As evergreen Mimiko bows out

As you read this, the charismatic Dr. ‘SegunMimiko will be officially out today as governor of Ondo State. He was an able and result-oriented Governor who did so well that he will for long be remembered. He was so effective and such a brilliant ruler that the good people of Ondo State who are known (from their activities during the first and second republics in Nigeria) never to permit idiots or ignorant persons to preside over their affairs.

‘Segun Mimiko, eight years ago, came from behind to defeat the PDP in the elections. He was a member of the PDP who was a Minister in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s PDP government. Nobody could believe Mimiko’s victory until the Court of Appeal in Benin confirmed and affirmed the victory. Four years later, the people of Ondo State once again reaffirmed their confidence in Mimiko by unanimously returning him to power.

Say what you like. Governor Mimiko was a success story in his governance of Ondo State. I will briefly tell the story of why I have referred to him in this parting article as ‘Evergreen’. On Friday 10, February (about two weeks ago), a group of us who are friends of Chief Olabode George met at Lugard Avenue in Lagos where Bode has his personal and party office. We (the Bode friends) are all over seventy years of age. Bode surprised us all when he started playing a musical collection that included evergreen highlife music of yesteryears.

First, it was Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya who got our nerves working hard with his KENKELUKE record of the 50s. Olaiya was  followed by Ghana’s Broadway Dance Band, Eddy Okonta (the Obi of trumpet), E.T. Mensah, Roy Chicago (John Akintola), Old Stargazers Band of Kumasi and several other musicians of the 50s and 60s in West Africa. The music was scintillating, relaxing and beautiful to the ears. All of us were glued to our seats with this music. Then we asked ‘Bode George:-‘ABUDI BODE, how have you been able to assemble these records of yesteryears?’ Bode replied, ‘Governor ‘SegunMimiko had given me several sets of this collection when, I last visited him’.

For me that was a moment of tears, as I remembered my youthful days as an active musician of the very 50s and early 60s. At Ifaki-Ekiti Grammar School as a secondary school student (1957 to 1962), I was the radio monitor of the school. I was, the only one officially permitted to operate the school’s bush radio. I remembered that at 3p.m of those days, the Western-Nigerian Broadcasting Service (WNBS) would put on air the time highlife music programme which featured the best of highlife music recorded in Ghana and Nigeria.

When I went to Lagos after my secondary school period at Ifaki Grammar School, I went to play highlife music (as an amateur) at the Cool Cat’s Inn (40-60 Abule-Nla Road, Ebute-Metta West). I was a vocalist of the Cool Cat’s Orchestra led by International Guitarist KobinaBiney. I played music with the late Olu Jackson, Emmanuel (the man with the velveteen voice, ‘Bros’ Abayomi, etc). When I went to Igbobi College Yaba for my Higher School Certificate Studies, I joined the Swing Stars Orchestra of the school then led by handsome YinkaBada. My friend Joe Watson played the trumpet. I was equally on the vocals.

When I listened to the record being played by Bode George, tears just filled my eyes. I simply remember those great days of my life when I had been a musician. When Bode George told us that he was given those Evergreen sets by Governor ‘SegunMimiko, I immediately know why Mimiko has been so successful in his time as leader of political opinion in his Ondo State. Today, Mimiko will bow out as Executive Governor of Ondo State. He was visionary. Mimiko was a man with tremendous capacity for hard work and industry. He was successful in everything he had laid his hand on to develop Ondo State. The schools, markets and other institutions that he built in Ondo State are a beauty to see.

Dr. Mimiko had a beautiful taste. He never romanced with failure. His cultural programme was deeply excellent. I am not painting him as an Angel. He had his weaknesses just like any other mortal. He however excelled as a ruler of his people. Above all, he was modest and humble. As he bows out today, the young man will still return. Mimiko never forgot his source as a politician. He kept on raising the flag of the Awo beautiful years of old. It is said that any river that denies its source will eventually dry up. ‘Segun Mimiko never forgot his source as an Awoist. This can also be said of ‘Segun Oni when he was Governor of Ekiti State, OGD Gbenga Daniel in Ogun State, OlagunsoyeOyinlola in Osun and BayoAkala in Oyo State. May God continue to bless these youngmen wherever they may find themselves now.

At Ogunlana Drive, Surulere Lagos lies the Evergreen Musical Company managed by Femi Esho. It will be great if governmentsin Nigeria can assist to keep the Company on, in its drive never to allow the old times to fade out of office.

Mimiko has done his best. He is now an ex-governor of Ondo State as everything that has a beginning must surely have an end. Mimiko will for long be remembered!

We wish Governor Akeredolu success as he takes over the mantle of power in Ondo State. Good-Bye the ‘Evergreen’ Olusegun Mimiko!

 

R.I.P ‘Egbon’ Adewodu and Laolu Fafiyibi

The remains of ‘Egbon’ TaiwoAdewodu and my friend Andrew OlaoluFafiyibi will be conveyed to mother earth today. TaiwoAdewodu aka “Senior” was the last man to drive Papa Awolowo the Aatar. He will be buried at Ilishan after a funeral service at the Methodist Church, Ilishan in Remo Division of Ogun State.

Andrew ‘Laolu Fafiyibi will be buried after a funeral service at the Palm Avenue Methodist Church, Mushin, Lagos. Fafiyibi aka “AGBA IJESA” was born at Otan near Imesi-Ile in Ijesaland! The two men were great in their lives!! May their souls rest in peace!!! Amen.

EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)