Chief Afe Babalola and MKO Abiola

 Where were you in 1987?

~ Professor Yemi Osinbajo was then a Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the Federation.

That was the year Oba Yesufu Oloyede Asanike, Olubadan of Ibadan made history. Olubadan installed Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola as the Bashorun of Ibadan. It was a prestigious title befitting of a distinguished personality in the mould of MKO Abiola.

That was the title of  the legendary Bashorun Oluyole who was the paramount chief of Ibadan in 1850. It was also the title of Bashorun Ogunmola who reigned between 1865 and 1867. It was therefore historic that exactly 120 years after the death of Ogunmola, MKO Abiola became the fourth person to be conferred with the prestigious title.

It was indeed a befitting honour for someone who had amassed chieftaincy titles from almost every town in Nigeria. As of the time of his installation in 1987, MKO Abiola was reputed to have over 150 chieftaincy titles. He was the Bobajiro of Ode-Remo. He was the Bada Musulumi of Gbagura Egba.

As he drove out of the palace of Oba Asanike that fateful day with his son by his side, MKO must have thought that he had reached the peak of traditional chieftaincy in Nigeria.

He was just settling down in his Ikeja home when he was informed that he had a call. Who was on the line? He asked before collecting the phone. It was the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.

MKO snatched the phone. “Iku Baba Yeye, Igbakeji Orisa! Kabiyesi!” The newly installed Bashorun paid his homage to the foremost traditional ruler. Alaafin must be calling to congratulate me, MKO thought. Kabiyesi was however not calling to congratulate the business magnate.

“We have decided that you are to be conferred with the title of Aare Ona Kakanfo!” Kabiyesi informed him.

The phone nearly dropped from the hand of Bashorun. Aare Ona Kakanfo! The Generalissimo of Yoruba race! The Field Marshall for all descendants of Oduduwa! The portfolio held by Afonja, the founder of Ilorin! The title of Aare Obadoke Latosa of Ibadan – the scourge of Efunsetan Aniwura! The position held by the last premier of Western Region, Ladoke Akintola of Ogbomoso! 

For a single person to be Bashorun and Aare was unheard of. It was the ultimate! Traditionally, Bashorun is the Prime Minister. Aare is the Field Marshall. When Bashorun Gaa moved against Alaafin Abiodun around 1770, it was Oyalabi from Ajase (now Republic of Benin), the Aare Ona Kakanfo that came to the powerful monarch’s rescue. Now, Abiola was going to be both the Prime Minister and the Field Marshall!

Alaafin had spoken. MKO Abiola had no choice. The news spread like wildfire. Congratulatory messages poured in from all over the globe. Aare Ona Kakanfo was not just another title. It was the title. It was the father of all traditional titles. Father ke? No, it was the Grandfather of All Titles. If it were to be a national honour, it would be the equivalent of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic!

Everybody in and outside Yorubaland was ecstatic at the choice of Abiola as the 14th Aare Ona Kakanfo. Well, almost everybody.

It happened that the Ashipa of Oyo, Chief Amuda Olorunosebi was not pleased with the choice of Bashorun MKO Abiola as the Aare. Ashipa was one of the prominent chiefs of Alaafin. He objected to the choice of the flamboyant publisher, an Egba man, as Aare Ona Kakanfo.  He went to Kabiyesi to protest. Iku Baba Yeye was adamant that MKO was eminently qualified to be the Aare Ona Kakanfo.

The Ashipa went back to his quarters at Isale Oyo. As MKO Abiola and the Alaafin were preparing for the installation of Bashorun, Chief Amuda was consulting with his lawyers. This was however unknown to the Alaafin. It was assumed that the Ashipa had been convinced to support Abiola’s candidacy.

Abiola was no ordinary person by any standard. He was larger than life. He was flamboyance personified. He was determined to make the chieftaincy installation as grand as possible. He invited all his contacts from all over the world. All the military governors were invited. A special invitation was delivered to the President, Ibrahim Babangida, who was a close friend of the Bashorun. African Heads of States cleared their schedules in order to honour MKO. Nigerian Embassies were issuing visas on daily basis. It was going to be a grand occasion.

Then the unthinkable happened! It started as a rumour. It was days to the installation.

‘Eti Oba nile, eti Oba l’oko, eniyan lo n je be.’ - The ear of a king is everywhere. Iku Baba Yeye was in his palace when he heard from the grapevine that a case had been filed to stop the occasion! “Ewo! Sango o ni je! Abiodun o ni je! Aole o ni je!” Kabiyesi went on to invoke the names of his predecessors on the royal throne of Alaafin!

It was around noon when the phone rang in Ibadan. It was from the Palace, Oyo Alaafin. Chief Afe Babalola, the famous legal practitioner, picked the phone. After exchange of homage and royal blessings, Alaafin informed Afiwajoye of Ado Ekiti that Ashipa had filed a suit against the installation of MKO Abiola. Not only that, a motion ex parte for interim injunction had also been filed. It was apparent that Ashipa was not ready to gamble with his chance.

Though Kabiyesi did not say it, Chief Afe knew the urgency involved. Installation was on Saturday. The call came in on Tuesday.

Less than thirty minutes after the call, Chief Afe was almost at Oyo. The legendary lawyer covered the 57 kilometres between Oyo and Ibadan as if he was on a chariot. He proceeded to court where he met the court registrar. Of course, the registrar knew Chief Babalola. It is doubtful if there is anyone in the Judiciary who does not know the Mayegun of Modakeke. Mayegun paid the requisite fees and conducted a search of the court’s file. It was there! Alaafin’s information was correct!

Iduro ko si, ìbèreè ko si fun eni ti o gbe odó mi - A person who swallows a pestle can neither stand nor sit comfortably. Installation was on Saturday. The search was conducted on Tuesday! The motion ex parte was to be heard the following day, Wednesday.

Time was of the essence! Chief Afe turned his car around, off to Emmanuel Chambers, Ibadan. Before the car reached Fiditi, he had mentally finished composing the processes. He was nodding as the cases and other relevant authorities began to surface in his mind.

By the time he reached his office, the mental process was complete. In a minute the Counter-Affidavit was ready. There was no need for a Written Address. Professor Yemi Osinbajo was then a Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the Federation. It would be years later before he introduced Written Address as the Lagos State Attorney General. The counter-affidavit was filed and served on counsel to the Ashipa.

On Wednesday, the court was full. Chief M. L. Lagunju, Ashipa’s counsel was in court. He adjusted his wig and checked his books. He smiled. It was a Motion Exparte. It won’t be contested. He checked his time. Then there was some commotion at the entrance of the court.

Chief Lagunju blinked! He blinked again! Walking in majestically was the Afiwajoye of Ado-Ekiti, the Balogun of Mobaland, the Mayegun of Modakeke, Chief Afe Babalola in flesh! He was followed by a host of other lawyers, each armed with bags of legal authorities enough to open a law library. Chief Lagunju didn’t know when he said: “The game is up!”

On the dot of 9 O’clock, the Court began sitting. The trial judge was a royalty himself. Justice Aderemi’s father was the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Sir Tadenikawo Adesoji Aderemi, the first Governor of Western Region. The case was called.

The plaintiff’s counsel sought to move his application. The learned counsel informed the court that it was an ex parte application and therefore the other party had no right of audience.

His Lordship turned to Chief Afe Babalola. The court was as silent as a ghost town. Young lawyers craned their necks to hear what the Legend was going to say. They have been taught in law school that Ex Parte Motion was for only one party. Some of them must have been wondering what magic the Mayegun of Modakeke was going to perform.

Chief Afe Babalola brought out the White Book. Oh! Sorry, you don’t know the White Book? The White Book is an important book for lawyers. It contains the sources of law relating to the practice and procedures of the High Court. Ask your lawyer friend to show you a copy. He won’t charge you, unless you open it.

The Legal Colossus was on his feet. He was vibrating like a trumpet, but his voice was as soft as velvet. He began to reel out authorities after authorities to the effect that a defendant who became aware, anyhow, that a party had gone to court and was about to obtain an order ex-parte that would affect him, had a right to appear in court and to insist on being heard.

His Lordship – a brilliant Judge from the Source of Yoruba Race – was nodding as he scribbled down the authorities being cited by the Legendary Advocate. His Lordship was not the only one writing. Most lawyers in court were writing furiously. One old man turned to his friend and whispered: “I don’t mind selling my house, Mufu, my son must become a lawyer like this man. Look at the way he is speaking English as if he is chanting oriki Sango!”

“There is merit in the case of the Defendants. I agree with Chief Afe Babalola, the Defendants deserve to be given the right to be heard. Case is hereby adjourned to tomorrow for arguments on the Motion on Notice.” His Lordship rose. 

It is doubtful if the parties involved in the case slept that night. Whilst the lawyers checked and re-checked the authorities, the litigants were in anxiety mode. Chief MKO Abiola’s invited guests had started arriving from their various bases. Musicians engaged for entertainment had begun to set up their instruments in Oyo and Ikeja. Caterers had booked all the cows in Ilorin, Oyo and Ibadan. Local drummers had cancelled all engagements. The royal poet, Lanrewaju Adepoju had finished composing his masterpiece. All roads led to Oyo Alaafin.

If the court was filled to the brim on Wednesday, it was spilling over on Thursday. Litigants, journalists, lawyers, in fact everybody was in court that day. Chief Lagunju stood up. The learned counsel knew what was at stake. He argued his application expertly. He guessed the likely issues that Chief Afe would raise. He addressed each comprehensively. It was advocacy at its best.

Then the Balogun of Mobaland stood up. Like a surgeon, Chief Afe surgically cut through the issues deftly. He was not going to take any prisoner. After cutting through the issues, the authorities followed. From Halsbury’s Law of England to Commonwealth Law Reports, from decisions of House of Lords to decisions of Court of Appeal, from WACA to White Book, and then finally to the Supreme Court. The authorities were flowing like water from Asejire Dam. There was no stopping the deluge.

“In the light of the copious authorities cited by the learned counsel for the plaintiff and the defendants, the Court will be adjourning to…” There was pin-drop silence in Court. The installation was only two days away.  “... Friday” Ha! Palpable relief went through the court. 

On Friday, Chief Afe Babalola’s phone began to ring from dawn. “Chief, E ma lo gba ruling yin l’Oyo loni o. Please send your junior o.” Clients, friends and well wishers who witnessed or heard of the tension soaked session in court on Thursday were justifiably apprehensive. But Chief Afe was not the Balogun of Mobaland for nothing. A General must not be afraid of the warfront. Off to Oyo.

Chief Afe had hardly left Ibadan when he started seeing policemen at strategic junctions on the road to Oyo. As they approached Fiditi, the number of policemen increased. By the time they got to Jobele, it was as if the Police College had moved its campus there. In the forest, on top of trees, in the bushes, and on top of buildings, the police were everywhere.

The Courtroom itself was no exception. More than fifty police officers joined lawyers and litigants in the courtroom. If you were not wearing a wig and you were not a party to the case, you would have to stay outside.

Court!

Justice Aderemi went straight to the business of the day. “RULING” His Lordship began. Time stood still as His Lordship went on to review the facts of the application and the authorities cited by the counsel for the parties. “In the final analysis…” Counsel and cops in the court became tense.

“This application fails and is hereby dismissed.”

As if by telepathy, the crowd outside heard the ruling immediately! Shouts of joy erupted. Drummers who must have been hiding theirgangan drums under their agbada sprang out.Sekere came out. Agogo was not to be left behind. Chief Afe Babalola was pulled out of his car, The Balogun was placed squarely on the roof of the car. Women danced, men jumped. I’m not sure but one of the songs on that day must have been “Ajekun Iya ni o je”. I have to confirm this from Chief. May God preserve his life.

Alaafin was waiting in the Palace with his Council Members. For a moment, the Sango of our time, Iku Baba Yeye was close to tears. It was an emotional moment. MKO Abiola was called. The Bashorun shouted: “Allahu Akbar! Alhamdulillah.”

On Saturday, January 14, 1988, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III installed Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Abiola as the 14th Aare Ona Kakanfo. The famous Yoruba Poet, Lanrewaju Moshood Adepoju was then called to the podium. In his deep and flawless Yoruba, Adepoju movingly rendered traditional poetry tracing the history of the title and the qualities of the new Aare Ona Kakanfo.

Abiola smiled

It was indeed a glorious day for the husband of Simbiat Atinuke. 

In recognition of his service to the Crown and the Law, Alaafin later conferred Chief Afe Babalola with the prestigious title of Aare Bamofin of Oyo Empire.

Dug from the archive. ...

ZIK OF AFRICA

By Godwin Eigbe

Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe was a visionary leader whose philosophy of African liberation – Zikism, endeared him to many in Africa and the world beyond. His intellect, logic and intense love for his motherland drew great admiration for his person. Zik’s philosophy had in consideration five concepts for Africa’s movement towards freedom, and these were spiritual balance, social regeneration, economic determination, mental emancipation and political resurgence. His motto was simple: talk I listen; you listen I talk.

EARLY LIFE

Nnamdi was born in Zungeru in present Niger State on November 16, 1904. He had his elementary study in Zungeru and spoke Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba Languages. He was educated at christian mission schools which include the Roman Catholic and Church Missionary Society’s Anglican Missions at Onitsha, Wesley Boys High School Lagos and Hope Waddell Training Institute in Calabar.

EDUCATION

Great Zik was a voracious reader who had insatiable quest for knowledge and this saw him in 1925 at age 21 in the United States of America where he enrolled at Storer College, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. From there against all odds; poverty, depression, racial discrimination and hostility of some White folks, Zik matriculated to Howard University in Washington D.C. An offer of steady on-campus job led him to Lincoln University where he graduated with a degree in Political Science. He also obtained a certificate in Journalism at Columbia University in 1930 before going back to Lincoln University where he again bagged an M.A. in Political Science.

In 1931 Nnamdi wrote his first book: LIBERIA IN WORLD POLITICS and it marked the beginning of his literary life. But he was not done with education yet. In 1932 he moved on to the University of Pennsylvania where he earned an M.Sc with honours in Anthropology.

JOURNALSM CAREER

Zik returned to Africa in 1934 and was employed as editor of the Africa Morning Post, an Accra Newspaper owned and published by I. T. Wallace Johnson of Sierra Leone. Here his pro-Africa nationalist interest was fanned into flame and for three years edited the Morning Post. In his articles and public statements he censured the existing colonial order, the restrictions on Africans’ rights and racial discrimination. However after he narrowly escaped prison over the publication of an article the then British Administration termed ‘treasonous’, Zik returned to Nigeria in 1937 to pursue both  journalism and commercial interests and he excelled in both. He founded the Zik Group of Newspapers, publishing multiple newspapers of which the West African Pilot was one. These he used as vehicles to foster Nigerian Nationalism and struggle for independence.

POLITICAL CAREER

In the political front he is regarded by many as a champion of African nationalism and master of compromise in Nigeria’s turbulent politics. He co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in 1944 with Herbert Macaulay. He was elected to the Legislative Council of Nigeria in 1947 and in 1954 became Premier of Nigeria’s Eastern Region. On November 16, 1960, he became Governor General and was same day named to the Queen’s Privy Council. When Nigeria became a Republic in 1963 he became the first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister.

DEATH AND MEMORIAL

At age 91 in May 1996, the politician, scholar, poet, journalist and first-rank red cap chief joined his ancestors. His legacies however bear witness to a hero of our nation’s past and would never be forgotten. His memory has been imortalised across the country and by various governments since the second republic. Today his face adorns the N500 bill and many remarkable places have been named after him. These include the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja,  

THE MAN ABRAHAM LINCOLN

By Godwin Eigbe

Born into poverty 200 years ago in a one-room log cabin on the 12^th of February, 1809 in Hardin County Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln conquered poverty, failures and defeats to become the 16^th president of the United States of America. With an irrepressible spirit he matched unswerving for the actualization of his dreams. He was an epitome of hard work, one for whom the saying that ‘hard work doesn’t kill but makes you stronger’ holds true.

 Lincoln was the only child of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks and his formal education consisted only about 18 months of schooling but he was an avid reader and was largely self-educated. His path to Presidency was not rosy but relentlessly he staged his match willing to try every way that seem good and reasonable to him. On this journey he lost eight elections before he was elected President of the United State in 1860. As he once put it, “I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep doing so”

At age 22 in 1831, young Lincoln left his parents in Coles County Illinois and struck out on his own. He canoed down the Sangamon River to the village of New Salem in Sangamon County and was hired by Denton Offutt a New Salem businessman for whom Lincoln ferried goods from New Salem to New Orleans via flat boats. Later Denton made Lincoln his clerk at the store in New Salem and he did a good job at the store for some months before Denton over-extended himself financially and ran the business to the ground. Thus by the Spring of 1832 Lincoln had lost his job.

Unflinching Lincoln ventured into politics and ran unsuccessfully for the Illinois State Legislature as a member of the Whig Party. This failure did not in anyway undo him. Doggedly he matched on and later that year he served as a captain in an Illinois Volunteer Militia Company in the Black Hawk War. Lincoln never gave up trying for he was a staunch believer in the counsel that failure is a stepping stone to success. Unfaltering he ran again for the State Legislature in 1834 and won, securing the second-highest vote in a field of thirteen candidates where those with the four highest votes became legislators. While in the legislature, Lincoln came across the ‘Commentaries on the Laws of England’ which ignited his passion for law and forthwith, he started to study Law.

In1835 at age 26, Lincoln lost his sweetheart – Miss Ann Rutledge. Her death was said to have affected him profoundly. Few months later he had a nervous breakdown but pulled through to campaign for a seat at the Illinois State Legislature and was re-elected. The State’s Supreme Court licensed him to practice law in 1837 and same year he made his first protest against slavery in the Illinois House; stating that the institution was founded on both injustice and bad policy. He later teamed up with John T. Stuart at Springfield, Illinois to practice. He had a reputation as a formidable adversary during cross-examinations and in closing arguments and with these he became successful.

However his days of defects and setbacks were not over. In 1838 – 1839 legislative sessions, Lincoln’s bid for the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives failed. This for Lincoln was not a loss to grieve about. He concentrated his effort on his legislative duties and in 1840 was returned to the House. By 1841, he joined a new partner, William Herndon who was his fellow Whig Party member in his law practice.

In 1843 Lincoln recorded another defeat as he failed to get nominated to run for the United States Congress at the May 1843 Whig District Convention. Thereafter he channeled his energy to his law practice and became famous for his accomplishments as an advocate. At the age of 37 in 1846 he made another try for Congress, got nominated and also won the election. He however could not return to Congress in 1848 as a result of an agreement reached by the Whig Party for Members to serve one term and give others the opportunity to hold public offices. Lincoln then sought appointment as a Commissioner for the General Land Office, a federal position but was not favoured by the Interior Secretary in 1849.

Lincoln’s dream to be a U.S. Senator failed in 1854 when he fell six votes short of the requisite majority vote and two years later in 1856 he lost a nominal election for Vice President at the Philadelphia Republican Convention. As though these were not enough, he again lost a second bid for the Senate in 1858. Characteristic of his indefatigable nature, Abraham Lincoln summed it this way: “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failures.” Lincoln was convinced that real failure comes only when you give up on your dreams and aspirations.

In 1860 at the age of 51, Lincoln against all odds, took a shot at the number one seat in America and got nominated on the platform of the Republican Party and in the general elections defeated Stephen Douglas, a Northern Democrat to whom he had lost his Senate bid, John Bell of the Constitutional Party and John Breckinridge of the Southern Democratic Party to be elected President. His success rolled on to 1864 when he ran under the National Union Party’s banner and in a land slide victory was returned President for a second term.

As President of the United States, Lincoln fought to preserve the Union and defeated the Confederate States in the American Civil War which devastated the country from 1861 to 1865. In his fight against slavery, Lincoln issued the famous Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy.

No man is ever loved by all. Many in Southern America at the time saw Lincoln as a tyrant as he blatantly refused to compromise on his stand on slavery. On Good Friday, April 14, 1865 at the Ford’s Theatre Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, an actor. 

This article as written by Godwin Eigbe was first published in Executive Travels Nigeria magazine, issue No. 19, 2010

PROFESSOR GRACE ALELE -WILLIAMS – A TRAILBLAZER

BY GODWIN EIGBE

At a time in Nigeria when women were led to believe that the most they can achieve is to be a wife and a mother, a child was born. She was named Grace Alele.Born on December 16,1932 she grew up to become not only a wife and a mother but also the first female Vice-Chancellor in Nigeria  thereby proving wrong the earlier held belief.

Her story is one that inspires and draws awe. Professor Grace Alele-Williams had her early education at Government School, Warri between 1939 and 1949 and Queens College, Lagos between 1945 and 1949.She then moved on to the University College (presently University of Ibadan) for her first degree between 1949 and 1954.She was amongst the second set of students at the University and was also one out of the ten girls in that set. For the next three years, she taught mathematics at Queen’s School, Ede Osun State.

With financial assistance from the Nigerian Head of Service, she left for the USA to teach and study at the University of Vermont as a graduate assistant between 1957 and 1959. Bored by the cold weather, the segregation in the rural setting and America’s re-evaluation of its science curriculum at that time due to the perceived Russian scientific threat, she moved to the University of Chicago in 1959 and obtained her PhD in Mathematics education in 1963 thereby becoming the first Nigerian woman to be awarded a doctorate.

Her coming back to Nigeria in 1963 was not with the proud head of being the first Nigerian woman to be awarded a doctorate but it was with the big idea of revolutionizing the teaching of Mathematics in Nigeria. Having seen the revolution work in America, she was convinced that the same idea will work in her country.

Starting in Ibadan where she was based as a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, she worked with Grade II teachers in a programme popularly referred to as train the trainer. She extended the programme to Lagos and Benin. In 1965, she joined the University of Lagos and was able to convince the Ministry of Education in Lagos about the programme.By then she was working with about 100 teachers who were expected to go back to their respective schools to train their own teachers. The programme went beyond Nigeria to other African countries like Kenya and Uganda though later she concentrated the programme on West Africa.

The execution of her plans was not without hitches here and there. For example, the concept she developed was to go beyond training the teachers to changing the Mathematics curricula in Nigeria. This meant that the textbooks being used would have to be re-written. However, the three major publishing companies in Nigeria were not taken in by the idea since according to them; they had invested so much capital in re-writing their Mathematics textbooks.

Even though the textbook ‘Modern Mathematics’ was eventually published, she was to face another obstacle. The then Minister of Education under General Obasanjo’s regime, Ahmadu Alli announced the ban of the use of the textbook in schools. His reason was that the textbook confused teachers and students.

But did all these stop her from pursuing her vision? Of course not. In her own words, ‘I grieved for some time…, then picked myself up, dusted myself and continued my work’. Though the textbook was banned, she continued working with the teachers and she also wrote papers on her works. It was her work in this area that earned her a professorship in 1974 making her the first female Professor of Mathematics Education in Nigeria.

Between 1965 and 1985, she taught at the University of Lagos and directed affairs at the University’s Institute of Education where she introduced innovative non degree programmes to benefit teachers. Many of the certificate recipients were older women working as elementary school teachers.

In 1985 under the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, she was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin.However; she had the option of turning down the offer since as of then there was no woman VC for her to learn the ropes from. But she accepted the position thereby becoming the first female Vice Chancellor of any African University.

In a 2004 interview she granted to THISDAY online, she says about her appointment: ‘The excitement I felt on receiving the news from Professor Jubril Aminu (the then Minister of Education) had more to do with seeing it in terms of opening up the field for women than anything else’. The appointment for her was an opportunity to show that women can handle such top positions and also deliver on them. She was also aware of the high expectations of the womenfolk and was therefore not prepared to fail.

           

Though many people applauded her appointment, some others were not happy and meanings were read into every action she took as the VC perhaps because she was a woman and some people felt she had invaded their turf. She was called different names and some saw her as an outsider imposed on them by the military junta while others simply said she was unqualified for the job.

All these accusations did not weigh her down to the point of not doing her duty. Her credentials were enough to tell everyone including her accusers that she was qualified for the job but she was not going to let only her credentials speak for her. She went to work. By the end of her second term, the voices accusing her had been silenced.  The physical structures built during her administration spoke for her. They include the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge, Bursary and Administration Block, Faculty of Law and College of Medical Sciences.

At the end of her second tenure in 1991, she did not retire but returned to the University of Lagos. She later became a director in Chevron Nigeria and also headed a committee at the Nigerian University Commission. Professor Alele-Williams was a member of the National Planning Commission. Throughout these periods, she continued with her researches and went on presenting papers and her profile continued to rise.

           

This 77 years old mother of five and grandmother to six is not resting but continues to seek avenues through which women can be educated on various subjects. Her drive stems from her belief that one cannot live a fulfilled life unless you add to someone else’s joy, comfort and security.

Whereas others would have been satisfied being just average, Professor Grace Alele-Williams decided that the very  top was for her and she went about working hard to achieve just that and in doing that became a trailblazer.

JAY JAY OKOCHA: A LIVING LEGEND

BY GODWIN EIGBE

The saying that football is all about goals is a common expression in the world of soccer and every footballer trains for it, strives for it and many do so with great assertiveness and aggression thereby turning the green grass to a battle ground. Those on the defensive side will do anything to stop an attacker even if it means pushing knee caps or ankles out of place. Those on the attacking side will use every trick and turn to dribble and wobble while trying to hit the back of the net.

However from one generation to the next, players who drive the round leather further than just scoring goals have emerged seeking to give the game a new definition. They bring life to the game by making it exciting and entertaining and wherever they played, the crowd sings one song as the line of club or nation, race or colour are broken and together they celebrate their heroes. On this line up is Edison Arantes do Nascimento best known as Pelé from Brazil, Diego Maradona from Argentina, Ronaldo from Brazil, Zinedine Zidane from France, Abédi Pelé from Ghana, Luís Figo from Portugal and Augustine Okocha from Nigeria. Each of these men was unique in his way and whenever they played it mattered not whose side was winning or losing spectators were bond by the thrill and excitement. These great footballers belonged to the world from the moment the spotlight shone on them. Jay Jay Okocha was celebrated as one of the best, became a household name across the world but was never crowned by FIFA or CAF.

Born on August 14, 1973 in Enugu Nigeria, Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha is the third son to the Okochas from Ogwashi Ukwu in Delta State and according to a one time Sports Editor with the Vanguard Newspaper, the family is a football family with three of the brothers suffering from a “deep tyranny of talents”. Growing up in Enugu Jay Jay as he is fondly called, developed deep love for football and would seize every opportunity to play with his mates or simply toss the ball alone. Early football games in his life were mostly on the streets and anything soft enough to be kicked around would hold for a ball.

Austin Okocha was not a regular in his class. He was extra-ordinarily gifted and could manipulate the ball and his opponents at will. He was one player who believed football should be enjoyed right on the field of play and by fans watching. Jay Jay joined Rangers in 1990 at age 16 and with deep passion for the sport he pushed his way from an obscured rookie to become an International star, a darling to soccer fans across the world. He was spectacular and his performance was greatly applauded while playing for the Rangers side. Okocha however was not to be with them for long. He went visiting his brother in Germany and did not return to Rangers.

In Germany, Jay Jay was given the opportunity to train with his brother’s team. After an amazing and highly impressive performance the Germans offered him a shirt with Eintracht Frankfurt in 1992. It was while at Frankfurt that Okocha exploded and the Okocha mania became a universal hit. Back then in Germany he became the people’s football idol and even politicians exploited this position to their advantage. The Mayor of Frankfurt at a time was losing elections until he enlisted the help of Jay Jay to go with him on a few days round the city campaign. The presence of Okocha as envisaged saved the election and the Mayor was returned by the electorate who could not do otherwise but align with their playmaker.

He remained at Frankfurt till 1996 when he joined the Turkish giants Fenerbahçe. In a total of 60 appearances at the club, Okocha amassed 30 goals and was part of the squad that defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in the 1997-98 UEFA Champions League group stage.

In 1998 Paris Saint Germain (PSG) splashed about $24 million on him to pull him from Fenerbahçe, which made him the most expensive Africa player at the time. After four years in France, Okocha joined Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer, leaving PSG in the summer of 2002. Despite injury problems in his debut season with Bolton, he steered the team away from relegation. This earned him the captain’s armband in the next season following Guðni Bergsson’s retirement. As Bolton’s captain Okocha led the team to their first cup final in nine years and they finished runners-up in the 2004 Football League Cup.

Jay Jay Okocha’s presence in Bolton Wanderers remains an indelible part of the club’s history for he did not only lead them away from relegation but took the club to the league of top European clubs. The club and its supporters celebrated Okocha so much that all fans T-shirts were printed with his name on them. They wrote “Jay Jay so good they named him Twice” The people of Bolton, the Political and Academic Institutions saw Okocha even after his exit from the club as one of their greatest Ambassador.  After the 2006 season, Jay Jay moved to Qatar where he spent just one season before returning to England to sign up with Hull City in 2007. His career with Hull City was short for he retired after the club was promoted to Premiership in 2008.

Augustine Jay Jay Okocha had a long record on the international scene playing for Nigeria. For 13 years he was the play maker in Nigeria football and all over Africa Jay Jay became a household name. He made his official debut for his country in May 1993 during the FIFA World Cup 1994 Qualifiers away match against Ivory Coast. By his second appearance in a must win match against Algeria, Okocha became a favourite with Nigerian supporters. With Nigeria trailing behind Algeria 0-1, Okocha scored the equalizing goal through a direct free kick which became one of his trademarks and helped the team to a 4-1victory which secured their qualification to Nigeria’s first World Cup appearance.

Jay Jay Okocha was at the centre of the Super Eagles success in their 1994 Africa Cup of Nations outing and the World Cup 1994 where they made it to second round before losing to Italy. In 1996 Okocha was part of what is today adjudged Nigeria’s most successful side, the Olympic gold winning side at the Atlanta Olympic Games. With the exit of Sunday Oliseh from the Super Eagles after the Africa Nations Cup in 2002, in which Nigeria finished third Jay Jay Okocha became captain of the Nigeria senior team. As captain he led the Nigerian Side to the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan. They played in the ‘group of death’ alongside Argentina, Sweden and England and could not make it to the next round. Okocha also led the Super Eagles to a third place finish in the 2004 African Nations Cup in Tunisia. His displays all through the tournament were breathtaking and he scored four goals including a spectacular free kick against Cameroon in the quarter finals. Notably in the tournament also was the 1000^th goal in Nations Cup history which he scored against South Africa. He won the player of the tournament and jointly, the Golden boot.

In 2006, the playmaker announced his retirement from international football which took effect after the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. However injury prevented him from featuring in any of the Nigeria’s opening fixtures. His final international appearance was in a 2-1 victory against Senegal in a third place play off. As he left the field, he was given a standing ovation by the over 60,000 spectators watching the match live in Egypt.    

His testimonial match was held in Warri Delta State with the Super Eagles playing against an African selected side. The game featured former players Daniel Amokachi, Aloysius Agu and John Fashanu and current players Benjani and Sulley Muntari. The Super Eagles won 2-1 with Okocha scoring the winning goal when he appeared on their side in the second half.

Okocha despite his great talent and skills and the fact he is celebrated all over the world never won the African player of the year. In 1998 Okocha came close but was placed second behind Mustapha Hadji of Morocco. In 2003 he was again second this time running behind Samuel Eto’s of Cameroon. The following year he was again nominated alongside Samuel Eto’s and Didier Drogba and Eto’s again picked the crown.

Though on the FIFA 100, a list of the best 125 living players nominated by Pelé of Brazil Okocha was never nominated for the FIFA Number One. He was the only Nigerian on the list and one of seven Africans and Asian players listed. This may seem a tall dream but fans have continued to argue that were Okocha born in Europe or in the South Americas he would definitely had secure the world’s number one. Others believe that the Clubs he played affected his career that instead of moving to top clubs to shine he spent his career building relegated clubs and pushing them to the fore front in their various leagues.

Jay Jay got married to Nkechi in 1994 and they are blessed with two children, Danielle and A-jay. In his bid to impact the lives of young Nigerians, Okocha has signed a contract with the University of Bolton to offer scholarships to enterprising students from Nigeria to study in Bolton. In 2009, ten scholarships worth £2,000 each were awarded to young Nigerians and representatives of the University of Bolton were in Nigeria to issue on the spot offers and discuss the scholarship opportunities.

Patriotism is better expressed in the things we do and more importantly those that seek the good of others around us. This gesture by Jay Jay Okocha is worthy of emulation by all Nigerians who truly believe in Father’s Land. Jay Jay might not have been crowned but his legend shall be told many years to come after many crowns have fallen and their tales forgotten.