Kunle Adelabu
As the final interment of the late Asiwaju of lkorodu and the former General Secretary and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Babatunde Olushola, SAN, KJW, draws near, many have been speaking on their encounter with the legal giant.
One of such is the former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ikorodu Local Government branch and a Chairmanship aspirant for the council, Comrade Kehinde Olushola Okeowo.
The labour and community leader who said that late Benson was a man that was always supportive and care about others in an interview with THE IMPACT, revealed how the deceased supported her Chairmanship aspiration four years ago.
Comrade Okeowo said that Baba Benson, despite not informing him about her aspiration, called her and urged her to go ahead in her quest to be the first female chairman in Ikorodu Local Government.
She added that the late Asiwaju of Ikorodu also gave her N100, 000.00 to support her.
“I can remember in 2017 when I was aspiring for the position of the Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government. I didn’t go to Baba (late Benson) to tell him about it but he somehow got to know about it and called me. He actually sent someone to me that I should see him”, Comrade Okeowo recalled.
“When I got to him, he said, Kehinde, go and try your best. It is possible that they (party) give you the ticket or not, but I credit you for standing up to contest for the position and he gave me N100, 000. 00. That was the kind of man that Baba was. He would always wants to support”, she said.
Like many others, Comrade Okeowo described Baba Benson as a great leader with many ideas about community development, especially his home town, Ikorodu.
“Baba Chief B.O Benson was one of our great leaders and founding father of many community associations in Ikorodu Division.
“I was with Baba in the Conference of Leaders in Ikorodu Division (COLID) in 2007 and he was the pioneer Chairman of the body which was setup purposely to pursue ‘Ikorodu for Governor’ agenda then.
“Baba had lots of ideas about community and Ikorodu development and his character is worthy of emulation.
“Despite his old age and stature nationally and internationally, Baba was humble, truthful, faithful and he liked everything to be transparent with community development as his main focus”.
Okeowo also said that late Benson was also concerned about people around him and was always engaging them to know how they are faring.
“He wanted everybody around him to have focus; he would call on you to know your discipline and what you are doing; your focus and what you have in mind to do. That was how caring and concerned Baba was about everyone around him”, she said.
She stated that Chief Benson shared his 89th birthday dream with the members of the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODAS), a socio – cultural group which he was its pioneer Chairman and one of its founding fathers, by telling them that he wanted to celebrate with his grandchildren.
“The last time that I was here as part of the new team of the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), we had a lengthy discussion with Baba. Not knowing that he was close to going back to his creator. Baba said that he only planned to host his grandchildren for his 89th birthday and that he did not want us to come. He added that he had called all his children to bring their children and he didn’t even want them ( his children) too to come”, she said.
“He said that his reason was that children nowadays don’t recognize relatives anymore and that he was disturbed that his grandchildren don't know one other and he wanted to inculcate that into them.
“Baba said that all that he wanted for his 89th birthday was to have quality time with his grandchildren and family and the community can do anything with his 90th birthday.
“He was saying all this not knowing that the end is near. We will miss this great son of the soil who had Ikorodu in his heart 100%”, Okeowo said.
“He liked the truth and he would distance himself once he knows that you are a dishonest person. May his soul rest in peace and may God give all us that he left behind the power to follow his footsteps”, she added.
