The news filtered in that JEFOE is dead!. Dead? .Yes , dead . Everybody was pained. I am the most pained. Yes , I cried more than the bereaved, you will say.Not that he was not old and not because there is no money for the burial but because he still have an aged mother at home. Whaaaaaat? Aged mother ? .Olorun Oba oooo!. Oghan mo ku!, oghan mo w'esun oran, o ti n'iye s'aiye ke?. Ki le le yi o? Oro nla! Yee paripa!. Kini kati gboo?. Kini ka se?. Kini ka wi ?. kini ka fo?. Kai!Baba onirungbon yeuke looooo!
Who will break the news to the old woman?.When I spoke with his younger brother, Prince Sunday , he said ''that is how we saw it o''. And the question on everybody's lips is why God?. Why do some people die leaving their parents behind? .Why ?, why God? .Yet we would say He understands . He knows best . We cannot question or queryBaba Goodu. And what came to my mind is '' If thousands die on Saturday , we would still go to Church the following day, Sunday to sing ''We praise and worship you Oh God! .Bi egbegberun eniyan ba ku ni Satide awa yin o la o ko l'ojo Sunday ! Oloun Oba o ki leleyi ooooooo?.
We need to console mama that she should take heart . There is nothing new under the sun.I told Chessy Aragun, one of his younger brothers who is a musician to take heart.
Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Dagrin,Wacko Jacko, Elvis Presley, Orlando Owoh and many others died leaving their mothers behind. Infact Jesus Christ died (was crucified in the presence of his mother!) leaving his mother behind.Yet, we still thank God for everything. Nobody can question Baba Gooodu.
MY ENCOUNTER WITH JEFOE
As I sighted the man with his grey beard glittering like silver I chukled and soliloquized , this is a story. I quickly alighted from my Camry Car, ran up up to him and said '' Sir, you are like the heavily bearded old man Baba Onirungbon Yeuke , eni ti ngbe ibi gegele okuta ti D.O.Fagunwa ko itan re ( You look like the mysterious heavily bearded old man that lives among the stones of which D.O.Fagunwa wrote about) , your beard endeared you to me.You are wearing beard like my brother , Professor Rowland Abiodun who lives in America, are you a Professor?''. He gave a roar laughter and responded ''Professor ke? No,o I am Prince ARAGUN . Then I am not Baba Onirungbun yeuke oooo .I don't live here but lives in Kaduna. I Immediately asked for an interview from him of which he accepted , and I brought out my ipad , he cried '' loju titi yiii?'' (on this road?), I said yes, I do interview anywhere, any place and anytime .that is why I take my ipad along always ''.
I told him this story I got from THE LITTLE , BROWN BOOK OF Anecdotes, by CLIFTON FADIMAN : A
journalist once called at Frost's house for an interview ,''Do you have
one of those machines -those tape recorders ?'' asked the poet suspiciously as he opened the door. ''No sir,'' replied the
journalist. Frost's manner changed instantly .''Well , come on in!'' he
cried.''Those people who take down word will never get anything right''.He then burst into laughter.The man can laugh , he can crack jokes and you will join him laughing.Yes, that is JEFOE for you.
Then somebody called me Babalawo of the Nation!, Babalawo of Africa! , Babalawo of the World! "', the old man burst into laughter and said '' sebi you said you are a Journalist , are you also Babalawo?'', I said ''no'', but my own Babalawo is of the Nation newspaper.We started the interview on the road, he then asked us to go inside to complete his story.
He showed me his mother who was selling palm wine and then ordered cups of palm wine for me , and trust me I started flowing and pouring panegyrics to Palmwine, saying ''Kare o, abiwarapa abito funfun lenu, emu reee, emu ti Bobo T , T Bobo and Babalawo of The Nation ti nwa kiri'', when he heard me , he asked '' Come o sebi your name is Taiwo , how come you are Babalawo? or is it fake?''I screamed ''Sir, my own Babalawo is original, it is Babalawo of The Nation newspaper, I am Bobo T, T, Bobo''.
We sat down and spoke virtually on everything. The last time we spoke was about his land that he was having problem with and when he resolved it he also told me he has been given another place.
One day we spoke and he told me he wanted to have a praying mountain , which would make him be fulfilled.
When I started my website taiwoabiodun.com and taiwoabiodun.blogspot.com he was on my mind for another interview about the Aragun family compound he showed me and asked me to write about that time. I called the Olunaun of Unaun , Prince Olanrewaju Abegunde to send me his number just few weeks before his demise.
Why am I writing this piece today? I am writing this to appreciate his simplicity and humility . I am writing this to honour him. I am writing this to give him my last respect. I have had cause to ask for interview from some people who would treat me shabbily and turned me off. I remember a guy who with his arrogance attitude cum uncouth manner went extra mile for my jugular but failed woefully. The guy exhibited multilateral combinations of foolishness, arrogance and arrant nonsense.
Only very few people appreciate the profession, journalism. While only few people too want their children and wards to go into the profession because of the danger it involves yet they want to be interviewed by journalists!. No, wonder some called it a thankless job!. Yet among the few who know its value and appreciate it is JEFOE.
Whether we like it or not JEFOE has become more popular than any living man who has not appeared in The Nation newspaper!.You must be news worthy in order to be interviewed.
He has become popular allover the world , even in heaven he would go with this published story and the paper where he granted interview and show his friends he would meet there.
JEFOE as your name implies (eat vegetable) be eating your vegetable there but not worms, eat what they eat over there .Say hello to my parents over there, my father has spent over 34years and my mother 13 years there. Salute our people there o .
Madam CAROLINE MUIBATU OWOMOYELA Madam Caroline Muibatu Owomoyela is the eldest and most senior wife among the three surviving wives left behind by the High-life Musician Dr. Orlando Owoh who died on the 4th of November 2008.
Caroline speaks
........ Why he sang 'So dara bee?' ......... He goes to studio without rehearsal ...........I don't smoke For the light -complexioned and beautiful woman there is no moment she does not remember her dutiful,loving and caring husband Dr. Orlando Owoh . 11 years after his demise she is still mourning the painful exit of the great musician as she said he cannot be compared with any man on earth . The woman who is proud of her husband with confidence gave a brief introduction of herself ,''My name is Caroline Muibatu Owomoyela . Presently I am the most senior wife among the surviving wives of the late Musician , Orlando Owoh. HOW I MET ORLANDO Reminded the love she had for the great musician she describes him like this '' He was a great husband,a great lover, an honest husband and my confidant. Hepaid my bride price''. Caroline who could not remember the exact year she met her late husband , Orlando said ''I met him several years ago, I cannot remember the exact year . I met him in the 70s. But I know that I had my first child for him in 1973 and that is all I can recollect and it's been long time ''.
MY PARENTS' CONSENT The woman burst into uncontrollable laughter when asked whether her parents approved the union , she asked ''whose parents will give such consent?'', she added ''But both of us had agreed because of our mutual understanding so there was nothing my parents could say then that one would listen to''. She praised Orlando for being a man of his own words unlike other men with empty and unfulfilled promises. ''He was a man that always fulfill his promise. He was not a liar, he was not a man that lies and the nature of his job does not permit him to lie, he did not know how to lie''
NONE OF MY CHILDREN SINGS
Surprisingly none of Muibatu's children sings , as she told this reporter when asked whether her children also sing ,''No,none of them sings. My children are all females, and some are in the United States of America and are doing well in their chosen professions''.
Orlando was a faithful husband
SHE RECOUNTS ONE OF HIS ARRESTS Muibat said the late Musician was arrested many times for different framed -up offenses and charges , she narrated one of the challenges Orlando experienced , as she said ''Yes, he went to play somewhere in Sobe that was when he praised his kinsmen and did not praise some royal fathers which annoyed them , Orlando was later advised not to spend that night in Ifon .It was in one of his records where he sang'' ( trying to remember) . The woman however said Orlando once joined the Army , she said '' before I married him I heard he joined the military and went to the war front. One of his kinsmen Tunde Awodeyi sent him back . I have forgotten his (Awodeyi) rank whether Colonel, he was a high ranked man, He said '' ah, Orlando what have you come here to do?''. Awodeyi then stylishly brought Orlando back home and did not want him to be killed in the war front , I mean Orlando''.
HE SANG ''OGEDENGBE....'' Asked to throw light on another song Orlando sang when his Peugeot 504 Car was seized, the woman vividly remember and said ''Yes, I remember the song ( She sang the song ) , SO DAA BE?, where he sang '' Ogedengbe mi o, Oladimeji mi o , o gbe mi lori esin oo o jami kale o, ye ye ye( My Ogedengbe, my Oladimeji , you placed me on the horse and pushed me down. Is that good enough?) he was reporting to his friends then' Muibatu narrated how the story went ,she said Orlando bought a Peugeot 504 Car on hire purchase from his friend ,Ogedengbe who was a Car dealer then , but because he failed to balance up the Car dealer , Ogedengbe seized the car from him, at the end of the day he and the Car dealer later became friends again .I could remember the case very well'', the woman said. WHAT OF OJO SONG, WHO IS OJO? In one of his albums, the late Musician sang and poured panegyrics on Ojo, Muibat knew him too , she said ''Yes, I know the Ojo you are talking about. Orlando had a Band boy called Ojo, who was his brother he is Elvis Ojo. He had another Ojo but I can not remember him. Orlando's older brother is called Ojo too , I know him very well''.
MY BEST TRACK Does she have a favourite song among all the songs Orlando waxed and released?,she was asked , the woman responded '' I love all his music, none can be pushed aside , they are all confirmed . I remember (she started singing) Ma wo mi roro , ma wo mi roro, ...... all the lyrics in his albums have meanings and rich in content, they are not ordinary songs .Song is gift from God'', she declared. However the woman said she does not sing like her husband. FOR ORLANDO , NO REHEARSAL Asked to confirm the rumour that the late African Kennery goes to the studio without doing rehearsal or practise as others do , she confidently confirmed it ''Yes, he would not do rehearsal , anytime he planned to go to the studio he would just go and record unlike other musicians who will go and camp himself and his band somewhere and be practicing, no. It is a gift, if a musician is talented he would not be looking for songs to sing. It is a gift from God'', she said beating her chest. I WAS WITH ORLAND'S DEATHBED This is a bad memory the wife of Orlando does not want to remember at all , she said she was with him at the hospital running around and praying for him not to leave , she declared in low tone '' I was with her at the hospital , we were going ups and downs not knowing that it was time for him to go . But then I had the belief that he would still come back home ( discharged ) from the hospital. Anytime I flashed back remembering the scene I discovered that there is nothing one can do and resigned to fate.We would just be remembering and always be in our memory for ever , there is nothing we can do, we are all human''.
HIS TOMB Orlando's tomb is being visited on daily basis by his fans and friends to pay homage to the great Singer and Composer. She said ''People come there to visit the tomb ''. MEMORIES, MEMORIES Muibatu went down memory lane to remember how the late husband spoiled her with gifts anytime he traveled out of the country , she said ''After marrying him he went to America , I was very happy . when his father died . ..he was an honest man'' I DON'T SMOKE Was she aware that her husband smoked Indian hemp ?, she replied ''of course yes, he smoked and sang its praise , people are aware that he smoked ganja . He did not misbehave. He smoked with sense'', she said with total approval and support. Asked further whether she too smoked like her husband , her response was ''No, we the wives at home did not o'' and she then burst into laughter again. The woman said each time they heard his music being played , her heart become heavy ''but there is nothing we can do and we thank God for his life''
For the past few months tongues have been wagging . Different rebellious songs in different tunes are being sung while
discordance tune is being heard as opponents are dancing to the beating of drums of war
due to rumours and lack of harmony. One camp accusing the other. Each Camp's Goal Keeper has been
defending his goal post from the striker's penalty shoot -out from scoring goals! .
Receipts of transactions have been flying about ( real or not ).
A source said the EFCC came into action . But according to
information , fake names of petitioners /anonymous were supplied because no one
could identify the writers or petitioners. Information gathered
that some of these officers reported at the EFCC office in Ibadan but
seeing nothing incriminating or not found wanting ,they were left off the hook.
That
is the mind-boggling story that has been rocking the boat of Rufus
Giwa Polytechnic's institution established in the ancient town of Owo about four decades ago. The ASUP alleged the Governing Council of maladministration, high handedness , insensitivity to workers' plight and misappropriation of funds.
Yet, the case is like the ram's testicles swinging endlessly but will not
disentangle.
Ade Arikawe the General Secretary of ASUP , ROGIPO Chapter in this video spoke on many issues.
ARIKAWE 'S INTERVIEW
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO YOUR SACK?
''Yes,
we heard so but as far as we are concerned we have not received any
letter regards to that (sack) and we have not been invited to any panel
neither has any committee invited us for questioning . So
as far as we are concerned we were suspended arbitrarily. But we saw fliers all around and people have been
calling just like the way you are saying that we have been sacked.
''We
have not received any letter to that regards and to the best of our
knowledge the only letter we have is the letter of suspension but we saw
fliers and people have been saying the management has dismissed us from
the institution to the extent that even a disclaimer has been
circulated within the institution and I don't think we
have committed any criminal offense to have warranted such.''
BUT YOU WENT TO COURT
Yes
, we went to Court as regards to the suspension on the Union activities
within the institution .We said that the management and the Council didn't
have the right to suspend the Union because the Union came into
existence by law and the Union is not their baby . So they don't have the right to suspend us , we want to prove
it.
WE WERE SUSPENDED
''That
was September , I cannot remember the date .There was a letter we
wrote to the Honourable Commissioner for Education Pastor Femi Agagu and when the Management saw the letter , they invited Police to the matter and we
were arrested and detained at the Police Station where we were asked to
write a statement .So , having done that it was in the process that we
were in Court that we have been suspended from the institution without
any panel and without passing through due process.
WHAT OF THE VIDEO WHERE YOU WERE INDICTED?
''Yes,
what brought about that was when we were agitating for our
promotion which had been given last since and the management made us
understand that they don't have the arrears on that promotion and we
requested that the arrears should be left out for now but the promotion
should be given , that is let us bear the nomenclature, give us the
letters for us to know the position we are in the polytechnic so that we
can be at par with our counterparts in other institutions .So as a
result of that the management said that there was going to be an exam
but we now said that without the promotion we were not going to
participate in the examination .
''Initially, the issue of salary arrears
was inclusive in our demand because that was what we reached at the
Congress and some other things attached but when we now saw that the
salary is not from the school , is not within their purview but the
promotion issue is within their purview and we now demanded that let
us do the promotion and leave others since the promotion is within their
purview. But the management refused they said they ( students) have to write the
exam by force and that day they said the Council would meet that week,
and exam was supposed to start on Monday, we met the Council to ratify
the promotion and we said if that has been done let us wait for the
Council to ratify the promotion , they refused .
Since we agreed at the
Congress that we were not going to participate we set up a Committee , a
kind of Task Force to see that our members would not participate in the
exam. A night before ,we received calls from students telling us that
the management said we didn't want them to write exam and we even heard
the voice of the Rector instigating students against us .So on that day all
we did was that we warned the Committee that there should be total
compliance . Along the line we saw 18 of the students trying to come upon
us , that was when the chairman addressed the students and we told them we
were not for fight , we were even pleading with
the students that they should not fight, not do anything ,we said they
should remember the last issue they had with the management .
Arikawe
So in the
course of addressing these students some of them snapped pictures
and recorded the video you saw. We were not instigating students , it was the Rector
that instigated students to fight us. So we were able to calm the
situation , the situation was under control. It was that day that they
said we started tearing papers in the exam that they didn't do.There was
no exam that day, but the management claimed that we went to exam
halls to tear papers which is not true , which is not true , the exam
did not hold at all. That was why the chairman addressed students so that
the students would not attack us''.
YOU SPOKE ABOUT KIDNAP
''Yes, a
lecturer was kidnapped before our own member was kidnapped , there was
somebody from SANNU that was kidnapped and killed , it was that same
week that our own member was kidnapped, the exam was supposed to hold
on Monday but the person was kidnapped Saturday before Monday and we
now reported to the management that let us shift the exam at least a
day forward and let us see how we can get this person back but the management refused. It was at that level we now called for members so
that we can pray for the quick release of this person and the exam was
supposed to start by 8:30 am that is the normal routine we ended that
prayer by 8:05am. I invigilated that day. I went to the exam hall to
invigilate.There was no disruption. It was that week that we had a
letter of suspension and the exam went smoothly nothing happened''.
THE BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
''Yes,
there are some buildings under construction, these are TETFUND projects
that were abandoned during the time of our former rector, Ajibefun. These projects were abandoned and we have not been able to access
TETFUND's fund , as a result the level at ..so as a result of that it is
the money of the 500 million naira to have been used for the payment of
two months arrears owed by Mimiko regime that money was meant for''.
AJIBEFUN SHOULD BE PROBED
''Yes, he was supposed to have been probed , it is not our duty to probe
because we are Unions and we never knew the extent at which the projects
would have gone even at that time I was not an EXCO, I only became
an EXCO during the regime of Ologunagba to this present regime .It
should be the Governing Council that should probe . It is not our duty ,
it is the duty of the Council''.
STILL ON AJIBEFUN REGIME
''We
are not accusing anybody ,we are only trying to see how that
institution will go on as expected, Ajibefun regime came and is gone ,
if there is any regime at all to probe Ajibefun it is this regime that
should do that. It is not our duty to probe, if they know he has
questions to answer they should invite him and ask him questions , it is
not our right , we don't have that opportunity to ask him question , it
is the Governing Council that have power to do such.We are not even
blaming them , all we are saying is that let things be done accordingly,
if money is meant for A, it should not be used for B, let use what
belongs to A to use A let use what belongs to B to be used for B, that
is all we are saying here because when that 500million naira came , the Rector invited the three Unions , I was there , he invited the three Unions and told us that this money has come and he was going to use
250million naira to offset part of the salary arrears and was going to
use 150million naira to pay the CTS deduction and was going to pay
these arrears for retirees , we agreed on that . Another thing came up
and he said he was going to use it for capital project, that has been
cleared .The Commissioner for Education made us known to that .. about
five months salary and the institution is in critical condition
financially .We believe if the Council is coming it is to come and
sabotage the institution but not to come and siphon the institution , we
don't have money .We felt that if they come around the allowance should
reduce, because they met critical condition of the school on ground but they increased their
sitting allowance from 32 to 80, they went ahead to buy cars , we
cannot afford that . I want to ask you sir, since the acting rector has
been in that institution there has he been able to save up to
18million to buy a car? as acting capacity , is that right ? .
All
these should not be coming up at this period , we are working for the
governor for his second term the man has tried for us in that
institution.They were owing us 11months but when he came in he gave them
money to settle this place , he gave them money to balance
up, the man has done so much for us . He had visited us , gave us
promises, but these people are trying to sabotage his effort . You can
imagine this kind of thing is happening in the governor's town, the
only heritage , the only institution in that place , they are only trying to sabotage the effort of the governor and it should not die.
THE WAY FORWARD
Arikawe
however wants the Olowo of Owo , HIM Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye
III, Head of Service Mr. Dare Aragbaiye, the CSO , the Registrar, and
other leaders in Owo to wade in since the School is located in Owo
their home town.
''We can settle this thing out of Court, why not. My chairman can do that if we agree on certain things .But we can't just walk to Court and say we want to agree, the Court has to stand for us. And another way to it is that Owo, this School is in Owo, if the school is in another town it should have been a different ball game, the Governor is from Owo, the Chairman Governing Council is from Owo, the Registrar is from Owo, My chairman (Ijawoye ) is from Owo, we have first class Oba in Owo, the HOS is from Owo, the Chief of Staff is from Owo , the Attorney General of the State is from Owo, all these people, they should not allow this thing to escalate beyond necessary, these are issues they should address and get out of it because at the end of the day if this thing is not nipped in the bud it will escalate . The governor has tried for us. In everything we do we first of all consider his position but they are not doing that with us.
We have met the Commissioner of Education , we have met the Head of Service , they said we can settle out of Court ...''
BANJI ALABI's DEFENCE
The Chairman Governing Board, Mr. Banji Alabi , said he remains unshakable and as solid like the rock of Gibraltar. He however debunked all these allegations. He stood his ground and maintained his stand that due process was followed in purchasing the vehicles.
''I
will not argue with these people. I am a Christian and have been
blessed. What these guys are saying is just a fuss, they are like a
drowning man who did not want to go down alone. The fact is that we
went through normal due process .I am a lawyer , an accountant and had
worked in Chevron for 24years with clean record. God has been kind to me
. The fact is that corruption is fighting back on these people and they
are afraid. Check these people's records very well.
''They accused me of misappropriation of funds , they must prove it-he who alleged must prove . If they are unable to prove they must apologize and publish same far and wide -that is the only fair thing to do. .He who alleged must prove .
''Forgiveness must work better if the offender acknowledges her/his action , apologizes genuinely , and seeks atonement .It cannot and must not be a one-way street , as that will be too much burden on the victim .I have been free and very nice to them''.
Alabi
A
retired teacher Mrs. Morenike Ogunseitan Famulagun said ''Banji Alabi
is from Owo, he meant good .This man meant good for Owo people and I am
appealing to all parties to sheath their swords. Remember Alabi is not a
poor man and will never steal from anybody. He has a good record . He is
clean and has been constructing new buildings , renovating dilapidated
buildings , and the Bakery that has been in comatose is bouncing back.
The
Olunaun of Unaun ,Prince Olanrewaju Abegunde said '' we should all
cooperate and make the institution the best in Nigeria. I have heard a
lot of programmes Alabi is facilitating to the school.I believe there must be solution to all this. Let this man do his work for God's sake''
Oke
Mohammed was furious when he said '' what's all the fuss about? When did
Alabi come there? .Was he there two or three or five years ago? These people should go after those who destroyed the school.If Alabi said he followed due process and it is true then these guys are just ranting like ant''.
HAVE THEY ABANDONED THESE COMRADES?
As the sacked ASUP officials are allegedly sacked , it is obvious that they are on their own because according to an insider , there is no strike or no boycott of lectures by the lecturers to drum their support for their Comrades.
Now questions are being asked from Comrades to Students, and the questions
are '' Have the ASUP members abandoned their Comrades?.Why did they
not go on strike to protest on behalf of their sacked colleagues? .
Will their Court action favour the Comrades? .Questions .Questions.
However, investigation revealed that the ASUP Comrades may have been
abandoned by their colleagues for the fact that the school's lecturers
and the senior officers who were supposed or expected to go on strike
and protest against their sack may have abandoned them. Now examinations have started without hitch and this is unusual .
Dauda Yakubu (
not real names) said '' I can tell you that these Comrades must have
erred for accusing
Banji Alabi who is known to be a wealthy man and nothing incriminating
has ever been found on him . If he wanted to buy a fleet of cars he has
the money to buy them. How much is the the money .I am not in support
of smearing people's images. Why not probe the past rectors' activities?
'', He queried on phone.
Another
man who spoke with anger rained curses on this Reporter on phone
saying '' The media added more to the case, how can you be relying on
the papers these Comrades are flying about? . First , they said the
money disbursed did not go through Due process, again they said the
Rector's age is not realistic that he doctored it .We learnt that these
guys are being sponsored by a group of people who have now abandoned
them to their fate.Now what is their fate?''.
But
Emeka X insisted that all the past leaders should be probed .''Let us
probe them all including the so called Alabi and his group and if they
are found wanting they should be dealt with, that is my take''.
Another
woman who refused to mention her name said '' Nobody would believe all
what these Comrades are saying and brandishing about called receipts.
Agreed ,they bought these vehicles for 68million naira but they all
followed due process. What did they say about the past Governing
Councils?. What was the state of the school before Alabi came in?. Let us
investigate that.You cannot build on nothing, what did they meet on
the ground?. That is my take''.
One
of the Comrades who refused to mention his name said '' A senior
staff we were fighting on his behalf and who pretended he was
supporting us saw me on the road when my car broke down but did not stop
to assist or sympathize with me , is this good? .Well, we know we are
fighting a good cause and we will win. But it is sad to experience such a
wicked act''.
Now it is like the ASUP is divided . But will the suspended Comrades be recalled?
However
, the Olunaun of Unaun Prince Olanrewaju Abegunde appealed to the two
parties '' please sheath your swords. Let us stop calling ourselves names. I have heard a lot about the state of the school
before Alabi came in , and the present condition . Alabi has really
tried, sentiments apart. I secretly went to the school to see things for
myself. The Bakery is bouncing back!. They have added more Courses and
above all they will soon be awarding degrees. Let Olowo of Owo, our
royal father stepped in and appeal to the two parties to sheath their
swords. I know Alabi very well , he was an orphan at 17. He has never , I repeat never spoiled his name. He does not have an itchy finger''.
Will the two parties settle out of Court? Will they reinstate these Comrades? Time will tell.
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.
As I sighted the man with his grey beard glittering like silver I chukled and soliloquized , this is a story. I quickly alighted from my Camry Car, ran up up to him and said '' Sir, you are like the heavily bearded old man Baba Onirungbon Yeuke , eni ti ngbe ibi gegele okuta ti D.O.Fagunwa ko itan re ( You look like the mysterious heavily bearded old man that lives among the stones of which D.O.Fagunwa wrote about) , your beard endeared you to me.You are wearing beard like my brother , Professor Rowland Abiodun who lives in America, are you a Professor?''. He gave a roar laughter and responded ''Professor ke? No,o I am Prince ARAGUN . Then I am not Baba Onirungbun yeuke oooo .I don't live here but lives in Kaduna. I Immediately asked for an interview from him of which he accepted , and I brought out my ipad , he cried '' loju titi yiii?'' (on this road?), I said yes, I do interview anywhere, any place and anytime .that is why I take my ipad along always ''.
Then somebody called me Babalawo of the Nation!, Babalawo of Africa! , Babalawo of the World! "', the old man burst into laughter and said '' sebi you said you are a Journalist , are you also Babalawo?'', I said ''no'', but my own Babalawo is of the Nation newspaper.We started the interview on the road, he then asked us to go inside to complete his story. 
He showed me his mother who was selling palm wine and then ordered cups of palm wine for me , and trust me I started flowing and pouring panegyrics to Palmwine, saying ''Kare o, abiwarapa abito funfun lenu, emu reee, emu ti Bobo T , T Bobo and Babalawo of The Nation ti nwa kiri'', when he heard me , he asked '' Come o sebi your name is Taiwo , how come you are Babalawo? or is it fake?''I screamed ''Sir, my own Babalawo is original, it is Babalawo of The Nation newspaper, I am Bobo T, T, Bobo''.
When I started my website taiwoabiodun.com and taiwoabiodun.blogspot.com he was on my mind for another interview about the Aragun family compound he showed me and asked me to write about that time. I called the Olunaun of Unaun , Prince Olanrewaju Abegunde to send me his number just few weeks before his demise.
