He says his Community is surrounded by enemies. He spoke with Taiwo Abiodun on his life and times
........... I taught Professor Ibidapo Ogunbadejo in 1953
.......All my classmates have gone
.......I lost my father in 1955
......I pray to see electricity in Igbe Community before I die
MEET A TEACHERS' TEACHER
He is a man of average height. He speaks impeccable English laced with anecdotes and proverbs. At 90 when almost all his age mates and colleagues are gone , or suffering from old age- related diseases ,or bent with age or gaunt and pale , Pa Ajibuwa is still robust and sound both in sight and mind. He is mentally alert with good retentive memory as he could recollect dates, time and give details of events on his finger tips without looking at his Diary.
At his age he is still neat while his dressing and appearance is not different from how he was in the 70s- his clothes has no crease. Not only this, he still retains 95percent of his dentition. He neither uses reading glasses nor a walking stick to aid his movement .To those who passed through the thoroughbred, disciplined and principled teacher they respect him and look up to him as a good mentor as he possessed an exemplary character worthy of emulation . Above all he is loved for his sound judgement, loyalty and love. He is loved by his community members because of his struggle to make sure the town is developed and sees electricity in his lifetime .
The nonagenarian lives in his modest bungalow in Igbe where he retired to. Many remember his motorcycle he used to ride in those days. Those who know Pa Ajibuwa said he deserves an award from the Ondo State government and Owo Local government for his contribution to humanity.
HE CRIES, OH !,MY BACK!
It was a beautiful morning when this reporter went to the retired teacher's house unannounced. The nonagenarian held his waist as he managed to stand up, "Oh!, my back!", the old man groaned. He then smiled and as he wobbled along he cracked his usual joke , " that is the problem of old age , this my back na wahala o" , he jocularly said .
Meet High Chief Alfred Olorunsola Ajibuwa Ajelu the Akinselure of Igbe land - Iyere , Owo, Ondo state
MY STORYHe sat comfortably on a wooden bench, looked up ,shook his head and started the story of his life's journey " I was a teacher throughout my life .I am retired but not tired .I spent 32 years in service before it ( Ministry of Education) was rationalized by the Ajasin regime (First Civilian regime)because there was no money then to continue paying workers ."
MY SCHOOL MATES
The old man went down memory lane and said he finds it difficult to forget all his Standard School mates in the '40s , according to him, most of them had died " the late Chief Lawrence Akola, the late Chief Benson Awosusi , the late Madam Caroline Oladoyin Abiodun ( Nee Elerewe), the late Otu Aminu, the late Rabiu Banjo, Mr. Egunjobi ( still alive) and many others .Many have gone to eternal rest., only myself and Egunjobi in Iyere are still remaining (living) as classmates from Standard school" .
SCHOOLS ATTENDED
Pa Ajibuwa described his days in school as unforgettable periods , "I attended Grade Two Teachers' Training College in Usi Ekiti,(1957-58) , I was a Sportsman and was called the Golden Age of Usi Ekiti then. I also attended Teachers' Grade Two College in Epinmi Akoko and I was a Sports Teacher , in 1959 I was sent to Isua Akoko "
RETIRED BUT NOT TIREDThe old man refused to rest despite his old age , and he said this was due to the passion he has in the job " due to the interest I have for the job , if I have money I will still teach but due to my age I am not allowed again .After my retirement I taught in Cherubim and Seraphim Grammar school, Owo, Christ Centre Grammar school , Iyere -Owo, and some other schools". He remembered his footprint he left behind " it was one Mr .Akerele the proprietor of Christ Centre Grammar school , Iyere -Owo, school who begged me to come and teach in Iyere .I taught them English, and I was the one who made them win an award in General paper and English Language.
''Out of the first set in the school Sunbo Akerele who was the daughter of the proprietor of the school was nine years old when she passed the school entrance to Command School, Kaduna. Sunbo was called for an interview but they said she was too young ,for they admit from ages of 11 years, but she came first in English in the whole Federation , eventually she was admitted .She came out in flying colours . After that she went to School of Nursing /Midwifery and she came out well .Today I am proud of her .May God bless her and be with her.''
I EXPERIENCED POVERTY
Ask a man who is successful in life he would tell you the hurdles he passed through to achieve success. Pa Ajibuwa with emotion narrated his challenges while growing up.
Ajibuwa said "People always envy me because of my brilliancy , whether good or bad , some hated me yet I achieved what God had wanted me to achieve. I came from a very, very, poor background .I had no older brother who could advise me then and nobody to take care of me''
He continued " My father died in 1955, so it was my mother who continued to labour on me , she worked day and night to send me to school. I experienced poverty in life , any school I went to I was more or less the poorest in sandals , shoes, clothes yet in brilliance my position was always in unit , yet I was the best in Geography and History"
ERROR IN SCRAPPING TEACHERS' TRAINING
To the old man , scrapping the Teachers Training College was not the best , he said " it is not good , fairly it is good in one way and in another way it's not good because during the time of colonial days when the Churches were controlling the schools ,you know people were morally trained by that time than now . Now they don't recruit teachers for Christian Religious subject but only the Muslim , they will allocate teachers to teach Islamism in the schools but ...I advised that Christianity , knowing God before money , all these should be taught , how to praise God , how to worship God and how to do the right thing at the right time , if CRK is still taught now there will be no issue of stealing of money , politicians are chopping but not building the nation , they are not building the nation but chopping the nation, they are money-minded people but if they avoid this and teach CRK in schools and let Christianity reign in our schools things would augur well.''
He continued " In Christian schools all were taught on how to worship God, behave etc. politicians who are chopping ..they are not building the nation but chopping the nation, they are money-minded people but if they ... things would augur well but today what do we see? money -minded , searching for money and politics "
NO REGRETS AS A TEACHER
Asked whether he has any regret of his profession, but the old man shook head several times and said "No. Not at all. I do not regret it. If I reincarnate I will be a teacher again because teaching profession is a profession where we build both the body and the soul . I am enjoying the reward of the profession now because many of the pupils I have taught ...(raised his voice and fingers ) I taught in many , many schools always recognize and and give me respect . Whenever I meet anyone of them.... I don't know them again but they would introduce themselves that 'You were my teacher in so..so place, some would give me five thousand , some would give me two thousand naira even some would kneel down in the presence of people . The most honorable is the respect they always give me as they would prostrate for me anytime we meet" .
He gave an example " I was in the University of Ife for a Course ( now Obafemi Awolowo University ) between 1976 and 1977 session , one boy I taught at Iyere , Ibidapo Ogunbadejo , he saw me at Ife ( OAU) , he had become a professor and now retired, he was proud to introduce me to his colleagues that I was once his teacher and they took me highly and were looking at me highly .He introduced me to his co-lecturers that 'this is my teacher in the year 1953 at Iyere St.John's School' They respected and honoured me throughout my study at ' University of Ife, that is the work of a good teacher so I pray that if I come next time I would become a teacher.''MY CHILDREN
The joy of a teacher is to see his own children's success, Ajibuwa is happy to be among teachers who taught other successful children and his own children are today successful. When asked whether any of his children took after him , the old man screamed '' yaaaaah, they are teaching! ''.
Like father like children , Ajibuwa's children took after their father , he is happy that this is happening in his lifetime. Counting them on his fingertips he said " Yes, some of my children took after my job like my first daughter Temidayo Ajibuwa now Mrs. Temidayo Akinsuyi is a teacher , she went to College of Education then proceeded to Michael Adekunle Ajasin University , Akungba , she is a teacher in one of the Grammar schools in Ondo state . Another one is in Overseas , he is Idowu Ajibuwa , he read Petroleum Engineering , and made a distinction .Where there is no work here his senior brother called him and he is abroad as a lecturer in the University there''.
Still counting , " My first son who is a teacher too is a pastor in The Redeemed Church of God , he is a teacher, he got some degrees in overseas there . About two or three of my children are teaching and I pray for their children too to would teach because I prefer teaching to other works ".
WHY I AM SAD
Pa Ajibuwa is a sad man, not because he has no money or food to eat and he gave the reason , " There are many problems facing Igbe I will only discuss few , one, we have external enemy who will never pray for the success of the community but will pray for themselves alone and wanted to make Igbe their slaves for ever. Two, we Igbe people we do not have much love among ourselves , had it been there is love and unity Igbe could have developed more than this. 'This is my father's land, this is my mother's land' , selfishness and taking everything into their own purse without considering their community is rampant here.Three, shall I say that unless we pray and continue to pray, when we continue to pray to our Almighty God am sure things would change ", he added.
AGES OF DARKNESS IN IGBE
The High Chief is sad that cable wires meant for the electrification for the community are lying fallow and wasting !. He is sad that the whole village has been in the dark for ages.He is sad that while others are switching on light his community members are still using oil lamps!.
On the efforts to make sure there is light he said "The first one was started by Agagu , we voluntarily chose people to dig the holes , the electrification was given to them from Abuja , and our youths and Chiefs contributed full for them helping them to dig the holes yet the thing died down like that . Then during the time of Mimiko we tried in our communal labour without getting money from them yet some of the external enemies did not want the work to succeed , and we know them but I am sorry I can't mention their names but God knows them better .It was external enemy that was confronting Igbe and I am sure sooner or later God will take control.''
GOVERNOR AKEREDOLU IS OUR SON
Pa Ajibuwa is proud to say that the present Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) is from Igbe Community , he said ''Pa Akeredolu who gave birth to Reverend Akeredolu and Reverend Akeredolu gave birth to Arákùnrin Odunayo Oluwarotimi Akeredolu the present governor , so the great grand father of the mother of Aketi was born here in Igbe. Secondly, Governor Akeredolu is my in -law for I married from his extended family and then when he was at the University of Ife reading Law I was at the University there doing my Associate Diploma in Education ,so we know each other .He knows me very well and he is a good man ,very dynamic and a trustworthy person . whatever he says he must act on it and he is always factual ".
MY WISH BEFORE I DIE
Asked his wish before he leaves this planet world . The old man spoke like the Biblical Zachariah who prayed to witness the birth of Jesus Christ before he dies said " I'm now 87 years , if I can see the electricity light and we are taken from darkness to lightness I shall be very grateful to God . I will glorify God .I will sing God's glory . I will go to church to thank God and rejoice because my days are numbered on the earth .I told some of the people yesterday who came to talk about this electricity supply the same thing . Very many people who were anxious to see it have gone (dead) so if I can see it before I die , and if ever we met in heaven I will tell them that we have been supplied the electricity. So,I am praying fervently , sooner or later , quickest Igbe will be electrified''.
