Kunle Adelabu
The late Asiwaju of Ikorodu and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief (Sir) Babatunde Olushola Benson, SAN, KJW, has been described as an embodiment of all virtues that the C.M.S Grammar School stands for.
The late legal luminary and former Chairman of the Lagoon State Movement was also said to be an illustrious and frank Grammarian who speaks the truth at all times, no matter whose ox is gore.
An Editor with The Nation newspaper and the incoming Public Relations Officer of the Old Grammarian Society (OGS) of the CMS Grammar School, Otunba Dare Odufowokan gave these attributes of late Benson in an interview with THE IMPACT at the deceased Estate in Ikorodu when he paid a condolence visit to the family of late elder statesman.
“About a week ago, the executives of the Old Grammarian Society Worldwide led by the Worldwide President, Mr Olu Vincent, were here to pay condolences and to drop the letter of our condolences with the family. We also went to the Ayangbure palace in lkorodu to do the same with Oba Kabir Shotobi”, Odufowokan told our reporter.
“We couldn’t have done less considering the personality of late Baba B.O Benson.
“ I must put it on record that he was one of our most illustrious old boys and also for the record, we call ourselves old boys whether old or young. We don't have old men in our association but old boys”, he explained.
“I tell you that for many years, even after he turned Septuagenarian and Octogenarian, Baba would participate in the old dress activities conveniently.
He said that the late NBA President was an integral part of late TOS Benson success and long term occupation of the Presidency of the OGS.
“ Interestingly, we were not surprised that his late uncle, TOS Benson, was the OGS longest serving President and Baba (late Benson), all that while, was a very dutiful ally and loyalist of his uncle while he served as the President of the Old Grammarian Society. Baba was there providing the much needed assistances”, Odufowokan recalled.
“He was more or less like Personal Assistance while TOS Benson was President. So, Baba was the embodiment of the activities of the OGS.
“He was a knowledge book of the Old Grammarian Society. If you want responses, answers and solutions to problems, he was one of those you can go to; that we have seen this kind of thing before; we passed this road before and this was how we resolved it.
Speaking on his relationship with late Chief Benson, Otunba Odufowokan said that the late Octogenarian encouraged him to join the OGS and many community developmental associations.
He described late Benson as someone that always extend helping hands and solve people’s problems.
“For we the younger generation, I personally must tell you that I drew my interest in the OGS from my relationship with Baba. I was not involved in the Old Grammarian Society until I met Baba about 12years ago”, Otunba Odufowokan disclosed.
“We had a relationship that span various organizations and associations and personal. I do come into his house anytime to seek advice on issues. I also joined many community associations through him.
“Aside that, when he discovered that I am old Grammarian and asked if I am involved in the activities of the association and I said no, he charged me to be part and parcel of the OGS and he added that you don’t join the Old Grammarian from the top but from your set.
“Through his encouragement, I joined my set and later got elected as an executive member up to the point of joining the national Old Grammarian Society executive and now the Worldwide executive.
“There are lots of people like that who will tell you how Baba influenced their interest.
“It is basically because of his helping hands. Immediately he knows that you are an Old Grammarian, he is interested in you; want to know what you are through and want to provide assistance and where he cannot, he would be quick to pick his phone to make contact on your behalf.
Otunba Odufowokan said that Chief Benson recently charged him to mobilize media to assist an Old Grammarian who was having issue in an institution.
“While he was ill, Baba was still thinking about what an Old Grammarian was going through and he was rallying support for him here and there.
“Baba said that I should mobilize media in assisting the an Old Grammarian because his opponent are using the media to witch –hunt him. Of course, I heeded his advice and we assisted where we could.
While stating that late Chief Benson was an embodiment of the ideals and principles of the CMS, the senior journalist also added that he lived his life to the fullest with many great feats.
“Baba lived a wonderful life as an Old Grammarian. He was an embodiment of everything a Grammarian represent, majorly, frankness which is a virtue that is taught like a subject in Grammar School. As an Old Grammarian and somebody who passed through CMS Grammar School, we are expected to be very frank and truthful”, Otunba Odufowokan said.
“The creed is, ‘say it the way it is’. No embellishment, reduction or addition. That was what we are trained to and Baba represented that.
“I have seen him being frank several times. This is an organization that Baba just told them that he would no longer serve as their Chairman after a day and added that he has some things to tell them. He said many things about the ills and left after charging them to make amend. That’s frankness and truthfulness and he represented it till the very end.
“As an illustrious Grammarian, he made the best use of his life. He rose to the pinnacle of his career becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); becoming the Asiwaju of Ikorodu and Baba Oba of many kingdoms and was also conferred with many titles. He was fulfilled and he represented the creed and ideals of CMS Grammar School to the fullest.
“He was somebody that we are going to miss and he was somebody that we will forever be proud of. That was a Grammarian by the name Pa B.O Benson”.
