Opinions

Olanipekun at 70: A life of courage and consistency

LEFT to him, his 70th birthday anniversary would have come and gone without drum and dance. This is because he doesn’t really believe in celebrating birthdays. To him, everyday is one’s birthday. In this regard, therefore, it has always required subtle persuasion and diplomacy on my part to persuade him to agree to a yearly publication of a tribute in his honour, in which I regularly tell his story of his goodness towards humanity. It has been 11 years that I have been doing this. This is because Chief Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun, Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has ascended to the level of such eponymous figures recognized only on a first name basis, on account of his professional achievements, phenomenal philanthropy, ideals and the noble values he represents. In a world that is surfeited with toxic individualism, conceited polarisation and selfish aggrandizement, it is gratifying to see the likes of this legal luminary preaching the cultivation of Omoluabi cultural values in line with the motto of his high school, Ilesa Grammar School, which says E huwa omoluabi, meaning Behave with integrity.

Omoluabi is a Yoruba philosophical and cultural concept of describing a person who believes in hard work and honesty, respects the rights of others, values integrity, gives to the community, and believes in fair play, justice and equity. All of this and more is what Chief Olanipekun represents. He wears his legal ministerial garment with gusto and grace. He is rich and righteous. Indeed, he is a man of means, a man of affluence and influence who is gifted with remarkable verbal felicities in both English and Yoruba languages. Luckily, I had the rare privilege of getting closer to Chief Olanipekun when he was appointed Chairman, University of Ibadan Governing Council in 2009. And being a specimen worthy to be studied, I never allowed the opportunity to slip off my hands. Perhaps it is no happenstance that he brought me closer. I wish to state with unmistakable exactitude that among his numerous mentees all over the country, I am happy and honoured to be numbered. I have been a recipient of his generosity in innumerable ways.

As UI Chairman of Council in those days, he did a dandy job. His contributions were both largely interventionist and redemptive. He spent his personal money to assist UI. He never took a dime from UI. To mark his tenure in UI, he built a 400-seat capacity lecture theatre. He brought a private orientation into the public sector in UI and changed the operational style. For instance, I remember 17th November, 2012 when the then Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufai, was to commission Ajibode road and Wole Olanipekun lecture theatre before proceeding to the convocation ground, Chief Olanipekun dazed everyone with his attitude to work. He called me around 5:35 am to know if the chairs and canopies were already at the site. I couldn’t tell him it was not my responsibility. He called the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to know the level of preparations . This legal leading light was calling everyone to ensure that the minister was not embarrassed. He practically took over and was directing all of us towards success and perfection.

He is a man without wishy-washy equivocation. He is Spartan and abstemious in lifestyle and honorable and noble in personal outlook. He never waivers in his ideological commitment. He is indeed regal, resplendent and riveting. He is gracious in goodness and generous in giving, a man of sterling integrity and zero tolerance for corruption. Chief Olanipekun is a great man that has been used by God to raise many men. Thousands of children of the poor have been raised through his scholarship scheme which gulps millions of naira every year. I equally benefitted from the scholarship for my Ph.D programme. What can we say about upcoming lawyers? He has assisted many lawyers in their career with his uncommon largeness of heart. Clearly, while some people are committed to self and selfish interests, Chief Olanipekun is committed to the good of the generality.

He is respected for his great humility in spite of his daunting intellectual exploits and professional achievements. He has no time to think about petty subtleties of unethical conduct. This legal panjandrum has always maintained dignified silence, quietly tucked in his usual corner. He believes it is better to react to some of life’s irritations with no reaction. With him, you are assured of wise-cracks, profound thoughts, spiritually ennobling insights, sublime statements and words of wisdom. Not too long ago I ran into a turbulence and solicited his intervention. After listening to my case, Chief Olanipekun looked at me and quipped, “Sunday, who taught you wisdom but failed to teach you the value of foolishness?” It took me a while before I decoded the import of his epigrammatic rhetorical question! Interestingly, it is on record that not long after finishing his tenure in UI as Chairman of Council, Chief Olanipekun was also appointed the Chairman of Council of Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo. He is still there, replicating all the good work he did in UI. He has built several structures for ACU, tarred roads and keep spending his money just to guarantee the optimal human happiness.

To corroborate the saying that charity begins at home, this legend has done so much for his ancient town, Ikere Ekiti. He built a multi-million naira ultra-modern church for the Anglican communion. He donated computer centers to some secondary schools in addition to a health centre, just as the Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme though which many indigent but brilliant students across the country get the educational succor keeps running after 20 years. Yet, this gentleman does not demonstrate egomaniacal pomposities. He is prudent and parsimonious, preaching the virtues of humility, dedication and nobility. He speechifies with awe, just as he essentially remains puritanical in his indulgence and eternally transparent in his dealings.

Without doubt, Chief Olanipekun who is no less a paladin of moral, legal, social and political rectitude lives a life of sacrifice and service with his deep benevolence finding expression in his genial looks. To me, a life that touches others lives forever. This meek man of stellar character has achieved historical immortality with many lives he has touched. From his sartorial preferences to his leadership style, he stands pretty tall and far away from the archetypical lot. His signature smile is attractive, sparkling and memorable. His is a story of decency and dignity.

Perhaps what I enjoy most is his confidence in my professional ability. He has never tele-guided me on what to write for him, neither has he called for my manuscript before publication. Ecstatic I was the day he told me that “Sunday, you are a talented writer. I have seen people with Ph.D in English who cannot write as beautiful and elegant as you do. Keep it up. I love you because you are intelligent”.

Call him a deft minefield walker, you will probably not be wrong. Chief Olanipekun has successfully meandered through some of the many traps of life, characterized by treachery, betrayal and outright envy. He is therefore an institution of learning, school of wisdom and mobile library who is indeed; a rare embodiment of courage, charisma and credibility. His exemplary life remains mnemonic.

As he celebrates his 70th birthday, one can only pray that Chief will not tumble from his tower. May he continue to be sensitive to the leading of the Lord as I ask for greater grace for greater glory for our collective benefactor in many years to come.

Born in Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti state on November 18, 1951, Chief Olanipekun attended Amonye Grammar School, Ikere Ekiti between 1965 and 1969 where he obtained the West African School Certificate (WASC). His academic brilliance informed his appointment as the Senior Prefect. He proceeded to Ilesa Grammar School in 1970 from where he obtained the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in 1971.

At Ilesha Grammar School, the young Olanipekun manifested his innate leadership qualities, thus becoming the Editor-in –Chief of the school magazine (The Spike). He was also the chairman, Students Representative Committee in 1971. In 1972, he gained admission into University of Lagos where he bagged the Bachelor of Law degree in 1975. As light drawing moths, Olanipekun attracted many friends and admirers with his enchanting brilliancy which led to this election as the Secretary-General, Students’ Union between 1973 and 1974.

He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos from 1975 and 1976 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1976. He was a junior counsel in the Messrs Oniyangi & Co Ilorin between 1977 and 1979. In 1980, he became the Principal Partner of Messrs Wole Olanipekun & Co. Perhaps one can only remind Chief Olanipekun of what God says concerning him and his like in the book of Isaiah 3:10, “Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds”. Happy birthday Chief.