… Afe Babalola Day Gains Momentum in Ekiti as Ewi Ado,Owa Ooye, Ojudu , Famuagun and others gave endorsement .
We will be eternally grateful to The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti,His Royal Majesty Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, Aladesanmi III ,who on the last Udiroko Cultural Festival in August gave his royal proclamation and endorsement of the Afe Babalola Day slated for October 18 to be celebrating the living legend Aare Afe Babalola,SAN, OFR , CON,the Fiwajoye of Ado- Ekiti and the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).
Aare Afe Babalola is not just an eminent indigene of Ado- Ekiti but a man whose genealogy and ancestry is traced to many notable towns in Ekiti land such as Ijero-Ekiti and Otun -Ekiti; Aare Afe Babalola paternal ancestry is rooted in Ilotin compound,Odo Ado, Ado- Ekiti as a descent of Olotin of Ilotin,Odo Ado and his maternal roots is traced to Idemo quarters,Irona quarters in Ado- Ekiti as a scion of Edemo of Idemo and Akogun Fasuan of Irona quarters, Ado- Ekiti and a famous kin of Oba Adewumi Agunsoye, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti (reigned 1910-1936).
Thanks to His Royal Majesty,Alayeluwa Oba Michael Gbadebo Adedeji, (CON, JP), The Owa Ooye of Okemesi -Ekiti and the former Chairman of Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers,in his royal endorsement supports Afe Babalola Day for life, stating that Ewi of Ado-Ekiti ,HRM Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe has fulfilled the wishes of the people of Ekiti, not just Ado kingdom, by ordering his subjects to celebrate Aare Afe Babalola,the father of Ekiti State now when he is alive .
Only last week, Ekitikete Coalition, United States led by Hon.Joe Tolu Olugbamila and Hajia Aishat Opeyemi Oni came all the way from the United States to pay home to the ABUAD Founder,Aare Afe Babalola at his WhiteRock office to give him a Life Time Achievement Award for his singular contribution to Ekiti State modern development and said Afe Babalola Day must be celebrated in Ekiti State as the Americans are celebrating the late Reverend Dr Martin Luther king Jr,the Black Civil Rights Leader who died in 1968 and his birthday is today a public holiday in the United States.
Aare Afe Babalola,a native of Ado- Ekiti is also a scion of great monarch, Ajero Agbeleja of Ijero- Ekiti (reigned 1821-1866) and the fifth Oore of Otun -Ekiti,Oba Agbayangoye. Aare Afe Babalola the chieftaincy holder of Jagunmolu Atunluse of Okemesi-Ekiti is also the Balogun of Aramoko -Ekiti,and a Honourary chief of Aramoko -Ekiti.
The Aare Bamofin of Yorubaland is not just a foremost lawyer ,but a big time farmer, a valiant entrepreneur and unspairing philanthropist ,one of the founding fathers of modern Ekiti State and a benefactor of humanity.
A man who roses from nothing and his story is Impossibility Made Possible. With a career spanning over six decades Aare Afe Babalola has made phenomenal contributions to the development of Nigerian Law and Jurisprudence. A lion at the Bar, but a dove out it, Aare Babalola has trained more than 3, 000 lawyers, producing 15 Senior Advocates in addition to several Judges and Attorneys-General.
We are celebrating Afe Babalola Day annually with effect from October 18 to shine light on the legacy of a man who has contributed immensely to the development of Ekiti State in our contemporary times modern than any individuals, living or dead and helped shape the Ekiti 21st century world. This is a moment for all to renew ourselves with the values of service and unwavering commitment to community development and wholesome society that inspired Aare Afe Babalola in his uncommon way to serve humanity.
Afe Babalola Day campaigns started by the Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide (ABBW) since December 12,2003 when it’s celebrating annually locally in Okemesi-Ekiti and Ado- Ekiti annually in honour of the living legend Aare Afe Babalola, Founder/Chancellor, Afe Babalola,SAN, OFR, CON, the founder/Chancellor of the Afe BABALOLA University Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD for his philiantrophy and contribution to Ekiti State modern development.
In it’s first attempt and effort to make honourable members of Ekiti State House of Assembly endorse Afe Babalola Day, which have began since 2013, more than 10 years ago, was thwarted on Tuesday, 23rd of April, 2024. The sponsor of the Afe Babalola Day bill was Hon.Ayodeji Adegbite , representing Ado Constituency 1 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly while it was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Rt.Hon. Bolaji Egbeyemi- Olagbaju who represents Ado Constituency 2 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
Hon. Ayodeji Adegbite spoke glowingly about the extraordinary about Aare Afe Babalola,his contributions to the legal profession, education, philanthropy and the struggle for the creation of the state and urged his fellow state legislators to support the motion for the Afe Babalola Public Holiday in Ekiti State, Southwest of Nigeria.Members of the Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide (ABBW) commended the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon. Stephen Adeoye Aribasoye, for his intellectual approach as he allowed members from all the constituencies in Ekiti to have their say.
They spoke well of Aare Afe Babalola, for his contributions to the development of Ekiti State like others, dead or alive, including those who contributed to the struggle for the creation of Ekiti State.
However, all members spoke against the idea that a day should be set aside as Afe Babalola Day and argued that there are heroes and eminent personalities from their constituencies who are worthy of such honour too, and suggested the setting up of hall of fame or monuments to honour them including Aare Afe Babalola.
The Ekiti State House of Assembly thwarted the motion that the bill be referred to the committee of the House for proper scrutiny and the Speaker then advised the sponsors to represent the bill at a later date after more efforts on it.”If the Americans can honour the life and legacy of Reverend (Dr) Martin Luther King, Jr.,(1929-1968) who advocated the use of nonviolent resistance to end racial segregation.
We will continue to celebrate the life and legacies of Aare Afe Babalola as our living legend and benefactor”,Femi Alufa,the Spokesperson of ABBW said after the episode of Ekiti Assembly non- compliance with Afe Babalola Day Bill.”Aare Afe Babalola is our living hero and a great benefactor of humanity and especially of Ekiti people , we want the present Ekiti State Government to create a State public holiday in honour of Aare Afe Babalola before his very eyes and not when he’ is lie mouldering in the grave”Femi Alufa maintained.
Chief Solomon Ogunniyi Morakinyo, the Publisher of Kayegbo International Magazine and Co-ordinator of ABBW said:”We want the Ekiti State House of Assembly to pass a bill in to honour Aare Afe Babalola with a public holiday .
Afe Babalola Day will be an official Public Day of Service in Ekiti State to encourage all and sundry to come together to engage in volunteer and service activities to address several social issues on Ekiti communities development and to hold seminars, cultural events,modern festivals and celebrations in honour of Aare Afe Babalola living legacy.”If Martin Luther king Jr can be so honored in the United States,we see no reason why Aare Afe Babalola should not be honored here in Ekiti State of Nigeria for his extraordinary contributions.
As one of the greatest men that we have ever produced and this will inspire the generations to come to imbibe the culture of service to the people, community and humanity”. The proponents of the Afe Babalola Day said.Prince (Engr.) Segun Famuagun,President General, Ado Progressive Union (APU) also maintained that all Ado- Ekiti sons and daughters at home and abroad should come home on Friday, October 18,2024 to celebrate Aare Afe Babalola who is a father -figure to all.
He has set up committees to ex make sure that the celebration becomes a huge success annually in Ado kingdom by invoking prayers in the name of the founding fathers of Ado Kingdom saying :”Erinle Ado A gbe wa oo.”Since many decades ago,Aare Afe Babalola remains the Highest employer of Labour in Ekiti State.
He is not only one of the founding fathers of modern Ekiti State of Nigeria but a Spokesperson for our premier Ekiti monarchs, distinguished Leaders and entire people of Ekitiland as the prime mover for the creation of Ekiti State in 1996.
He personally delivered the Memorandum and Address at the meeting with members of State Creation, Local Government and Boundary Adjustment Committee (popularly called Arthur Mbanefo Committee )in March 1996 in Akure,the capital of Ondo State.
Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Ekiti Central Senatorial District (2011-2015) & Former Special Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on political matters.(2015-2023) In his own words said : “Personally,I have shared my opinion on “A Compelling Case for Afe Babalola Day to be Declared Now in Ekiti State of Nigeria and I have written”A Note to Ado-Ekiti All Progressives Congress (APC) Party Leadership Caucus and A Bill to Declare the Afe Babalola Day “,all this writings are in the public domain for the reading taste of all and for us to take bold decisive actions on it . ”
All my life,I have been a fighter for social justice as a journalist,pro- democracy activist and progressive politician who share the values of a wholesome society,a better life for our people and better future for our children and grandchildren.
I have never sit on a fence on the issues that matters and I will forever speak “Nothing But my Truth”. Senator Babafemi Ojudu maintained. Aare Afe Babalola is our living legend,it remains for me to wish him long life and good health to enjoy the fruits of his labour but more importantly,He deserve our honour and may his legacy endures forever.
The Afe Babalola Day next October 18 is a well deserved and long overdue honour. The time to Support and Act on it is Now.
– Femi Alufa is the Spokesperson of Afe Babalola Beneficiaries Worldwide (ABBW).
