,no,it is not a personal issue , like he always say ,because he always look at me as his boy , and I said ''no'' I am riding on the mandate given to me by a group of people , intellectual , people that know their onions , of course I am not the oldest ,at least going by my age I am more or less the youngest among the lecturers but then they have saddled me with a responsibility to lead them if am not competent they wouldn't have voted me for the second time.
WHAT OF THE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS
Of course that is one of the agitations of the Union , as we speak now , if you look at the letter sent to the management we never put payment of salary as part of the stringent conditions but we said there are some things need to be done , the school need to be re.., to meet up with the 21st schools standard.
RESPONSE FROM ALABI
THE CHAIRMAN GOVERNING COUNCIL, RUGIPO DENIED ALL ALLEGATIONS SAYS , IJAWOYE IS BEING USED
Barrister Banji Alabi, Chairman Governing Board
The Chairman RUGIPO governing Board denied all the allegations Ijawoye presented and said it is baseless, he said '' I worked with a multinational oil firm for 24 years without any stain .Is it now that I will soil my hands?. I am a lawyer and I carried out my legal practice honourably'' .
ASKED TO COMMENT ON ALLEGATIONS LEVELED AGAINST THE COUNCIL
ALABI:Corruption is fighting back. We stepped on powerful toes in a bid to reposition d school .He allowed himself to be used by enemies .I luv him & I don't know why he is selling his birthright for peanut.
Newly completed building
ON THE 68M NAIRA CARS
ALABI:It is statutory .Officials cars for Principal officers are the cheapest any school purchased for the principal officers. It was in the budget & passed thru due process.He too (Ijawoye) has official car as ASUP chair .If he has official car - why not d rector & others.He who comes with equity must come with clean hands .It is the practice in all d schools in d world -status cars are provided for officials .In fact in all companies & all government officials.My driver own an official car.All d lawyers in my chambers own official cars .All my sales reps in my real estate coy own official cars .He knows d truth -he too own official car .Just blackmail -I forgive him.
Another project almost completed
ON WORKERS EMPLOYED
It is a lie -I am not d Rector of the school -d Rector determines d work available at d school , who to do d work & how to do it-I have nothing to do with .Each year -during accreditation process during d last 30years -d school employs adhoc employees for certain roles - it is d practice before I was appointed -he too knows about it -it is just cheap blackmail.His brother is one of d people employed .His problem is that he want to call d shot at d school -put d management &Council under him .
We are working ooo
The current war -is all about d appointment of principal officers -he want to appoint d Rector & others -really funny .But we remain focus & determined to make d school d best in Nigeria -I need u to visit d school yourself & see d massive development during my less than one year & six months http://justambitioustoserveinfo.com/2019/10/06why-corruption-is-fighting back-at-rugipo-banji-alabi/
Read why corruption is fighting back &get d full gist .Thanks
SOLUTION TO THE CLOSED SCHOOL
ALABI:d school is not sustainable :It is privatized -we have two options (1) d workers to join d state school management board or (2) be employed by d management of d new school .But unfortunately they are not interested in working with d new government cos of differential in salaries .Thanks.
I extend my hands of fellowship to Mr.Ijawoye & all the others to let us come together & make Rugipo great again.I forgive him. Lets join hands together to build the school & carry out the Executive orders of Mr. Gov.D Executive Order Of Mr Governor , Retool, Reconstruct &Reposition Ondo State Polytechnic ,Owo(RUGIPO) and make it a leading research institute committed to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology ''.
I will NOT seek for second term-I will do my best to develop d place & leave after this tenure .I want to be able to say that I served my people to d best of my Ability &leave d best legacy in d 40years history of d school.My practice in Lagos is suffering & I am eager to go back & concentrate fully on my private business .
Part of the materials being used for the school renovation
I forgive all those who spread dangerous rumours against me & those who are persecuting me for upholding d truth & doing what is d best for our community .We remain resolute :we are determined to take more difficult decisions to reposition our school & our community .
Walai talai , we are working
Some people are so desperate to be d Rector or bring d entire school down -if they cannot get it :pls let them know that it is God that promotes -It is God that install & remove leaders ; I have never lobbied for any position in my life -I work very hard &I pray ceaselessly &leave d rest for God.Power may be sweet but because of d painful hangover from losing it-it is not worth acquiring by hook &crook method .Tell them to stop sending Ijawoye to do their dirty jobs .
LATEST SCHOOL PROJECTS
ALABI: We have a lot of projects on ground , we are working .I knew how I met this school when I came in , and I have just spent one year and six months here but we have gone far. I want a school that can compete with other schools not only in Nigeria but anywhere in the world.
See our project
RUGIPO can't even pay salary -we are borrowing money .So when people talk of corruption & stealing I laughed. I am a process person - all d due process were followed .But tale tell rumors are juicy .They cannot point out to anything except purchase of cars that are legitimate transaction. On the closed schools, But unless we arrest d situation -the school will go under .We don't have IGR. D school depends on only subventions .We will start IGR now.The school fees they pay is 2,500naira and can't increase it .It is not sustainable
In a press release yesterday, the Institution's visitor , Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu approved the appointments of the following Principal officers with immediate effect; Mr. Gani Ogundahunsi as the Rector Mr.Atiku Sule as the Registrar Mrs. F. R. Aladeniyi as the Polytechnic Librarian . The press release was signed by Barrister Banji Alabi Chairman , Governing Council
While speaking to some students and staff , many were blaming the two ASUP officials for being allowed themselves to be used .One of them asked whether those the two were fighting for would now save them from the predicament they now found themselves.''They have warned them to thread softly but they refused'', one of them declared.
A nsise o
We dey worki ooo
MIXED REACTIONS
Barrister Banji Alabi was praised by Israel Taiwo in his statement , he wrote . Some students and workers in the school spoke . According to a man who refused to mention his name '' Alabi is not a poor man. He is a very rich man and has brought innovation to the school. He meant well . The school has almost gone into extinction before he came in , but now things are changing.Go to the school and see for yourself''.
Another student called on phone and said '' both Alabi and Ijawoye are alumnus of this school , I see no reason why they should not cooperate. I know Alabi is not there to destroy the place but to develop and contribute his own quota,please we want peace''.
Another called and said '' Alabi should not have sacked Comrade , it will bounce back and backfire.What is bad in criticizing? Na wa for this Alabi o, how can he just closed down the staff school like that? This is sheer wickedness.
WHAT NAILED COMRADE IJAWOYE
Ijawoye during one of his activities , addressing students
Ijawoye like other activists is vocal and has supporters of the students and some lecturers who loved him but his radicalism according to an insider, the man , Ijawoye did not have limit as he talks anyhow and was rude to his seniors.
''The oga mouth no get brake , e go just dey jamtalk .There is a difference between fighting for justice and being rude. Now his family will suffer for fun'',a man spoke on phone .
Letters warning the Comrades before they were sacked yesterday
Comrade is said to be a man that did not separate rudeness from activism. The way and manner he talks to people is crude, disgusting and nauseating, a senior official of the school said on phone . He added '' although he may have points but his manner of approach nailed him the more''.
Banji Alabi is a lawyer of many years of experience who has his Chambers in Lagos , and with his estate you cannot say he does not have managerial experience but the Comrade discredited him saying he has no experience of managing human affairs because he was working for a candidate who does not have anything to show . We are talking of honesty and integrity'', the man stated.
Ijawoye has been given warnings different times because of his flagrant violation of the law and careless use of words and disobedience to rules and regulations of the school. He was later suspended for disturbing peace and disrupting examination period .
Now he has been sacked by the Institution with immediate effect.
The next action is yet to be unveiled as he may definitely go to Court. If he eventually goes to Court then he should be fully armed because he will meet Aketi and Alabi who are lawyers and will not spend a dime but the two sacked Comrades would need a lawyer .
SACKED! What next?
This reporter called Ijawoye this morning and his response is that they will meet in Court. ''We are going to Court .Court is our next line of action'', he said.
.......... Taken away by whirlwind at 15 .......Was in the cave with some elves ...... Refused to eat .....( eat what?) ...... Says ''don't come for money rituals or I'll call Police''
MEETING WITH AGBOMOLA
The road leading to her house in Iyere was smooth. She lives in a bungalow . She uses one of the rooms for Consultancy services and another room is where she keeps cans, bottles, plastic bottles and kegs, jars and tins filled with concoctions with labels and descriptions . She lives very close to nature and could easily get her ingredients like shrubs, barks, roots and herbs. She said though she is close to nature but many times she goes far away into the bush sourcing for some roots at odd hours . A woman this reporter met in Agbomola House confided in him that she came to find solution to her fibroid as she does not want doctors to operate her. Another woman said '' I came to show Iya Agbomola my baby , God used her to treat me and I have my baby ''. A fairly old man said he brought his son who was stung by scorpion for treatment. Welcome to the Home of Iya Agbomola, Dorcas Agunloko the babies' 'saviour' ( Iya Agbomola).
WHENI WAKE UP IN THE
MORNING
''When I wake up in the morning I will consult my Ifa Oracle , Olokun who turns our problem to joy . I have my Ifa Corpus . I
will pay homage to Ifa. I pray to Eledumare.I pray for everybody and I would start the day's business.I pray for people living in my household.Whenever I am going to pluck leaves I would pray to God to let the leaves be efficacious''
MY STORY ''My name is Arayi Agunloko but when my husband died I changed to Christian name, Dorcas Agunloko , I am from Okeluse. I am over 80years.My first child is above 60years of age. I went to Awolowo School ( Free Education] . I was in Primary Two and at the age of 15
I was taken away by the whirlwind ( Aja) while in my father's compound and I later found myself in a cave in a thick forest where I live with some old people in the cave.
WHAT I SAW IN THE FOREST According to the woman , ''the whirlwind took me away for years I cannot remember now . I was in
a cave where I met old people whom you can hardly see their faces as they refused to raise up their eyes. They would bring food and meat for us to eat , but I always
rejected it , that is why I don’t eat much meat till today and that is why I hardly have three square meals per day. I have been used to eating less''.
MY RETURN ''I don't know how many years I spent in the forest, but one day I overheard from the whirlwind singing that I would be back home today , there
was a whirl wind that took me away from the forest and landed me where I had been taken away from, my father's compound in Okeluse. When my father’s wife saw me she cried 'E wa wo Ayi ti nwon nwa'' (Come and see Ayi we have been looking for) . Many ran away ,some came to sight me , whether it was real or not. ''However , my father told me that when I was taken away by the whirlwind he consulted an old man who was Herbalist and also a Hunter who promised to bring me back from the forest .When my father saw me he rejoiced and celebrated me . He later asked what Baba gave me in the forest, and I said it was hair and I have given it away to his brother (my Uncle) who was a Police Officer in Benin by then. My father was unhappy on hearing this, he said I have lost a precious thing''.
WHY I MARRIED MY HUSBAND ''Interesting , do you know I married the man that rescued me?. When I came back from the forest my father asked me to marry the Hunter , I mean the old man that rescued me from the forest , his name
is Agunloko.My father compensated him not minding his age . And I thank Eledumare for this.I learn from him too. He died many years ago''.
MY MISSION
''My mission is to rescue people who are sick and whose sickness can only be treated in native or traditional ways. Those hurt with local arrows (ofa) and those poisoned. I have antidotesfor seizure , snake bite, those stung by bees and scorpions. Those looking for the fruits of the womb and those having fibroid I treat them. I advise people to go to hospital for my place is not an hospital. But at the same time those whose sickness cannot be medically treated do come here to receive native treatment and they are healed!. I take care of Children, the barren do come here and mark you nobody is barren in this life but when they are too late and had tried many medical ways but did not work they resulted to natives.God gave us herbs and roots for our own usage.I treat fibroid
ARMED ROBBERS
''Do armed robbers come for protection here?'',this reporter asked , and she responded ''Haa! I don’t do that o , whenever they come to me for money-
making rituals I would ask them to look around me and tell them if I know how to do
it I would not be poor like this. And let me tell you whoever comes here for such thing will be handed over to the Police. I do special prayer for people to be successful but I don’t involve myself in all these bad
things , or bad juju.
THOSE USING HUMAN BEING FOR SACRIFICE?
Asked her opinion on Herbalists who use human being for money -making rituals, she responded '' Ha!, I use to curse those Herbalists.Yes, I curse them. Infact, whenever they come here and ask me to do a money -making ritual for them, I would show them this place saying if I know what to do to get money my place will not be as poor like this. And I have warned them all that whoever comes here asking for this would be handed over to the Police. Yes, I am not for that at all''.
HOW I REVIVED A GIRL
This woman said she cannot forget easily what happened not long ago while on a journey, she said ''A girl fainted while I was in a commercial Bus going to Ondo town one day. Everybody was trembling , a Christian
prayed to revive her but the girl didn’t move .When I was asked to pray, I said ''
Oloun a gba fun mi'', meaning God will grant my request. I came down from the Bus and went into the bush and plucked
a leaf , squeezed it and put it on her eyesthen she cried woke up. Everybody was amazed and they said a strange person is in this Bus and later knew my identity''.
MY RELIGION
Asked what her religion is, she said ''I was going to Mosque with my late husband but when he died I started going to church'',she continued ''somebody
said I should not be taking Holy Communion but I do partake in it.I argue that we are all worshiping same God''
Asked whether she is a member of Ogboni Fraternity as many are, she responded , ''No, I am not a member of Ogboni Societybecause my father was an Iron Smith and an Iron Smith does not belong'' .
HOW DID THEY SEE YOU IN YOUR AREA ''They look at me with respect and dignity because I did not soil my hands .I did not do evil. They appreciate what I am doing.I don't quarrel with anybody on this street because I don't want my name to be setroyed. My clients are from all denominations.No Pastor come here to do juju in my house. LEGACY FOR MY CHILDREN
I told my children to be recording all these and write them in a book because I could be called back home at anytime.I want
to hand over this profession to my children .I used to tell them to
come and learn this for I may go at anytime when the owner of my life
demands for it . ACHIEVEMENTS ''I have trained my children from the proceeds of this job, and I have built a house in Okeluse.But my biggest achievements are when I see my handiwork from God on my clients , that is those looking for the fruits of the womb have children, those I treated are healed .These are my achievements''
