Ambushed by my secondary school classmates, – By Femi Adesina

*Photo: Femi Adesina (right)*

By June, it will be exactly 44 years that I left secondary school. Which school? Origbo Community High School (OCHS) in my native Ipetumodu, Osun State.

Last weekend, the class of 1975-1980 held its second grand reunion in the good, old town, with members congregating from different parts of the country, and even beyond.

It was the second of such reunion, the first having held in 2020, to mark the 40th anniversary of our leaving school. It was one of the sheer delights and pleasures of life to meet again with people you hadn’t seen in four decades.

For me, I had thought the 44th reunion was routine, albeit a delightsome one, but I didn’t know that I would be laden with accolades, gifts, laurels, and-wait for it-a chieftaincy title, the 4th in the series.

In January 2018, I had been given the title Nwanne di Namba (A Brother From Another Mother) by Igwe Cyprian Nevobasi of Nmaku Kingdom, in Enugu State. The following year, I was made the Ugo Mba (Eagle of the Community) by Eze Nelson Nmerengwa of Isieketa Kingdom in Abia State. And on November 4, last year, during the annual Ipetumodu Day celebration, my own monarch, Oba (Professor) Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, Latimogun 1, gave me Oluomo (The Choice Son) title.

I attended the reunion with my classmates bearing three titles, but went back home with four. Who did it?

The Elerunwon of Erunwon, in Ijebu area of Ogun State, Oba Adebayo Okubena, was my classmate at OCHS. We also later attended the then University of Ife together, where he read law. He practiced for many years, before he ascended the throne of his forefathers in 2017.

Oba Okubena was physically present, in all his royal effulgence, in 2020. This time, he couldn’t come. But he sent a message, one that dazed me. Femi Adesina is now the Fuwagboye (same as Fiwagboye) of Eruwon, with the formal installation to be done in due course. Holy Moses!

Fuwagboye means somebody that is being honored because of his good conduct and character. And who was that. Me? Again, I say; Holy Moses!

Thank you, Oba Adebayo Okubena, the Eleruwon of Erunwon. May the Kabiyesi live and reign for long. Amin.

Apart from my classmates, two illustrious personalities graced the event to honor us. Barrister Oyegunle Adesiyan was Senior Prefect of the 1969 set, and National President of the OCHS Old Students Association. Also there was Dr Rahmon Adedokun, Senior Prefect of 1975/76 set, the year we entered school. They both played key roles in the honor done me, and made very uplifting remarks.

The brain behind the reunion is London-based Matthew Oladimeji, a friend and brother. I cannot get into London without seeing him. He has done what is now a watershed in the lives of his classmates. Bravo!

In his speech, he said I was being honored for serving the country diligently as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Muhammadu Buhari for eight years, for my services to the old school, and love for the town. Yes, I do love Ipetumodu, and proudly proclaim where I come from anywhere in the world.

Our Convener almost brought tears to my eyes when he said: “You are welcome back home. Your legacy shall never be forgotten, either in the history of OCHS, or in the history of your enviable relationship with your childhood friends, and most notably, in the history of Nigeria as a country.”

Thanks Matthew. I won’t call you by that popular name we had for you back then. Lol. A story for another day.

Abiodun (Ezekiel) Oloyede is a childhood friend, Registrar of Osun State Polytechnic, and Grand National Coordinator (GNC) of our association. He described the Convener as someone so meticulous about accountability, saying we need more of his type in this country. I agree.

“Good friends we have, oh good friends we’ve lost, along the way,” sang Bob Marley in No Woman No Cry. True. We have lost a good number of our mates over 44 years, with the latest being James Olabiyi, who lived next door to me as a young boy. May their souls rest in peace. There’s another fellowship in Heaven, and we’ll still share it together at the fullness of time. Amen.

We have done various projects in our old school. Muti-million naira Computer Center with the aid of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, borehole, and many others in the works. We received plaudits from our forebears who were with us.

The women. Oh yes, can I ever forget them? Activist lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, used to call them “lubricants of the revolution.” William Shakespeare calls them “a dish for the gods,” while the Holy Bible says a good woman “is far above rubies.”

They were all my friends in school, and we always flocked together. I remember our principal in Class 5, Baba Owojuyigbe, who said one day: “Adesina, there’s no time I see you that you are not in the company of at least five girls. If you dare marry more than one in future, it is blows they will use to scatter your house.” Hahahahaaaa. I heeded the advice.

OCHS had a great reputation not just for academics, but also sports, in the entire region. Our athletics team was second to none. Of the female relay quartet, three of them were around. Aduke Abiola (now Adewale), Fadeke Adeyemo (now Oke), and Kemi Elewude (now Odesola). Only Kemi Falope didn’t come. All of them grandmas now, I’m sure they would still easily dust our men (who now carry pregnancies) in 100 meters dash.

The women presented me with diverse gifts, with the most precious being a photo frame made up of my current picture and ones from the past. May God bless these dear “lubricants of the revolution.”

Our host, Bros Sango (Kayode Sangotayo) owns Opekete Hotels, which we always use. He is always so gracious in hosting us. Higher glories.

I had to answer questions on my stewardship in government during the event. Myriad questions. Was Buhari truly Jubril of Sudan? Are there demons in Aso Rock, as alleged by my predecessor, Reuben Abati? How did I cope with the home front, being so busy for 8 years? Which did I prefer, General Muhammadu Buhari or President Muhammadu Buhari? Many other questions, which I tried to answer as honestly as possible.

I look forward to seeing these beautiful people again, by the grace of God. Pleasant blasts from the past.

*Adesina, FNGE, OON served President Buhari as Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, for 8 years