The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu branch between 2012 and 2014 and former Secretary of the Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Barr. Saheed Osuolale Kolawole Shillings, has described the death of Chief Babatunde Olushola Benson, SAN, KJW, the Asiwaju of Ikorodu, as a great loss to Ikorodu, Lagos State and Nigeria.
Shillings, who was also a former aspirant for the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also said that he has personally lost a father, teacher, mentor and a client.
In an interview with Kunle Adelabu, the Publisher/Reporter – in – Chief, THE IMPACT, Barr. Shillings also added that Chief Benson's death has left a big vacuum which will be difficult to fill.
Closeness To Chief Benson:
The former NBA Chairman worked closely with late Chief Babatunde Olushola Benson, SAN, KJW, the Asiwaju of Ikorodu in the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu – Oga Development Association (IKODASS), Conference of Leaders in Ikorodu Division (COLID), Lagoon State Movement, Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division and Exclusives Club of Ikorodu and in many other ways.
Barr. Shillings was also a lawyer to the late legal luminary in some cases.
Speaking further on his closeness with late Benson, Barr. Shillings said:
“We were colleagues and practitioners at the level of the Nigerian Bar Association at the national level and Baba Benson was also the Patron of my branch.
“I was in so many ways close to him. In a way, he was a mentor and also a client of a kind because he was somebody that would always be interested in you if you are close to him enough. He cared for those behind him and those coming after him.
“I think he had laid the foundation for his own successions. Aside from being close to people more elderly, he still finds time to think about us; if he doesn’t see you for a very long time, he would call.
“I remember that he had been calling about three or four of us who were very close to him about two months ago to meet with him. Unfortunately, he was been unable to meet with us due to the COVID pandemic.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t meet until we lost him.
“Quite honestly, I wouldn’t believe that I could miss an elderly person like that until I heard about his death. I usually feel like old people should go and young people should continue to live. I have no apology about that but his is a touching one.
“I knew Chief Benson in the early 90s, aside from the fact that we were in the legal profession. After working for the founding of Ikorodu Oga Development Association (IKODASS), it was resolved that we should call on the elderly ones and all fingers pointed at him to lead IKODASS and he rose up to it.
“He was a performer. He laid the foundation (of IKODASS) very well as expected of him”, he said.
How Chief Benson Intervened In His Admission to The University of Lagos (UNILAG):
“I remember when I made the decision to go back to the University. I missed the cut – off point for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) by a few points and it was suggested to me that I should meet Chief Benson.
“After meeting with him, he wrote a letter to the Registrar and I was rest assured that I would get admission until I meet with a couple of my friends who changed to the Lagos State University (LASU) and that changed my mind but I won’t forget that he tried to make that possible.
Other Side Of Late Benson:
“As the Assistance Coordinator of the Conference of Leaders of Ikorodu Division and in other capacities,I was very close to him and also know his nuances.
“He was a very jovial person but also a very difficult person. He was a stickler for rules and he wants people to work according to his rules because he fears failure.
“Whenever we organize any programme, there is a stage that you don’t get close to him because he would think that things might not turn out very well and he would take the heat on you. So, when it gets to that stage, when he calls you even by your first name, you would just pretend that you are not the one he’s calling (laughter).
“He was a fighter and leader to follow because when it is time to put down his feet, he would do that without mincing words.
“I remember our visit to the PDP, when R.A Williams was saying some sought of things and he gave it to him.
“He would be remembered for a very long time. We have lost somebody”, Barr. Shillings said.
Barr Shillings As Chief Benson’s Lawyer:
“He had a firebrand lawyer with him as a son. I called him ‘firebrand’ because I know he is and not just trying to prepping him up. But despite that, he still gives other lawyers brief.
“A couple of my briefs were from him and they were family briefs and that was why I could say that he was my client. We were closed to that extent”, shillings said.
Chief Benson’s Support For Shillings In His Political Quest:
“I remember when I was contesting for the seat of the House of Representatives, even while a Benson, that is Jimi Benson, was also contesting and I told him that I wanted to meet with the late Kabiyesi, Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, Baba Benson took time off his schedule and took me to the late royal father.
“At one point with Oba Oyefusi, it was just the three of us and we chatted about many things for about
one and half hours. That was the kind of a man he was. It was not that he was unmindful that his own
son was contesting, I am also a son to him.
“We can’t help but appreciate that kind of a person. We have actually lost someone in Ikorodu and I personally lost a father, mentor, client and a teacher. He was the only person that had been able to achieve the feat of being the Secretary and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)”, the former Ikorodu NBA Chairman said.
Implications of His Death To NBA, Ikorodu, Lagos and Nigeria:
“To the NBA, I would say that the old brigade laid down some ethos which we found difficult to follow now. At a time, the NBA was for the cause of the masses. We are not living up to that challenge now. It is in that regard that we would always remember that there were some people before us.
“In terms of Lagos State and Nigeria, you know he was the leader of the Lagoon Movement, even at the time when he handed off some other organizations, I think that he still kept the Lagoon Movement to his heart.
“It is on that note we had encounters with power that be. In their own way, it would be a little relief of a kind.
“Baba was not a politician and he didn't like them which was a weakness on his part, but again, you have to ask why he didn’t like them. It is simply because he felt that politicians are liars.
“Regarding Lagos State, he had made his own contributions but not politically.
“For Ikorodu, he had left a big vacuum and incidentally, those who are fit to fill those vacuums are also of advanced age. It is a big vacuum that we have to look inwardly and wide to be able to get somebody to fill it”, Shillings said.
Immortalising Chief Benson:
“I want the immortalization of B.O. Benson to first take place in Ikorodu. He was conferred with the title of Asiwaju of Ikorodu but Ikorodu Division felt his leadership even though he got the title from Ikorodu, but the entire division conferred it on him not minding that it is unofficial.
“So, the Ikorodu Division should immortalize him and we are going to make that suggestion in that respect after his burial. We will contact the appropriate authorities so that the Ikorodu Local Government and the entire Ikorodu community could find something good enough to immortalize him.
“We would also make a presentation to the Lagos State Government too and I think that an effort has been made in that respect to ensure that he’s not forgotten.
“If somebody has been able to lead and hold a community of this magnitude together , I think the state should recognize his contributions and do something to immortalise him”, Barr. Shillings said.
