Day Ogbomoso Consultative Forum, O’First, others honoured Gen. Oladayo Popoola

By Sunday ADEPOJU

It was an atmosphere of eulogies and celebrations as indigenes of Ogbomoso, on Thursday, converged on the hall of the Ogbomoso Recreation Club (ORC) to honour an illustrious son of the town and former military governor of Oyo and Ogun states, Major Gen. Oladayo Popoola (Rtd).

Organised under the auspices of Ogbomoso Consultative Council (OCC), the event, which was powered by the Ogbomosi First Community Initiative (O’First Group) at the instance of ORC and Ogbomoso Community Foundation (OCF), came as a way of honouring Popoola.

During the 14th combined convocation ceremonies of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, held on April 23 this year, Popoola was awarded the honourary doctor of civil law (honoris causa) along other four who were also honoured with different doctorates.

The Chairman of the event and co-leader of the Ogbomoso Community Foundation, Dr Saka Balogun, in his characteristic manner, stressed the monumental contributions of Gen. Popoola and admonished every Ogbomoso indigene in any key position to always remember Ogbomoso and strive for its development.

Among others, the event was characterised by testimonies about the honouree, Gen. Popoola, whose life has been testified to as a worthy ambassador of Ogbomoso, an ancient town in Oyo State, South-West, Nigeria.

Speaking for the Soun’s Palace, the Aare-Ago of Ogbomoso, High Chief Sobaloju Otolorin, who advised people of the community to make Ogbomoso first at all times, maintained that the celebrant was due for honours. “Back then, I never knew he was a soldier due to his simple nature. We thank God for his life. We thank all the indigenes of Ogbomoso, home and abroad. Let us strive to develop our home,” Otolorin stated.

Speaking to newsmen at the occasion, the President of the O’First Group, Barrister Adekunle, said that it was necessary to give honour to whom it is due.

He expressed, “Let me start by saying that we honour anyone, high or low, that honour is de to. We set our focus on recognising excellence in whatever direction it is coming from. Gen. Popoola is an embodiment of excellence, commitment, sacrifice, leadership and what have you. When you see such in someone who combines it with humility, you cannot but try to pull him out of his shell because you know him.

“We can’t complete the listing of all his achievements. So, that is the reason why we came out. And, fortunately, the Ogbomoso Consultative Forum (OCC) provided the platform and the O’First Group powered it by introducing contents into the activities today. You can see, there’s culture, the cream of the society coming together. The objective was to bond members of this community and when you bond, you come to a common understanding and you push for development. All of these rolled together is what we are trying to achieve.”

Speaking further on the virtues that others should emulate in Gen. Popoola, Barr. Adekunle stated, “You have found an example to emulate and strive to go beyond. Emulate him, learn lessons and strive to go beyond where he is stopping.”

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of awards of excellence to Gen. Popoola (Rtd) by the O’First Group. Presenting the awards on behalf of the organisations, Barrister Adekunle and a philanthropist, Dr Samson Adegoke Maigida, also extolled the virtues of Popoola.

In her Goodwill message, former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, also emphasised his virtues and maintained that the former governor exemplified good leadership. She revealed, “Gen. Popoola is someone that I have always admired when I was a child. As you all know, both of us are from Isale-Ora area. Our family houses are just opposite each other. When he became governor, I was just coming out of Law School. I was always proud that he is from here. I’m not surprised that LAUTECH honoured him with this honorary doctorate because he has done a lot for Ogbomoso before, during and after he left the governorship. So, we can only wish him well. And personally, sir, I will have to congratulate you on your achievements. It is not everyone that gets to be honoured with a doctorate. Everybody here will agree that he merited it.“

Another eminent community leader and former chief judge of Oyo State, Justice .Afolabi Adeniran, lauded the celebrant, saying “Ogbomoso has spoken about Gen. Popoola. Ogbomoso says ‘This is my beloved son in whom I’m well pleased.’ Now, anybody who has met him will know he has met a very good human being. I must say that myself and Gen. Popoola met 45 years ago. And since then, I have found him to be a reliable person, a very honest, diligent, large-hearted individual. He approaches every situation with remarkable success. Anyone who is conversant with the people of Ogun and Oyo states will tell very much about him.

While presenting his goodwill message, a former executive chairman of Ogbomoso North Local government area, Prince Dayo Lawal, emphasised the magnanimity of the honouree with a revelation that he was the brain behind the formation of Ogbomoso Recreation Club many years back. He emphasised, “If anyone says that Gen. Popoola offends him, examine the person, he is not humane. Gen. Popoola rarely looks into my eyes to talk. This means he is humble.“You may not know. He was the brain behind this place (Ogbomoso Recreation Club) we are staying today. He called us back and encouraged us to join hands in forming the organisation. We started at Trans Motel. He you achieved excellence and he is being honoured today. We are proud of him,” Prince Lawal said.

In his speech, Gen. Popoola thanked every body who had contributed in different ways to the success of the event, particularly the organisers. “Honestly, I’m overwhelmed. When Sir Adekunle was talking about this, I thought we would only come here and have luncheon. I didn’t know that he had a hidden agenda. I must say thank you for the surprise. I like the performance evaluation reports as said by many who have been here today. I’m most sincerely grateful for all said and done,” Popoola said.

Other dignitaries who were either present or showered encomia and congratulatory messages on the celebrant included, but not limited to: Pioneer President and current chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the O’First Group, Otunba Bayo Babatunde; Alhaji Monsuru Ejide; the Babalaje of Ogbomoso land, Chief Muftaw Open Salawu; Hon. Temilola Adibi; President of Ogbomoso Recreation Club, Mr Akin Ladeji; Prof. Sola Adepoju; LAUTECH Vice Chancellor, Prof. M.O. Liasu; LAUTECH Registrar, Dr Kayode Ogunleye; Registrar of Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Mr Akin Odesola, and so on.

Other highlights of the occasion were the ewi renditions by Mr Sayo Alagbe and Mr Ojo Oluwatanna.

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