The world is a stage And all the men and women mere players. They have their exits And their entrances And one man in his time Plays many parts…
Williams Shakespeare –As you like it.
THIS popular and enduring saying of world’s foremost literary giant of all times is a constant reminder of the fact that life is not an everlasting gift or possession; what actually is, is one’s donations to life itself that matter and endure forever. It is they that will make the people you left behind to immortalise your name and memories in their consciousness; and that of those generations that have heard about your impactful legacies from them. Alhaji M.A.B. Ottun was a rare being, an honour, humility and pellucid integrity personified. He served the Old Western and Ogun State governments, and the Ansar-Ud-Deen society of Nigeria passionately; and with deep sense of loyalty, dedication and commitment. He was the principal of Ansar-Ud-Deen Teacher Training College, Ota, now in Ogun State for several years. And under his leadership, the academic standard, students and teachers discipline, and of course, reputation of the college rose appreciably to an enviable height, not only in the whole of Old Western State, but throughout the length and breath of the country in general.
In extra-curricular activities such as soccer, athletics, literary and debate activities, the college’s name rang a bell with deafening sounds clear and loud enough for the deaf to hear. The numerous laurels won by the college’s outstanding representatives in their outings are eloquent testimonies to the sterling leadership of this principal of all principals; who was not just an astute administrator, but a mentor and father figure to all his students. It was in recognition of these impressive and intimidating qualities of this great man and silent achiever, no doubt, that the then government of Western State honoured him and two other Special Grade Principals of St. Andrews College, Oyo, Pa O.B. Adebambo and Baptist College, Ede, Pa A.M. Olaosebikan by sending them to the United Kingdom for a special management course in 1974 /75, out of principals in about 21 teachers colleges in the state.
I can never forget Alhaji Ottun’s Literature classes meant for students selected through several weeding tests. Those who could not cope were advised to concentrate on Yoruba which was an alternative, if they had not passed it at the penultimate exams. These lectures usually came up between 8p.m and 10p.m for outgoing students. One hour for lecture and the remaining one for counselling on what we would likely meet outside the school as we were exiting to a larger world. These talks really helped finalists in no small measure. No wonder products of Ansar-Ud-Deen College, Ota, are among the ‘Who is Whos’ in the high strata of our society today. We have them in the top echelons of the military and academia -countless professors, PhD.holders and school principals. We have top-ranking journalists, legal luminaries, great bankers, ministry directors, captains of industries, successful business moguls and politicians of remarkable reckoning.
Alhaji Ottun was a perfect gentleman, a distinguished and detribalised Nigerian, a devout muslim with high sense of religious tolerance. Our venerable principal gave Christian students ample opportunities to practise their religion freely. There was a chapel in an Islamic society-established college for Christian students to worship and use for their religions programmes and celebrations. Oga, as we used to call him, ensured that there was a Christian leader among the school prefects, who was not denied any of the privileges and benefits enjoyed by other prefects – an uncommon height of tolerance among our bigot religious leaders then and now. For this, M.A.B Ottun, definitely lives forever! Many children of influential Lagosians spoilt by their parents’ opulence and the polluted Lagos environment were rescued from becoming a nuisance to our society by this unique school administrator of our time. He removed these kids from the eldorado created around them by their parents in Lagos and got them a hostel within his one-storey quarter on the college compound.
They were not put in any special private school, but made to attend the college’s Practising school along with the children of ordinary parents within Ota town and its environs. Lessons were organised for them after school hours, handled by selected matured, brilliant and morally upright student-teachers. Moral instructions were also taught to them. No wander most of them are now great and responsible citizens of not Lagos State alone, but the entire nation at large; because of the opportunities they had to drink from the deep and impactful well of Alhaji Ottun’s unique academic wizardry and uncommon spirit of magnanimity to positively shape the future of younger generations. We love you but Allah loves you more. May your excellent soul continue to rest in the bosom of the Almighty Allah in Aljanah fridcious. May He take good care of your children and entire members of your family; and grant them the grace and courage to manage the void created by your glorious exit. Goodnight Sir, until we meet again to part no more!
- Comrade Adelabu, a journalist/media consultant, writes in from Lagos.
and then