The exit of Awo’s driver, two others

I wish to humbly pay tributes to three Nigerians (all Awolowo’s men) who died within the last two months. They are the driver of Papa Obafemi Awolowo, “Egbon” Simeon Taiwo Adewodu, Funlola Olorunninsola (Press Secretary to the late Ooni of Ife (Oba Okunade Sijuwade) and a friend of mine in Ijesaland, ‘Laolu Fafiyebi. They all had connections (direct or indirect) with the late Papa Obafemi Awolowo, the leader of leaders.

On December 30, 2016, Chief Adewodu died at his Ilisan Remo residence. He was aged 90 years. Chief Simeon Adewodu was the last driver of Papa Obafemi on earth. We all called him SENIOR. I used to call him “Egbon SENIOR”. He was a very nice man. He gave excellent service to our leader and mentor Papa Obafemi Awolowo.

With him (Adewodu) on the steering, no one ever expressed any anxiety about Papa Awolowo’s safety. He was a driver who combined excellence and maturity with his driving. We never doubted his sense of precaution while driving Papa Awiolowo. He never for a second lost touch with his humanity. He loved Papa Awolowo. He loved his job. He was loyal, dependable and honest.

It was he who drove Papa Obafemi Awolowo throughout the length and breath of Nigeria during the second republic campaigns. Papa in his campaigns during the second republic used the helicopter, the planes and his car for the campaign. If Papa Awolowo used either helicopter or planes, it was “Egbon” Simeon’s lot to drive to the relevant airport or centre to pick Papa up for the campaigns. Papa loved “Egbon” Senior. While driving Papa Awo, Senior ensured that all the things Awo needed were inside his car. He was never on the loud side. He never lost his temper with anyone. I say it with pride today that we all loved him. As the driver of a great leader like Awo, “Senior” never disclosed secrets of whatever he might have heard from his experience as driving one of the most experienced leaders of the Nigerian people.

I never knew that Chief Adewodu had died until the second week of January 2017 when a youngman, Soga from Ikenne, sent me a text message. It was there he had sent me the news of the death of Senior. Soga had written “Papa Awo’s Driver, SENIOR died two weeks ago. We will love a tribute to him. His names are Simeon Taiwo Adewodu J.P.”

Papa Obafemi Awolowo ensured that all his staff were well taken care off on their duty posts. Awo ensured that the children of his staff were well educated. All essentials that could make their lives better were given to them. In other words, Papa Awolowo’s conditions of service for his staff were humane and encouraging. Papa Awolowo’s staff were drawn from many non-Yoruba states.

I remember today, Roberts who was Papa Obafemi Awolowo’s Chief Cook. I think he was from Delta State. His other cooks and domestic staff were either from Cross River or Akwa Ibom States.

“Egbon” Senior never displayed any ostentatious living throughout his life with Awo.

A great man has died. We will all remember him. He will be buried at Ilisan on 12th February.

Funlola Olorunninsola

I am sad writing a tribute to my “aburo” Funlola Olorunninsola. Though we are both Ijesas, Funlola was many years my junior. He was a close friend of my brother Samuel Babatope, the former Registrar of the Ede Polytechnic in Osun State.

Funlola was the Press Secretary to the regime of the late Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuwade in Ife. Funlola was a great television broadcaster. He was a first class producer of Yoruba programmes on television. Funlola could not hurt a fly. He never compromised his service to the late Oba Sijuwade. It is no surprise that Funlola died at Ile-Ife recently. I have not recovered from the shock I found myself after my brother Samuel Babatope had called me to inform me of the death of Funlola (his friend).

He was said to have passed on in a private hospital at Ife. I mourn with his family at Ijebu-Jesa in Osun State. I will mourn my ‘aburo’ for a long time to come. A prominent Yoruba linguist has departed this world. Sun re O Aburo mi! May Your Soul Rest in Peace!!

And Laolu Fafiyebi too

My friend Andrew ‘Laolu Fafiyebi is dead too. My wife Abiola, on Tuesday 17, January told me in a telephone message of the death of Laolu. It was a big shock to me. We have been friends for near fifty years.

There were three of us as close friends. He (‘Laolu), myself and Rufus Okanlawon also of blessed memory. Laolu and Rufus Okanlawon came from Otan town (about five miles from Imesi-Ile in Osun State).

It was my friend ‘Laolu and Rufus Okanlawon that had built my first bungalow in Ilesa in 1980. The house was where my leader and mentor Papa Obafemi Awolowo had stayed when he came to Ilesa in 1982 for political campaigns. Staying in my house was one of the big attempts made by Papa Awolowo to ensure that I was very well entrenched with my Ijesa people. Papa Obafemi Awolowo genuinely loved me.

Laolu Fefiyebi was a stanch Methodist. He never joked with his Methodist faith. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Church Palm Avenue in his life time. We called him “Agba Ijesa” (an Ijesa Elder). Laolu spoke fluent Ijesa and he was an Ijesa man thorough and thorough. He was very close to me and I loved him. Baba Yemisi is gone! He has translated mortality for immortality. I will never forget this friend who told me the truth of situations whenever I demanded his comments on issues. He told me in 2015:- “Ebino, your party PDP will lose the election. You better prepare for the worst”. ‘Laolu was correct!

Fellow countrymen and women, these three great Nigerians have now departed this world! They are now with God!! May God bless their memories!!

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