pannigeriannews 
By Sunday Adepoju
On January 15, 2015, exactly ten years ago, one of the very distinguished scions of Oginni Dynasty, Late Pa Adeleke Ajamu Adepoju (popularly called Baba Soilder), of Oginni compound, Osupa area, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, breathed his last.
He was a gallant soilder and an embodiment of bravery, loyalty, dedication, love, selflessness and sacrifice. He was around 7 years of age when his father, Late Pa Adepoju Àkàngbé, son of Esan Oginni, died in 1946. Shortly before the death of his father, his elder brother, Late Isola Adepoju, had joined the Nigerian Army in 1944. So, after the death of Adepoju Esan, the young Adeleke quickly joined Late Isola Adepoju in barracks of the Army.
His primary school education took him to about four cities and barracks, thereby making him an itinerant boy.
Also called Chubby Checker, Adeleke was very knowledgeable and highly resourceful. When I was growing up, I would think he was an engineer due to the way he handled his bike and electronic devices.
When we, the children, were growing up, especially those of us who were in the Arts Class, he would accurately take lines of our literature texts, especially those of Williams Shakespeare. I was reading “The Merchant of Venice” and Baba began narrating the events in the play. “Pound of flesh…Shylock, Antonio, Basanio, among others”, he sad with accuracy of the storyline and quotes. Baba told us he read the play in standard 3 and that he acted the character of Shylock. He would tell us about “Twelfth Night”, “Macbeth”, “Orthelo”, “Julius Caesar”…. The list is endless, among other plays, prose works and poems.
Is the popular quote by the eponymous hero in the play “Julius Caesar”, Julius Caesar? “Cowards die many times before their death, the valiant never taste of death but once….of all the wonders that I yet have heard, it seems to me most strange that men should fear death….seeing that death, the necessary end, will come when it will come.”
Baba, indeed, taught me how to write job application letter when I finished secondary school. And till today, the tips he gave me are still very useful.
I remember how I would jot down new words from his discussions. While I was in primary school, as a public school pupil, I can’t forget words like barbaric, stupendous, skeptical, garrulous, mediocrity, ameliorate, etc. Same goes to our secondary school days. Baba had vocabulary bank in his head and so very cherished he was.
I also remember the way he would be listening to news broadcasts on Voice of America, British Broadcasting Corporation, and so on…. One day, I walked up to him and asked, “Baami, how can I listen to and understand English native speakers’ speeches? He encouraged me and I bought a radio set and it was connecting to BBC and VOA.
He was, indeed, a polyglot; he spoke Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo (though, minimal), Pidgin, English and other minor Nigerian languages.
Whenever he asked for people’s names, especially Yoruba people, he would expect names related Yoruba’s rich cultural heritage.
His demise was highly significant. He was a soilder and died on Armed Forces Remembrance Day. Every January 15, Baba would join other old soldiers at Oja’gbo, Ogbomoso for parade. He would have ironed his dress the previous day before he breathed his last.
The following are part of the tributes in honour of his 10th remembrance anniversary.
In Loving Memory of Brother Leke by Mr. Debo Adepoju
“Today marks ten years since the passing of my dear uncle, Brother Leke. A gallant soldier and a man of exceptional character, he was a source of wisdom, strength, and kindness to our family. His calm demeanor and unwavering support brought comfort and inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Brother Leke chose to leave us on January 15, a day of profound significance in Nigeria’s history—Armed Forces Remembrance Day. It feels fitting that a man who dedicated his life to service and sacrifice departed on a day that honours the bravery of soldiers like him.
Rest in eternal peace, Brother Leke. Your legacy of courage and love continues to guide and inspire us. You are forever cherished and deeply missed.”
Timothy Adepoju pens, “It is exactly a decade today 15th January, 2025 that we lost Pa Adélékè Àjàmú Adépọ́jù, a father indeed,a soldier who was as brave as a lion, an orator who commanded grammar with every ease as if it was his mother tongue, a no-nonsense man who believed in hard work and a pillar to reckon with in Adepoju/Ẹ̀san of the Oginni dynasty. Your demise came when you were needed so much; you lived your life for the entire family and your income was based on renovating family structures; your absence will be forever felt. Sleep on, our beloved father till we meet to part no more.
“Àjàmú ìjí ọmọ ọlọ́yẹ́ mọyin àjíbọ̀kè ọmọ mosọyẹ́ tán kí ntó sooru, àlògbó ìjí t’áarán lóbì lọ́jà akọ́lédọyẹ́ k’ówó wa f’ẹ́lẹ́mi lọ ẹlẹ́mi ńka’wó olóbì ńsọ̀, olóbì másọ̀ mọ́ ẹlẹ́mi ló lowó rẹ.
Sùn’re oooooooo.”
Adewusi Adepọju said, “Describing the person of our dearly beloved father is so much Herculean that a day will, leaving us in the description. You’re being felt. You represented selflessness, courage, sacrifice, dedication, inter alia.”
Adejoke Crown said, “It’s exactly ten years you left this sinful world, Baami. Continue to rest in the bossom of the Lord till resurrection day.”
Sunday Adepoju, “Pa Adeleke Àjàmú Adepoju: How time flies.
“Dear Father, Pa Adeleke Àjàmú Adepọju, your departure from this divide ten years ago still remains a collosal loss to us and humanity.
“Eventhough you transited exactly ten years ago on January 15, 2015, you remained a very cherished hero of our family and beyond. Your bravery, language dexterity, dedication and sense of humour are still daily being missed by all of us you left here.
“Baba wa Àjàmú ìjí, ọmọ ọlọ́yẹ́ mọyin àjíbọ̀kè, ọmọ mosọyẹ́ tán kí ntó sooru.
“Àlògbó ìjí ọmọ ẹkùnibà.
Ọmọ Ọ̀rẹ́ Àdùnní anídìí níwọ̀n ẹsin, ọmọ onílé ìdí àgbọn, igijẹ́gẹ́dẹ́ ọmọ Abóọ́dẹ.
“Kúkúǹdùkùú sewé gẹ̀ru-gẹ́rui
ọpọ oògùn ò rumọ gàlìgàlì.
“Sun re o titi di ọjọ ajinde nibi ti a kò ni pinya mọ́.”
Adegbenro Ademola said, “Baba wa owon…Ema sinmi lo laya Olugbala titi di ojo ajinde tii ipinya koni si mo Aamin.”
Adegbile Adeomi writes, “Rest on, Baami Ajamu iji eleyomoro, omo oloye ajboke”
