Toba Opaleye:20 Years After
By Eniola Olatunji
May TOBA OPALEYE’s soul rest in peace. My name is Eniola Olatunji. I had been so close to Toba from 1982 when I joined BCOS Ibadan during my one year Industrial internship after OND from Ogun Poly. It was supposed to be so but I was taken by baba Faleti as a contract staff on the recommendation of late Tolu Fatoyinbo. I was actually in the Library Dept of Radio Nigeria, Ibadan but I spent all my time with the Outside Broadcast unit. I was popular as a sports commentator from 1979 while being a staff of OGBC. I was the youngest commentator at the National Sports Festival Oluyole 79.
So getting to BCOS I was welcomed by Toba and some folks like late Wale Alalade a DJ in the stock of Yanju Adegbite.
Atobatele Okanlawon Opaleye was born July 15 and I July 8 same year and we became siamese twins.
When Radio Nigeria, Abeokuta started in 1983 Tolu Fatoyinbo as the then pioneer Controller of Programs took me in for Sports cast and Continuity Announcing. It was easy for me to persuade Toba to let us move to Radio Nigeria, Abeokuta.
Toba was in Programs as Presenter and News Translator.
I eventually stayed at Iporo Ake and Toba at Lantoro. We were always together at the Liberty House, Isale Ake belonging to the Adegbites. Wale Adegbite is my childhood friend from Abadina in UI. Most of the time, Toba passed the night at my bunk at Ile Alogi, Iporo Ake.
Toba married Yinka who I fondly call till today my Yinkus 84. Long story on the marriage.
We stayed as siamese twins after Toba’s marriage. Our relationship was a mystery to friends. We had codes of communication. Those who knew us know we were always throwing banters at each other even during live broadcasts. You can never get our codes. We developed them per second and that was what Yinka his wife wondered at.
Toba is from Owu in Egbaland and I am from Iwaya in Ijebu. Toba was influential in my Yoruba presentation. Although I was taught Yoruba by our common mentor, late baba Debayo Akande Faleti, Toba was my guide. When I adopted the on air name of Baba Fiofio. Toba in my sitting room changed from calling me my friend that is as tall as Bamboo tree. I called myself Baba Jeje dudu t’oga fiofio bi ile agbe Onkoko n’Badan. (The elderly black man as tall as Cocoa House in Ibadan). Toba said I had the philosophy of elders because of the way I think and counsel him. Toba was deep spiritually and mentally. I know Toba like the back of my hand.
If anyone has a grudge with me they tell Toba and if you need to fight or connect Toba you get me.
Then same Mohammadu Buhari came to shot down all the FM stations established by Aliyu Shehu Shagari in 1985.
That day, I was to be on night duty as Announcer. I had moved houses from Iporo Ake to Onikolobo so as to be near the Polytechnic at Ojere for my HNd. I lived downstairs with Tunji Odunbaku now baba Ebenezer Obey’s Manager. He came to tell me with banters; “babafiofio have you heard that Buhari has shot down your radio station? Oko birisope lokan abi we should look for a job at any petrol station for you?” I was blank. It was like Anthony Joshua hit me with a Mohammed Ali’s one inch punch. I must have swallowed Saliva 20 times. Odunbaku and I were pioneer Mass Communication students of Ogun Poly on Hnd then.
Second day, I wanted to take garri with moinmoin iya Isale Ake in the afternoon when I had high profile visitors in Akex Taiwo, GM OGBC (most gentle and amiable GM I ever worked with. He was Director of Admin in my first employment in 1979); late High Chief, Tunde Elegbede a BBC trained Journalist and Director of News and Current affairs; Mr. Taiwo Osindele who was Controller News & Current Affairs and I think Soji Egunjobi who now handled Admin..
They asked what are my plans since Buhari has sacked us all. I said none. They asked whether I would want to be back with OGBC and I resoundingly said Yes. They asked when will I want to resume? I was confused. I didn’t know the talks were actually an interview. I looked into their eyes tears were dripping from my eyes as they said I should report at the office at Ayetoro road on Monday. I looked into their eyes and asked if I could come with Toba Opaleye. Chief Elegbede said we were coming there. He asked if Toba will like to work for OGBC. I told them beating my chest, “I assure you, YES” Bring him with you.
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Relationship matters in everything of life. Those media chiefs were not colleagues but my uncles. They used to take my matter up personally. That was why travelling for sports coverage was easy for me because they were my approving officers.
I politely ask for Lola Sunmonu, Kola Popoola and two others but they said later. Our interview (me and Toba) on Monday was a mere formality. My other colleagues at Radio Nigeria Abeokuta came in later.
I lost touch with Toba when I went for my NYSC in Jos. I left Broadcasting to serve with Concord Newspapers. I didn’t return to Broadcasting.
In 1998 late Toyin Gbadebo and late Peter Okodua contacted me to be lead commentator for the maiden WAFCON held at Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta. I was now married and lived in UCH with my wife Adeyinka Olubunmi nee Ogunde who is a Medical Doctor.
I got Toba back.
I moved to Abuja in 2001 and that was how I lost the touch with Toba and his wife Adeyinka. My being ‘born again’ in 1986 made me lose touch with a lot of my friends.
I got Yinka Toba-Opaleye back some two years ago but we have not seen physically.
May God help us with relationships. I never knew Toba with any form of hard drugs but I confess we were alcoholic addicts. Toba was the only one ever to know when am drunk right from our BCOS days. Great guy, very discerning with spiritual antena Toba knew that when I continually rub my face, I am drunk and can hardly see. He would hold me and make me stay in one corner for a while.
Toba absorbs a lot of alcohol but unknown to our friends I drink more than him. I will finish a carton of beer in one hour. I had self control sha. Nobody knows when am drunk. I keep quiet and stare at you belching and going to the nearest corner to release urine. I stopped alcohol in September 1985 exactly one year before I became ‘born again’. I cannot say whether Toba stopped alcohol but I know his death was related to alcoholic consumption.
Honestly, I am moved to tears right now. Truly our father’s said 20 children cannot be together for 20 years.
What a coincidence, 30th April 2026 is 20 years Atobatele iyeru okin afunwontan omo Opaleye abi’rungbon bi agba esin Musulumi opakoroko ya’gi eba ona left us. Toba ti Di ewure jelejele. Okanlawon ti di alamu ti nrin legbe ogiri. Omo won Olowu Oduru oko Yinkus 84 o d’arinako, o d’oju ala, o d’ojo agbe nde. Sun re Toba Opaleye Oopi baba. Da mi lohun Toba. So wipe Ooopa!
On 1st May, Toba Opaleye will be remembered at a special event put together by Yemi Sonde (Jigan Akala) and the Toba Opaleye family in Abeokuta.
From Abayomi Kassim
Now Rev. Joseph Eniola Olatunji.
