Kunle Adeabu
Engr. Olayiwola Adegbola, a former Chairman of the Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group (IDRDG) and a close confidante of late Chief Babatunde Olushola Benson, SAN, has disclosed that the late former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had premonition about his own death and prepared for it.
Engr. Adegbola, Bamole of Ikorodu Kingdom and the son of the Oluwo Mileran of Ikorodu whose father died 50 years ago on June 24, the same day that Chief Benson passed away, said that he became close to the late legal luminary in the early 80s.
“My association with Chief Babatunde Olushola Benson dates back to the early 80s. That was when I brought the Rotary Club to Ikorodu and I approached him for membership and he humbly and respectfully joined, not minding his age”, Engr. Adegbola said.
“He was a chartered member of the Rotary Club of Ikorodu and the Vice President at the time. He led the Rotarians to Birmingham in 1985 to attend the Rotary International Conference .
“He was like a father to me and I was close to him. He knew he was going to die and he actually prepared for it, but he did not know the exact time that the death would come”, Engr. Adegbola said.
Engr. Adegbola said that late Benson’s attributes qualified him for the foremost position as the Asiwaju of Ikorodu.
“He was a very simple man, cool – minded and always ready to help, particularly as it regards to the development matters in the community, that is why I am not surprised that he was appointed/elected as the Asiwaju of Ikorodu at that time”, he said.
“If you are here on Sunday, we celebrated his 89th birthday. He wanted it to be a funfair but he never knew that Almighty God will call him on the 24th of June, which happens to be the day my father died 50 years ago.
“He was a very wonderful man and highly responsible and respectful. When he gives you time for an appointment, he usually keeps it. He was always there to advise me on family matters and also listen to me too for advice and we discuss a lot of things together.
“He had the interest of Ikorodu at heart. He was somebody who would not refuse to spend his money for the development of Ikorodu in the areas of education, social matters, community services like improving the roads and welfare of ordinary man”.
He was a man that God had endowed for lkorodu and he did it to the best of his ability till death. He did a lot for the people of lkorodu.
While describing the deceased as the only man that ever occupied the enviable position of the General Secretary and later President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and as a good family man, Engr. Adegbola also told our reporter that he impacted greatly on the development of his community, profession and other spheres of life.
“He was a family man who loved and cared for all his children.
“He was interested in development and gave a lot of scholarships to people.
“He also helped lawyers in his profession. In fact, he did not joke with lawyers and was always involved in anything that will move life forward.
“He invited me to join the Exclusive Club of Ikorodu and I did not regret joining the club because it’s a club that makes progress and meant well.
“Let me just sum it up that he was a God fearing man. He was also a straight forward and open minded person. He normally coins joke for anybody he meets and anytime he sees that person, he would crack the joke for him or her. He was a lovely man. May God bless his soul and may he rest in peace”, Engr. Adegbola said.
