My column this week is dedicated to the late Towulade of Akinale,Oba (Dr)Olufemi Adewunmi Ogunleye,Who joined his ancestors Wednesday June 19,2024.
He was a Mentor,motivator and an Uncommon Monarch whose humane nature combined with his infectious charisma and Love for breaking new grounds stood him out among peers.
He would have marked his 80th Birthday on September 23.
Before then,he would also have bagged his Doctor of Philosophy,PHD degree in Law with specialisation in Conflict Resolution from Backcock University,in Ilisan on July 13,2024.
But all that was not to be as he answered the home call to join his ancestors Wednesday June 19,2024 barely three months to his birthday to which he has invited me.
By the time he answered the Divine home call,he has spent 21 years on the throne of his forefathers who settled in this part of Owu kingdom around 1840.
What a life and what a struggle!
After battling the vagaries of early survival through infant mortality fought by his late parents, he finally had a chance to live on September 23,1944 as the eleventh Child of his parents, ten of who had earlier died in infancy or in the womb.
The life and times of the late Oba Olufemi Ogunleye was full of struggles, achievements and outstanding roles which fate and nature conferred on him.
As the only surviving son of his mother,he struggled through life vagaries and after secondary school education,he travelled far to the Northern part of the country where he took up journalism practise, first with New Nigerian Newspaperd and later as a Correspondent with Daily Times,where he cut his teeth and proved his mettle.
ALSO READ:Ogunleye,a worthy “Ambassador”-Crescent University Proprietor
Since the price of performance and recognition is more work,he through the job also earned for himself, the first Nigerian to be deported right inside his own country.
He was deported by the government of the late North Central Governor,Audu Bako for an offensive story published in Daily Times.
As fate would have it, his recall to Lagos headquarters of the publishing house marked the beginning of a glorious career which in 1976 saw him into the defunct Nigeria Airways as the Public relations Officer of the national career.
He not only seized the opportunity to improve his education by stint at the University of Lagos,he also cut his teeth as a public relations officer of note both ong his colleagues in the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations,NIPR.
hisas head of the airlines Public Relations Department marked a significant turning point for the national career.
The journalism in him ,his amiable nature blended so well with the warmth in Public relations practise that with the passage of time,he strode between journalism and Public Relations.
He did so well,he earned a name in reputation building and management of the national career.
ALSO READ:South West Governors and Food Emergency in the Region
Before a short break in 1989 for business venture, he has floated Africa Air- a journal on Aviation which later evolved into Flight Africa quarterly journal.
He also published,Flight Express a seekly tanloid in Aviation.
Anywhers he goes,he left an indelible mark.
Late Towulade of Akinale,Owu Kingdom
Still not satisfied,the Oba in the making who had over the years developed a close rapport with the elite and traditional institution,became unwillingly enmeshed in the politics of his Owu homestead and consolidated his fathers influence.
Though,he returned to the Nigeria Airways as Director in 1999, he retired four Years later ahead of the disbandment of the National Carrier.
Before he called it quit,he has in 1986 established the Village News-A rural newspaper circulating in his native Ogun state .
While the Village News lasted under his watch, it was READ and courted by the masses,rural folks and political elite and traditional institution .
But along the line,the Journalist in him was unknowinghly deepening his closeness to royalty in spite of his being born a royale.
The journey to royalty began for him in 1995 when he was installed Ekerin Apagun of Egbaland.
Yes,he was indeed a warrior..warrior Who survived boardroom politics of then Nigeria Airways.
He horned his skill as an author as he published and launched a Book on Nigeria Airways and Aviation in 2013.
The 1995 installation as Ekerin Apagun of Egbaland was to kick-start a journey to inherit the throne left by his late Father in 1981.
He was installed Baale of Akinale that year and using his fast,wide connection In both the Corporate World and Egba traditional Institution,a relatively small Owu Community of Akinale was lifted up With an Obaship status which he elevated by his warmth,charisma and experience to a first Class Egba Monarch within years.
Not done with life as a Journalist,Public Relations guru and traditional ruler,the uncommon Monarch enrolled as a Law student at the Crescent University,Abeokuta where he subsequently got a Diploma,First Degree in Law and was called to the Bar after successful stint at the Nigeria Law School,Lagos.
Oba Ogunleye book cover
He graduated With honurs in his late 60s.
Yet,not done With Schorlarship,Oba Ogunleye as a Conflict resolution expert, enrolled for and got Masters degree in Law at the Babcock University.
Oba Ogunleye horned his deep knowledge of Law within a short period of his practise that he became Advisory to Egba traditional Council in reconcilliation and legal matters.
Yet,not satisfied,Oba Ogunleye enrolled for and completed and successfully defended his Doctor of Philosophy,PHD thesis at the same Babcock University in April this year.
And that was when illness that eventually resulted in death struck to take him to his ancestors barely three months to his 80th birthday thus preventing him to use his vast knowledge to further the development of his throne in Akinale.
A Distinguished monarch
That Akinale ,a hitherto rural surburb but which gained prominence with the enduring image,legacy of service and drive for youths carved by this Uncommon Monarch is instructive.
He had come,seen and developed Journalism,Public Relations practise and what is more, elevated Akinale,its kingship Institution and larger Owu kingdom .
He was easily one of the the most lettered Monarch in this part of the country.
Until his death’,he was a member of Lagos Country Club,One of the promoters of Abeokuta Golf Club ,himself a golfer of note .
For Kabiyesi Oba Olufemi Adewunmi Ogunleye,the Towulade of Akinale,it isnt life that matters but the courage, unquenchable quest for knowledge,character and glamour he brought into the Obaship Institution that matters.
His will remain an everlasting legacy very difficult to surpass by both his successors and contemporaries.
Adieu Kabiyesi Adewunmi Ogunleye.
Yes, your passage was painful but the fact remains that you never left the Worldstage the same way you met it.
Adieu an Uncommon Monarch.
ALSO READ:Ogunleye: His distinguished career left and indelible mark says Abiodun
