Ishilove:
A flower does not call itself a flower.

Only wanted a little guidance to the fragrance and bloom.

nagoma:

Only wanted a little guidance to the fragrance and bloom.

You already know the path to take

[size=14pt]Alhaji Dr. Ado Bayero (CFR, LLD, JP). Emir of Kano.[/size]
Born July 25, 1930


Ado Bayero was born to the family of Hajiya Hasiya and Abdullahi Bayero dan Muhammad Abbas (who was also an Emir of Kano that reigned for 27 years) and into a Fulani⁠ Sullubawa clan that has presided over the Emirate of Kano since 1819. He was the eleventh child of his father and the second of his mother. At the age of 7, he was sent to live with Maikano Zagi.

He started his education within the emir's walls in Kano, studying Islam. He then followed religious instructions with attendance at the Kano Middle School, where he was classmates with Mahmoud Gashash. He graduated from the School of Arabic Studies in 1947 and attended Zaria Clerical College in 1952. Upon his graduation from the School of Arabic Studies, he took up work with the Bank of British West Africa until 1949, when he joined the Kano Native Authority. At the bank, he was exposed to colleagues from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds and he was able to see the evolving Nigerian state from his seat as a bank clerk. In 1954, he won a seat to the Northern Regional House of Assembly.

He was the head of the Kano Native Authority Police Division from 1957 until 1962 (a position equivalent to Commissioner of Police in Nigeria of today), before becoming the ambassador of Nigeria to Senegal. As police chief, he tried to minimize the practice of briefly detaining individuals or political opponents on the orders of powerful individuals in Kano. As ambassador in Senegal, he cultivated a relationship with Senegalese president Senghor in whose country, like Northern Nigeria, Tijjaniyya leader, Ibrahim Niass had numerous followers. Also, while working as an ambassador, he enrolled in a French class to learn the language.

In 1963, he succeeded Muhammadu Inuwa as Emir of Kano with the support of kingmakers, Shehu Ahmadu, madaki, Bello Dandago, Sarkn Dawakin, Bellol Barwa and Mohammed Muhtari Sarkin Bai who liked his short experience in politics.

Bayero became emir on October 22nd 1963, during the First Republic, at a time when the nation was going through rapid social and political changes while regional, sub-regional and ethnic harmony became more discordant. Bayero is the 13th Fulani emir since the Fulani War of Usman Dan Fodio, when the Fulani took over the city-states of the Hausa. The glorious throne which he still occupies places him as the 13th Fulani⁠ Emir of Kano Emirate and the 56th ruler of the Hausa Kindom. Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Bayero’s patience has gloriously earned him the title: Damo Sarkin Hakuri; a title bestowed on him by his loyal and faithful subjects

In his first few years, two political movements with a pro Kano stance gained support among some Kano elites. The Kano Peoples Party emerged during the reign of Muhammadu Inuwa and supported the deposed Emir Sanusi, but it soon evaporated. A new one, the Kano State Movement emerged towards the end of 1965, favoring more economic autonomy for the province. This movement had Dandago, Maitama Sule and Inuwa Wada as members.

The death of many political agitators of the period from Northern Nigeria in 1966 and subsequent enthronement of a unitary state consolidated a united front in the Northern Region but also resulted in a spate of crisis and violence in the North, including Kano. Bayero's admirers have commented on his role in bringing calm and stability during the time of the crisis and subsequent ones in Kano.

As Emir, he became a patron of Islamic scholarship and embraced Western education as a means to succeed in a modern Nigeria. However, in his reign, the constitutional powers derived as emir were whittled down by the military regimes between 1966-1979. The Native Authority Police and Prisons Dept were abolished, the Emir's Judicial Council was supplanted by another body, while local government reforms carried out in 1968, 1972, and 1976 reduced the powers of the emir. During the second republic, he witnessed hostilities from the Peoples Redemption Party led government of Abubakar Rimi.

Ado Bayero is the longest serving emir in the Emirate of Kano's history. During his tenure, he has seen the Kano Emirate transformed from a native authority to community leadership. He is an influential spiritual and community leader in Northern Nigeria and his palace plays host to official visits by many government personnel and strangers. He has sometimes played advisory roles in many governments. However, in 1981, Governor Abubakar Rimi restricted traditional homage paid by village heads from the state to Ado Bayero and also excised some domains out of his emirate and in 1984, a travel ban was placed on the emir and his friend Oba Okunade Sijuwade (The Oni of Ife). Though the military are sometimes seen as relying on traditional rulers for support, mostly by distancing themselves from politicians, many military regimes in the past also chipped away at powers of traditional rulers such as Bayero.

In 2002, he led a Kano Elders Forum in opposing the onshore and offshore abrogation bill.

Bayero is a communal leader of an emirate that is sometimes the center of turbulence and a former chancellor of the University of Nigeria and the University of Ibadan. He is sometimes identified by a distinct turban (Rawani), hooded cloak, and a gown ensemble (Riga), the displays of his horsemen are known for the enwrapped attention it garners from attentive audience.

The Emir’s insatiable thirst for knowledge, a trait he inherited from his father gave birth to an open door leadership style, which makes education accessible to all genders, male or female. He is also a true custodian of the rich cultural heritage of Kano, a course he specially promotes by encouraging its study among his people. Three years after his meritorious turbaning as the Emir of the ancient Kano Emirate, Alhaji Ado Bayero was appointed the first chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1966. This appointment was a befitting tribute because he is not only a visionary and honest leader but also an intellectually sound emir who carries with him the trust of his followers.

A complimentary praise epithet by Hausa singer Maizargardi praises Bayero's heritage and wealth and binds it with the responsibility of sharing the wealth with the people. He is also referenced as Dan Abdulahi Bayero and Jikan Abbas.


Second to his political influence in Nigeria, the current Emir of Kano is also renowned for his abundant wealth. Bayero maintains his massive fortune as both a stock investor and a large scale agricultural entrepreneur, with his financial influence extending beyond the shores of his home country.



As an important Islamic city of the West African savannah for centuries; Kano has witnessed a simultaneous reign of great emirs, who left indelible marks during their reign. Some of them include: Muhammadu Abbas (1903–1919), Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero (1926–1954) and the most recent of them, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Bayero, who is today continuing with the legacies of his predecessors. He is a charismatic and people-oriented leader who thinks less of himself and more of his subjects.

His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Bayero, is the progeny of the former Emir of Kano, Abdullahi Bayero (Sarki Alhaji). His princely birth in to the royal family in 1930 was a memorable event that attracted songs, dance, praise and gifts into the palace from all and sundry, regardless of class or status, to show solidarity to a prince who is today leading over ten million people in a well established commercial city (Kano) of West Africa.

Though the 12th child of the late emir, the incumbent emir was the first privileged prince to attend a public school. This makes him unique in the chronology of princes before him because he was the first to attain such educational height in the history of the Emirate.

Pic 1: Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero in the main reception room of his palace.

Pic 2: Alhaji Ado Bayero and Queen Elizabeth II of the UK.

Black man swag! Just look at that cane

TouchDown:


Enjoyed myself and learned new things going through this thread.

Great job Naptu (and others) ....

Thank you very much.

I've become forgetful. Once upon a time I could recite the details of the case by heart. Now all I remember is that Chief Rotimi Williams represented one side, while Chief G.O.K Ajayi represented the other side (I can't even remember who represented which side) and that Adeniji-Adele won.

[size=14pt]Oba Musendiku Braimah Adeniji Adele II (Oba of Lagos).[/size]
(1893-1964)

Nigerian traditional ruler. Oba Adeniji Adele was the grandson of Adele I, who reigned briefly as Oba of Lagos (or Eleko) in the 19th century, before the British occupation, but whose direct family did not occupy the throne for some time afterwards. He went to the Church Missionary Society (CMS) Grammar School in Lagos and later worked as a surveyor for the British colonial government. As a surveyor and draughtsman he travelled to the northern and eastern provinces of Nigeria. He won a prize for a novel at an exhibition at Calabar in 1914.

He volunteered for military service in the First World War and served as a sapper with the Royal Engineers in the Cameroons Campaign (1914-15), being decorated three times. Later he worked again at the survey department, before joining the Treasury staff as one of the then subordinate Nigerian civil servants. He was transferred to the secretariat in 1937, working as a chief clerk and later as Acting Assistant Secretary.

Later Prince Adeniji Adele worked for the Inland Revenue Department and then once again for the Treasury, where he was an Accountant. While he was working as Provincial Treasurer at Kano in September 1949 he heard that he had been chosen as Oba of Lagos to succeed Oba Falolu. His succession was contested and he was not crowned until three years later.

He then became a much respected traditional ruler in Nigeria’s Federal Capital. In 1952 he became a member of the Western Region House of Chiefs (Lagos being separated from that region only later, in 1954). Under the Lagos Local Government Law of 1953 the Oba became President of the Town Council.

Oba Adeniji died in September 1964 and was succeeded by Oba Oyekan.

naptu2: I've become forgetful. Once upon a time I could recite the details of the case by heart.

Fear not, na old age...

Ishilove:
Fear not, na old age...

You want make laughter choke me to death?

naptu2:

You want make laughter choke me to death?

We wouldn't want that, would we?

^{Augustus Taiwo "Tai" Solarin
August 20, 1922 – June 27, 1994}

Tai Solarin has contributed in no small measure to some of the social reforms in Nigeria in the last fifty years.

This he achieved through his personal demonstration of his perceived ideals; regular publications in newspapers and magazines

and public condemnation of acts considered inimical to good governance.

He spoke publicly about the waste that General Yakubu Gowon plundered the nation with his lavish wedding ceremony when Nigeria was at War.

He was vehemently opposed to military rule in Nigeria that he challenged then Head of State to be ready to face the consequence of trying to extend his stay in power.

As an activist, he adopted the civil disobedience approach of Ghandi by taking the locally made gin (Ogogoro) in public when it was considered an illicit gin.

He made this a public show to draw attention to the economic ignorance and colonial indoctrination that locally made gin was bad.

He got arrested but the case was later dismissed in court. Before then, people who drank Ogogoro did so in secret or risked being arrested.

On another occasion, he went about picking corpses of decaying bodies of accident victims on the streets of Lagos

and dumped one of such in front of the Federal Ministry of health for not being alive to its responsibilities.

His was primary interest was to see all Nigerian Children being educated and break the chain of ignorance which is the tool of the oppressors.

He would organise the people and speak openly in Yaba, Lagos to demonstrate against the government or institutions.

He was loved by many but considered eccentric and hated for daring to be an atheist in a country where many claim to be religious.

He was asthmatic, yet he compromised his health to lead a demonstration against a military govt. He died a few days later.


[size=16pt]Biography[/size]

Tai Solarin was born in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria, to Mr. Daniel Solarin, a drummer, farmer-cum-palmwine tapper and Mrs. Rebecca Okufule, a native of nearby Iperu-Remo.

His twin sister, Madam Caroline Kehinde Solarin (JP), a devout Methodist Christian, died on Wednesday 29 April 1992 while Dr. Tai Solarin, an avowed atheist, died on Wednesday 27 July 1994.

He was educated at St. James’ School, Iperu-Remo; Wesley School, Ogere, both in Ogun State; Otapete Methodist Primary School, Ilesha, Osun State, where he completed his Standard Six Certificate before going to Wesley College, Ibadan, Oyo State, for his Higher Elementary (Grade Two) Teacher’s Certificate in 1936.

He taught for five years at Methodist Primary Schools in Ago-Iwoye and Shagamu before leaving for Lagos where he worked briefly in the Customs Office as a typist.

Leaving Nigeria for England in May 1942 as a Nigerian volunteer in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War (WW2), he later became a navigator after a failed attempt at becoming a pilot.

He was discharged in 1945 at the end of WW2, enrolled at the University of Manchester the following year for a bachelor’s degree in history and geography,

and topped it with a post-graduate diploma in education at the University of London where he eventually taught Yoruba language for a year at its School of Oriental and African Studies.

Tai met the then Miss Sheila Mary Tuer in Manchester and wedded her on 14 September 1951 when he was 35.

Tai and his polytechnic-trained chiropodist wife with a master’s degree in English language lived happily together for 43 years in total service to humanity without a single day of sorrow.

They were blessed with Corin (a daughter) born on 27 June 1952 and Tunde (a son) born on 15 December 1956.

Arriving Nigeria from the United Kingdom, he succeeded the foundation principal of Molusi College, Ijebu-Igbo, Mr. (later Prof.) Oluwole Awokoya as the second principal of the college from January 1952 to December 1955.

He co-founded the first and only truly secular school in Nigeria, Mayflower School in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, on 27 January 1956 with his wife,

and remained its principal for 20 years till he retired in 1976 to establish the Students’ Second Home, a boarding house which still serves more than two thousand students of Mayflower School.

Also complementing the Mayflower School was the establishment of Mayflower Junior School, the primary school arm of the Mayflower institution, a citadel of secular education for self-reliance and all round excellence.

Tai was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in Literature in 1971 by the Alma College, Alma, Michigan State of the United States of America, in addition to about 30 years of bilateral annual students exchange programme between Alma College and Mayflower School starting from 1963, with some ex-students of the latter having benefited from university degree scholarships offered by the former.

He also sponsored more than 300 students within and outside Nigeria at various levels from kindergarten to doctorate level with his selfless wife, apart from other unpublicized philanthropic gestures to the sick, the aged, the underprivileged and suchlike individuals and institutions.

He was appointed into public offices by various governments from Nigeria’s first republic to the Babangida administration by sheer virtue of his sterling patriotism, as a member of the Somade Commission on Education; as the Public Complaints Commissioner for the then Oyo, Ondo and Ogun States; as a member of the Justice Akinola Aguda Panel for the Creation of Nigeria’s New Federal Capital Territory; as the Chairman of the Presidential Monitoring Committee of the then Directorate for Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) in Benue, Plateau, Borno and Gongola States; and as the founding Chairman of the People’s Bank of Nigeria (PBN), among others.

Tai adopted what he christened a permanent “battle dress” in 1979 after visiting the densely populated China having almost 100% of Chinese children in school against less than 25% of their counterpart in Nigeria.

Protesting this governmental irresponsibility, he swore to live the rest of his life in shorts, short-sleeved shirts and “Knowledge is Light” cap until subsequent Nigerian governments wake up to the responsibility of sending 100% of Nigerian school-age children to school.



He was detained in various prisons across Nigeria for his human rights activism right from his first major detention on October 12, 1974 by Gowon’s regime to his last major on March 12, 1984 by the draconian duo of Buhari/Idiagbon administration which cost him 17 months behind the bars.

Thanks to the late Mr. Kehinde Sofola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who defended him for decades without charging a kobo, among other lawyers.

The erudite social crusader was admired as “the conscience of the nation” by Nigeria’s greats like the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), the late Chief Bola Ige (SAN), the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo (SAN), the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the late Prof. Ayodele Awojobi, the late Prof. Babs Fafunwa, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the late Prof. Sam Aluko, Prof. Femi Osofian, and Prof. Olubi Sodipo who wrote that “Solarin could conveniently be likened to many profound and influential social critics and activists in world history and his social philosophy can be cogently compared to several world leaders’.

His concepts of the school can also be compared to several articulate world educators’. His style of writing, which has spanned thirty years, can also be compared to writers such as Jean Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Paine.”

Tai Solarin’s mentors were cosmopolitan. He had leadership mentor in Jawaharlal Nehru of India, political mentor in Obafemi Awolowo of Nigeria, philosophical mentor in Robert Ingersoll of America and literary mentor in H. G. Wells of London.

He is intellectually immortalized in publications such as A Message for Young Nigerians; Towards Nigeria’s Moral Self-Government; Thinking With You; Our Grammar School Must Go; No Witches, No Angels: My Credo; Not God’s Injunction Today; To Mother With Love (An Autobiography); and Mayflower: The Story of a School, all written by Dr. Tai Solarin himself.

Books by other writers include Who’s Afraid of Solarin? by Prof. Femi Osofisan; The Educational Theory of Tai Solarin by Dr. Tony Aladejana and Dr. Sam Obidi; Tai Solarin’s Footprints, and Tai Solarin’s Adventures: A Practised Philosophy, both by Dr. Wale Omole as well as Timeless Tai by Akinbayo A. Adenubi and Education for Greatness 1: Selected Speeches of Dr. Tai Solarin by Sulaiman Dave Bola-Babs.

Widely travelled world citizen that he was, he had been to virtually all the continents of the world namely North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Among the countries visited by Tai Solarin and his wife, Sheila, are the United Kingdom, the former Soviet Union, the U.S.A., Canada, China, Japan, India, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Switzerland, Sweden, Tanzania and Ghana, to mention just a few.

The first university of education in Nigeria, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode, was named after him apart from Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu, thus becoming the first Nigerian to have two higher institutions of learning named after him.

http://www.evi.com/a/158108749
http://taisolarin.org.ng/biography.html

Ishilove:
You already know the path to take

I'm not much of a teacher but I can try

Nice one OP and d contributors nice learning from the old heads like u.....its been fun and educating all along sirz and maz

Theloveth: Nice one OP and d contributors nice learning from the old heads like u.....its been fun and educating all along sirz and maz

You're welcome and thanks very much.

nagoma:

I'm not much of a teacher but I can try

By all means, do.

Professor Ayodele Awojobi, the tall, handsome, brilliant and light complexioned Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos [b]was always in the Court in the early 80s.

He was so obsessed with agitations and his good intention of seeing Nigeria moved into greatness.

He was always his own advocate preparing and filing his case in the Court himself.

When you look at his Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim in his processes against President Shehu Shagari and the Federal government of Nigeria, you would instantly burst into laughter knowing that he could only be good as a Professor of Engineering and as an activist that he was.

To him, what was important was the use of English language to put the correct figure that the government of President Shehu Shagari was misappropriating before the Court for adjudication.

Presenting it professionally did not really matter to him. He only needed to make his point before the Court.

Although it could be argued that he was his own lawyer because he could not afford to retain the services of a professional Barrister.

People said his salary even as a renowned Professor at that time was N1,000 (one thousand naira) per month and that he had only N300 (three hundred naira) in his bank account when he died[/b].

No matter what the value of the Naira was at that time, he was clearly not a rich man but twenty five years after his death, his good name, reputation and character have continued to live on.

So, whether as an Engineer or as an unqualified self advocate, he did his bit before he surrendered to death in 1984,

asking for budgetary prudence by the ruling government to see that Nigeria was not reduced to a failed state through corruption and mismanagement by those in charge.

Professor Awojobi became restless and agitated because Nigeria, to him, was witnessing a mad season in term of corruption, graft and mismanagement of resources by the ruling National Party of Nigeria

and its officials in charge of the federal government during the second republic.

Nigerians did not know at that time that the Professor was just complaining against nothing if we compare what obtained at that time with the level of corruption in our Country now-a-days.

His time was only the beginning of the end of “Ariya” Nigeria. He did not actually see poverty and suffering on the faces of Nigerians.

Nobody would ever believe at that time that any Nigerian will have to go to the dust bin to look for food.

[b]The real mad season started in Nigeria with Babangida as military president.

He smiled away decency and integrity from Nigeria and brought in instead illegal settlement and monumental corruption.

In order to justify his coup, he rubbished every good thing that Buhari and Idiagbon had put in place.

Remember that Buhari’s government was publishing their income and expenditure from time to time so that Nigerians will know what their Country had.

Nigerians have just embraced orderliness in their daily private and public lives.

They will no longer cross those dangerous express roads in the cities but will instead go through pedestrian bridges to get to the other side of the road no matter how long it will take.

Nigerians were no longer urinating on the street but will prefer to use public toilets or manage to get home to do it.

Properties and assets confiscated from second republic politicians adjudged by the military Tribunal under the Buhari administration as having been acquired illegally through corruption were returned to their illegal owners by Babangida[/b].

There is no doubt that officers who executed detention order or warrant under Decree 2 of the Buhari and Idiagbon administration abused it. The blank detention order which was pre signed by Idiagbon was used indiscriminately by the officers. All they needed to do to detain any person indefinitely was just to fill in the name of the person they wanted to detain in the blank photocopy of the detention order which had been pre signed by Idiagbon. The Decree 2 ousted the jurisdiction of the Court and so, any detention under it could not be challenged in Court.

Long detention that could not be challenged in Court is not good, but in spite of all that, the Buhari era, if allowed to endure, would have taken Nigeria to rank among the best Countries in the world today.

Professor Ayodele Awojobi died at the age of 47 agitating for a better Nigeria.

That death that took him away at a very young age has shielded him from experiencing the agony of torture of education in Nigeria by those who are supposed to raise its standard.

It prevented him from witnessing the free fall of the value of Naira, the Nigerian currency and many long strikes by Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities fighting for living wages for its members while those at the corridors of power and their political cronies in Nigeria live in opulence.

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Biography

Ayodele Oluwatuminu Awojobi (March 12, 1937 – September 23, 1984), also known by the nicknames "Dead Easy", "The Akoka Giant", and "Macbeth", was a Nigerian academic, author, inventor, social crusader and activist.

He was considered a scholarly genius by his teachers and peers alike. He quickly advanced in his field to become the youngest professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1974.

Earlier the same year, he became the first African to be awarded the degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) in Mechanical Engineering at the then Imperial College of Science and Technology, London (now Imperial College London) - a degree only exceptionally and rarely awarded to a scholar under the age of forty.

His research papers, particularly in the field of vibration, are still cited by international research fellows in Engineering as lately as the year 2011, and are archived by such publishers as the Royal Society.

Early life

Born in Oshodi, Lagos State, Awojobi’s father, Chief Daniel Adekoya Awojobi, was a stationmaster at the Nigerian Railway who hailed from Ikorodu in Lagos State. His mother, Comfort Bamidele Awojobi (née Adetunji), was a petty trader who hailed from Modakeke, Ile-Ife, Osun State. Between 1942 and 1947, he attended St. Peter’s Primary School, Faji, Lagos.

It was while at his secondary school, the CMS Grammar School, Lagos, that his academic traits began to manifest. Not only was he seen to be gifted in mathematics and the sciences, he was comfortable also in the arts, becoming a member of the school’s literary and debating society. It was during this period that he earned the nickname, "Macbeth": William Shakespeare’s famous play, Macbeth, was to be staged in the school. The lead-actor took ill a week before, and so Ayodele was called upon to play the lead-role in his stead. It is said that not only did Ayodele master his lines as lead-actor, but also the entire play, such that he was able to prompt the cast whenever they forgot their lines

Inventor

While as a lecturer in the University of Lagos, Awojobi successfully converted his own family car, an Opel Record, from right-hand drive to a left-hand drive.

He tinkered further with motor engines when he acquired an army-type jeep and proceeded to invent a second steering wheel mechanism, adjoined to the pre-existing engine at the rear end, so that the vehicle was able to move in both forward and backward directions with all four pre-existing gears. This gave the hybrid vehicle, which he christened Autonov 1, the ability to achieve its highest speeds at a moment's notice, in the normal reverse direction.

He highlighted the advantage this might offer to army vehicles, as an example, that might need to make a fast retreat, in a cul-de-sac or ambush situation.

Activist

Ayodele Awojobi, in the wake of the presidential election results that returned the incumbent, Shehu Shagari as President in the Nigerian Second Republic, became very vocal in the national newspapers and magazines, going as far as suing the Federal Government of Nigeria for what he strongly believed was a widespread election rigging.

With all his court cases against the Nigerian government thrown out of court, he delved into the law books, himself being only a mechanical engineer, claiming that he would earn his law degrees in record time, to enable him better argue with the opposition at the federal courts.

He used the universities as a bastion, going from campus to campus to make speeches at student-rallies, hoping to sensitize them to what he perceived as the ills of a corrupt government.

Ayodele Awojobi authored several political books over the course of his ideological struggles against a perceived, corrupt federal government. These books were usually made available during his public rallies or symposiums

Death

Ayodele Awojobi died in the morning of Sunday, September 23, 1984, at age 47.

His death made head-line news in most of the national newspapers for days following. He was survived by his wife, Mrs Iyabode Mabel Awojobi (née Odetunde), and children.

Tribute

Usually every year till date, a tribute or two in Ayodele's honour, would be published in the form of an article in a national newspaper, such as the one published by The Nation on November 5, 2009 titled, Tribute to Ayodele Awojobi.

In October 2009, the governor of Lagos State Babatunde Fashola dedicated a statue of Awojobi at Onike Roundabout, Yaba, Lagos in a garden named after him.

On September 23, 2010, Birrel street – a prominent street in Yaba Local Government Council Area – was renamed Prof. Ayodele Awojobi Avenue; a further tribute to Awojobi's memory.
^{http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/olu-akeredolu/professor-ayodele-awojobi-the-self-advocate.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayodele_Awojobi}

My dad told me about that professor supporting Awo in the Shagari second term election then.Sad hes not around any more to witness what Nigeria has become.

^{Bobby Benson
11 April 1922 - 14 May 1983}

Bobby Benson was an entertainer and musician who had considerable influence on the Nigerian music scene, introducing big band and Caribbean idioms to the Highlife style of popular West African music.

Life:
Bernard Olabinjo Benson was born on 11 April 1922 in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

While at secondary school he also learned tailoring, but after leaving school he became a boxer for a brief period, and then a sailor in the Merchant Navy.

In 1944, he left his ship in London, where he made his entertainment debut with the Negro ballet, touring several European capitals.

He met his wife, Cassandra (half Scottish and half Caribbean in origin), while in Britain, and on return to Nigeria in 1947 they established the Bobby Benson and Cassandra Theatrical Party.

Their performances included serious music, where he played guitar and saxophone while his wife danced.

Based on the popularity of his music, he formed the Bobby Benson Jam Session, a dance band that played swing, jive, sambas and calypsos.

In the 1950s, he expanded his band to eleven members, including a trumpet section, and began playing in the popular highlife style. Their first big hit was "Taxi Driver", followed by several others.

Bobby was an entertainer and a comedian as well as a singer, a great performer.

He had a show on NTA in the 1970s, where he performed as a stand-up comedian and magician as well as playing and singing.

He became a friend of B.B. King and Hugh Masekela. He established the Caban Bamboo, a popular nightclub later converted into the Hotel Bobby.

He had several wives, and ten children. Benson died in Lagos on Saturday, 14 May 1983.

Music:
Bobby Benson started by playing standard big-band music, but later introduced African themes, as a pioneer of Highlife music in Nigeria.

His song "Taxi Driver" became a classic hit in West Africa, covered by several other musicians, blending Caribbean and jazz styles.

Other hits were "Gentleman Bobby" and "Iyawo se wo lose mi", "Mafe", "Nylon Dress" and "Niger Mambo".

Legacy:
Various prominent musicians started out playing in Benson's band, including Roy Chicago, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Bayo Martins and Zeal Onyia.

Victor Olaiya started as a trumpeter with Bobby Benson's band, and became one of the first Nigerian musicians to play highlife with his group the "Cool Cats".

Another player with Benson's band who moved into highlife was Eddie Okunta, with his "Lido Band".

Benson's innovations in musical style also influenced the evolution of popular Jùjú music.

"Taxi Driver", his biggest hit, and "Niger Mambo", an African melody with the Latin beat, were covered with different interpretations by American artists such as Stanley Turrentine and Jackie Mclean.

Randy Weston covered "Niger Mambo" in a solo performance on his 1978 album "Rhythms-Sounds Piano", describing the piece as representing exactly what is called "high life style" in West Africa.

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His son, Maxwell is further striving to immortalize the musician’s name. He is currently working on his old man’s biography which he has tentatively titled, Bobby Benson of Africa. Researching on the book has taken him to places. He recently went to Ghana to see Nat Buckle, a renown musician and his father’s friend. He told Sunday Sun he intends going to see the musician’s first wife – Cassandra.
The half Scotish and Caribbean is now 81 and lives in London.

Bobby’s Women:

. . . had seven wives and sired 10 children.
Tony’s mother is half Scotish and half Caribbean, Maxwell’s mother is a Ghanaian, Adeyemi’s mother is from Enugu state, Tutu’s mother is a Togolese.

[img]http://www.ghanavisions.com/thumbnail.php?file=bobby_benson_755156048.jpg&size=article_small[/img]
The impresario who died when he was 62 had two Yoruba wives and some more women who had no child for him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Benson
http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=12216&z=3

Morendendisc are you the same person with Naptu2? Or una de share the thread? Thanks anyway...

brokoto:

Morendendisc are you the same person with Naptu2?

Or una de share the thread?

Thanks anyway...

@brokoto

No ooo but I am Naptu2's unofficial sidekick and partner in reminiscence crime

On a serious note, Naptu2 has so far been accommodating

he hasn't minded, me taking liberties with helping a brother out and working together or alongside him

Pity we don't have among our contemporaries or in our generation selfless and with convictions Tai Solarins, Awojobis, Saro-Wiwas etc .

"Do you know who my father is" utterance by Bakare's son was a travesty and complete letdown

moredendisc:

@brokoto

No ooo but I am Naptu2's unofficial sidekick and partner in reminiscence crime

On a serious note, Naptu2 has so far been accommodating

he hasn't minded, me taking liberties with helping a brother out and working together or alongside him

Pity we don't have among our contemporaries or in our generation selfless and with convictions Tai Solarins, Awojobis, Saro-Wiwas etc .

"Do you know who my father is" utterance by Bakare's son was a travesty and complete letdown

yea you are right. These days people care more about how much of the collective wealth they can amass for themselves when/if their time comes. Kudos to you guys. One question though: did this thread ever make FP?

brokoto: One question though: did this thread ever make FP?

Yes it did and that's how I first stumbled on it

....one of bobby's sons, tony, in partnership with yemi willoughby co-owned faze2 nite club.

brokoto: Morendendisc are you the same person with Naptu2? Or una de share the thread? Thanks anyway...

moredendisc:

@brokoto

No ooo but I am Naptu2's unofficial sidekick and partner in reminiscence crime

On a serious note, Naptu2 has so far been accommodating

he hasn't minded, me taking liberties with helping a brother out and working together or alongside him

Pity we don't have among our contemporaries or in our generation selfless and with convictions Tai Solarins, Awojobis, Saro-Wiwas etc .

"Do you know who my father is" utterance by Bakare's son was a travesty and complete letdown

Thank you very much.

So, I've decided to take up the challenge, cos the story is just too interesting to ignore. It gives you a different perspective (unbiased, everyday life) to the event.

10 pages of typing left.

naptu2: So, I've decided to take up the challenge, cos the story is just too interesting to ignore. It gives you a different perspective (unbiased, everyday life) to the event.

10 pages of typing left.

chineke!!!

hands go limp

Oh well, I'm going to put in as much as I remember (my apologies for any errors).

[size=14pt]Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II[/size]

(June 30, 1911 – March 1, 2003)

He was born in Lagos on 30th June 1910. He was the grandson of Adeyinka Oyekan I who ruled from 1885 to 1900. He received his early secondary education at Eko Boys High School and Methodist Boys High School. He later gained admission to kings college Lagos. He passed on to the Yaba Higher College, where he studied pharmacy between 1930-1932 obtaining a diploma in pharmacy.

After the death of Oba Falolu on September 3rd 1949, Adeyinka Oyekan and Musediku Adeniji Adele were involed in a tussle for the obaship of Lagos. The battle was played out on the streets and in Nigerian and British courts. This tussle resulted in the landmark case Oyekan V Adele (1957) NLR 876, which is still cited across the world today.

Adeyinka Oyekan and others, representing the House of Dosunmu, felt that the obaship should be limited to the House of Dosunmu. Adeniji Adele and others, representing the House of Ologun Kutere, felt that the Obaship was not limited to the House of Dosunmu, but should be rotated round the royal houses. Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams appeared for Musediku Adeniji-Adele, while Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi apppeared for Adeyinka Oyekan. The Privy Council found in favour of Adeniji Adele (Lord Denning delivered the judgement) and Adeyinka Oyekan waited for his turn.

In 1965, after the death of Oba Musediku Adeniji Adele, Adeyinka Oyekan was installed the 18th Oba of Lagos and subsequently became a member of the Western House of Chiefs, this was during a crisis in the Western Region of Nigeria which resulted in loss of lives.

He was considered a pacifist and bridge builder during his reign. During his reign as the Oba of Lagos, he restored lost custom and tradition of the people of Lagos.Oba adeyinka oyekan was very honest,kind and has human feelings.

He died at St. Nichola s Hospital on Friday March 1st 2003 aged 93.

Right, two detours.

I keep forgetting to post this picture, so I better post it now before I forget again.

I was posting pictures I took during the Lagos Carnival 2012 (the spidermobile, the swanmobile, etc) when my cousin in the US sent me a message, "WHERE ARE MY CAMPOS PEOPLE!". So I posted pictures of the gold & green, including this one.

Brazilian Quarters Club, opposite Campos Mini Stadium.

Now, the major detour (before I post about the legal luminaries). Lots of famous people in this story.

Anthony Okogie (the future Anthony Cardinal Okogie, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos) had just become a priest. He then went to the Vatican University. On the ship back to Nigeria after finishing university he heard (on the radio) about the crisis that was to become the Nigerian Civil War.

In this story you'll read about his experience at the warfront and interactions with some of the most famous actors in the conflict.