By Dele Sobowale

“A well-written life is almost as rare as a well-spent one.” Thomas Carlyle, 1795-1881. (VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS).

Our Iroko has fallen and left a gap which none other can fill adequately.

Seldom does one come across an individual about whom all those who knew him in life have nothing but good things to say. Professor Ajibade Abayomi Rokosu, “IROKO”, 1940-2016, had just completed one the most amazingly blessed lives anybody can dream of and spent. When good Prof passed away, late last month, he left everybody wondering if it is possible he could pass their way again.

At 76, in a country where life expectancy is still a miserable 51, and might be getting shorter, Prof had actually out-distanced the allotted time to the average Nigerian. He went right past over-time, injury time before the good Lord asked him to return to his beginnings and join the Saints triumphant. Heaven’s gain is our loss. But, God knows better in all things. But, irrespective of how one looks at it, Iroko’s life was one gloriously spent as the following summary will demonstrate.

Born on June 29, 1940, in the Salawe Court of Lagos Island, he was already armed with a silver spoon – in a part of the world where some never eat with any spoon from birth to grave. But, he brought more than eating utensils (which he used proficiently to enjoy life); he made sure he also came equipped with one of the sharpest brains and intellect that would smoothen his way through life. Not done, he supplemented all these with incredible degree of self-discipline, as well as high ethical standards and mental courage.

He started his primary education at St Mary’s Convent School and completed it at Holy Cross School – both Catholic Mission schools, in Lagos Island, in those halcyon days when development of intellect and integrity were inextricably linked in mission schools. Not surprisingly, he followed with attendance at St Gregory’s College, Obalende, Lagos, where he finished his School Certificate examination with the top grade possible – Grade 1.  Excellence in science resulted in tertiary education at Blackburn Technical College, Dublin; University of Reading, England; and Leeds University, Great Britain. Golden fleece in pocket, he headed home.

Teaching for him was a passion. So, he started his teaching career at the University of Benin, UNIBEN, from 1975-1984, as Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Biochemistry until he was appointed a Commissioner in Lagos State by late Governor Gbolahan Mudashiru.

His first posting was as Commissioner of Education; as well as a member of the Implementation Committee for the establishment of Lagos State University, LASU. He was also, at various times the Commissioner for Information and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs – all in the space of about twenty months. Few Lagosians have ever been fortunate to serve their state in so many capacities and touch so many lives.

With the change of military government in 1985, Iroko transferred his teaching services to LASU and very quickly became the Head of the Department of Biochemistry. At the same time, he was a Council Member for Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education. Briefly, he served as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university until a substantive VC was appointed and Prof returned to his faculty with perfect equanimity. He retired about ten years ago.

Unfortunately, as there can be no clear sky without some dark cloud somewhere. Iroko’s encounter with the adversities of life came towards the end. One was an act of God; the other can be laid at the door steps of insensitive leaders in Lagos State. “Well now, there is a remedy for everything except death”, said Miguel Cervantes, 1547-1616, author of the classic, DON QUIXOTE. So, when death crept close to our dear Prof, none of his dear friends could foresee the eventual outcome. Somehow, there was that feeling that people like Prof should or would never die. But, cancer, one of death’s agents, is a relentless assassin and once it grips a victim would not let go. And so, Prof, after a vigorous battle, succumbed to the irresistible power. Pity. But, we can’t query our creator.

More pitiful is the pain inflicted on the man after his meritorious services to Lagos State. His pensions and gratuities were not paid by the Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola administrations for ten years. It was not until a passionate appeal was made to Governor Ambode that a third of his entitlements were authorized to be released to pay his mounting bills. The cheque had been written and signed, but not delivered until Prof passed on – a victim by pitiless governments.

Still we rejoice because Iroko was a socialite in every decent sense of the word and he enjoyed life to the fullest. He was a well-respected member of various Lagos clubs. His favourite, though, was WAKA CLUB 1945, which he joined as a member of the “Junior” club – called CLUB 2, at Towry Street, Lagos Island (perfect alangba eko i.e Lagos lizzard) before graduating to the senior club. As usual, this “cream” eventually rose to the top. He became, in quick succession, Chairman of the Executive Committee, where he served excellently; and ended as a member of the Board of Trustees until his departure to everlasting glory. “His life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, ‘This was a man.’ William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, (VBQ p 136).

On behalf of WAKA CLUB 1945 and my family, kindly join me in wishing incomparable Professor Rokosu perpetual peace. Amen.

FOR GOD’S SAKE, WHAT WAS PROMISED?

“The more you look, the less you see.” Moshood Abiola.

I got you if you think that immortalized Chief M.K.O. Abiola was the author of that statement. There was another Moshood Abiola, aka, Professor Peller, the late magician. Like all practitioners of his trade, he could make handkerchiefs and odd objects disappear even when the onlookers had their “eyes” fixed on him.

Well the APC might as well tell Nigerians, “The more you listen, the less you understand.” At the moment Nigerians are in a dense fog about the 2016 budget despite the trope of words we have heard from just about everybody close to the Presidency. “Missing”, “replaced” and “padded” had been added to what from time immemorial had been just annual budget.

And now, just as I was about to go and queue for my share of free N5,000, as a retired pensioner, rumours have it that I might die on the line, like other pensioners (Professor Rokosu, thanks to the “progressive governments” in Lagos State from 1999-2015 went away, fortunately on a hospital bed, without collecting a kobo) without somebody stuffing naira notes in my empty pockets. Rumours have it that Buhari said it. I hope not. This is the last card for some of us. Absolute last card!!!

One question I would like to ask this government though. If they have enough money to give away N5000 free to millions, why don’t they use the money to pay pensioners some of their entitlements? It is like a chronic debtor, right in front of his creditors, “dashing” away money to others he doesn’t even owe a kobo. Does it make sense? It is certainly provocative. Is this the change promised? Rob a lot of Peters to pay a bunch of Pauls? I also hope not. It is, above all, unethical.

P.S, A “progressive” government, in the South West, gave free food for four years. Now it is broke and can neither pay doctors nor provide the food anymore. Fools never learn – even from mistakes of others.