The University Bill started with some element of guile, but it has now ended in truth to prove that lying may have traveled for twenty years, it is one day that truth will catch up with it.
B’írọ́ bá lọ l’ógún ọ̀dún, ọjọ́ kanṣoṣo lòótọ́ á ba.
But, there wasn’t anything the sponsorer of the bill could have done since there was no unity among us. If he had sited a location, those in other location won’t support him and politics is about winning and relevance.
So, we have to thank Senator Fatai Buhari for sponsoring the bill. If he didn’t sponsor the bill, there wouldn’t have been any foundation to build on.
However, it is good to still say that the lack of location on the bill always divided us whenever it came up for discussion. We used to argue to a stupor, if there is anything like that, over where to site the university. As we cross from one town to another in our argument, many of us settled for Agúnrege, which served as a neutral landing even though there was serious contention about that small town too.
But, what has happened now is according to Paul’s description of the predictability dependability, reliability and unwaverability of the outcome that all things work together for the good of those that love God an are called by His Name. what started with no location has got a location and it is to our advantage.
The most surprising thing about the location the University eventually settled in, is that, it never appeared in the list of the contending towns. What has happened about the University settling at Òkehò is that God is the name the Yoruba people used to call Him as someone who does as He pleases called “Aṣèyí-ó-wùú”.
This reminds me of the joke that our people used to crack in the past when describing God with one of His popular Yorùbá name called “Ẹlẹ́bùrúùkẹ́”, which means someone whose blessing comes unimaginably with surprises.
The joke in the name “Ẹlẹ́bùrúùkẹ́” is that, instead of covering of coating the blessing with an unimaginable surprise, what happens if God decides to pour His blessing upon an individual, group of individuals, a community, a region, a state and a country using an open space or entrance. Who will challenge Him for doing as He pleases?
À ń p’Ọlọ́run l’Ẹlẹ́bùrúùkẹ́, bó bá gb’ojú ‘lé kẹ́ ni, fùrọ̀ baba tani ó mu”.
The blessing of the University has become an open blessing to all of us in Òkèògùn and this is the way we should all see it at all town. The University is sited in Òkehò because it has to be sited in a location. But, it is the University for all of us in Òkèògùn and Òkèògùn people should embrace it with pomp and pageantry with some dancing skelewu, asonto and other dancing steps to it.
Another lesson to learn is, no matter what we try to do and how we try to do it to change what God has preordained, “tu sera sera” or what will be will be!
One more lesson to learn is, good relationship is good. This University has not come out of political lobbying, but is a product of good relationship. In other words, where politics stopped was where friendship began.
Long before the dream or the ambition of becoming the President, a relationship started in the trenches during Nadeco period between Tinubu and Prof. Ségun Gbádégesin. One other Òkèògùn man in the Nadeco trenches worthy of mention in the midst of this frienddhip is another son of Òkehò, Ẹ̀gbọ́n Samson Olúṣọlá Ògúnbọ̀dé, the Akínrógun of Òkehò.
For many who don’t know Prof. Ségun Gbádégesin, because I have heard it said in different circles that one Professor just sat in America controlling the affairs of Òkèògùn, I think it is good to say that Prof. Ségun Gbádégesin has paid his dues when it comes to the progress and development of Òkèògùn. When he was a lecturer in the University of Ifè (now Obáfẹ́mi Awólọ́wọ̀ University), Ilé-ifẹ̀, only God can count the numbers of Òkèògùn indigenes he helped to secure admission over many years into the University.
I did my Advance Level WAEC at Ilé-ifẹ̀ when it was under Ọ̀yọ́ State in a school called Ọ̀yọ́ State College of Arts & Science (OSCAS). When I finished, I had 10 points during the time when people were having 2, 3 or 4 points. That was in 1986 and I was to enter OAU with direct entry either through JAMB that I scored 237.
I settled for direct entry admission because, instead of four years that my course of study was to take, it waw going to take three years. It was that time I knew Prof. Ségun Gbádégesin even though we hailed from the same town. He was on my admission which he said was going to be a walk over, but I had accident and wasn’t able to pursue my admission again.
The story of my accident is a story for another day and I don’t wnat to belabour you with this. But, later when I was recovered from the effect of the accident, I approached Prof. Ségun Gbádégesin who felt so bad about the my admission because it was late. The statement that came out of his mouth was that “admission rẹ yí mà dùn mí gan ni o” – meaning this your inability to secure admission pained him.
I moved to University of Ìbádàn in 1987 instead of going back to OAU and this has become history today.
Before I leave the story about Prof. Ségun Gbádégesin’s help on University admissions for many Òkèògùn sons and daughters, I won’t be surprised if there are many of such beneficiaries on this platform. If you are, you can indicate through a 👍
Furthermore, still on Prof. Ségun Gbádégesin, he was one of those who featured on Radio Kudirat during Nadeco with the programme that meant for “the advancement of Yorùbá autonomy and struggle against military dictatorship and feudalistic exploitation of” Nigerians called “Voice of Odùduwà (Ìjìnlẹ̀ Ohùn Odùduwà). His Radio name then was Alárápé Ayégbọ́yìn.
Now, back to the relationship that started in the trenches, later Tinubu became Lagos State Governor and the Aṣíwájú of Lagos, Prof. Ségun Gbádégesin continued his teaching in the American Universities and became the Aṣíwájú of Òkehò.
This is the story of Prof. Ségun Gbádégesin, but a lot of things happened since then as they kept the relationship that time and space won’t allow me to mention. May be, some other time!
Today, the University has been given to Òkèògùn in honour of one man, which teaches another lesson that some people don’t forget the good things done to support them in the past. Some other persons in Tinubu’s shoes would have shut his door or access to Prof. Ségun Gbádégesin.
Lastly, I pray that God will link each of us up with our destiny helpers. Your destiny helpers may not look like it, be sensitive and also sensible. This is why the Yorùbá people will say: “à ń jọ ń rìn a ò m’orí Olówó” – meaning, we are all walking together on the road to destiny, we don’t know who are going to become financially prosperous among us.
My final prayer is that none of us will miss his or het portion in life in Jesus Name.
Thank you and happy day ahead.
