On Saturday, December 11, 2021, at about 11pm, I had to pick up the cause list for the cases scheduled for December 13 to 17, 2021 to know the cases assigned to me by the Head of Chambers, whose responsibility it is to determine the cases to be handled by each counsel in the office. I discovered that I would be in Ogbomoso for Monday, December 13, 2021 and my mind quickly raced to the fact that the day offers me an opportunity to see Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade 111, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, whom for the past 28 years I cannot but see first thing in the morning on my arrival in Ogbomoso before proceeding to court to attend to his cases in court.
I got to know during such early visits that I am one of few persons privileged to walk into Kabiyesi’s private room unchecked.
During such calls I may be the one to wake him up. Most of the times, Kabiyesi would like to know the cases coming up that morning and oblige me with the necessary and relevant information I need to handle the cases. The opportunity of going through this ritual was truncated with a call from a colleague at about 7am on Sunday, December 12, 2021 breaking the news of Kabiyesi’s demise, which at first I didn’t believe. I therefore quickly picked up my handset to put a call to Olori to verify thism but saw almost 25 missed calls from members of the Ilus (Soun’s Council of Executive Chiefs) and his Private Secretary.
I quickly dropped the phone and wept uncontrollably for almost 15 minutes before I could muster the courage to call Olori Olaronke, who picked my call and confirmed the news I have dreaded to hear and prayed against consistently for the past 28 years because Kabiyesi is not only my benefactor, a mentor, father, pillar of support but a reliable and dependable client.
Kabiyesi never for once wavered in his faith in me as a lawyer that can effectively handle his cases. His faith in me attracted a lot of referrals which cuts across the length and breath of this country. Can you imagine what the thought of losing such a big and rare client portends? Sorry of losing Kabiyesi who throughout the course of working for him treated me not only as his counsel but a son. I recall the role he played in my journey to matrimony several years back, he insisted that I should bring my fiancee for interrogatories as the choice of a woman one makes will determine his success or failure in life. He not only gave his blessings to my choice but supported us financially, donated the traditional aso okes for the wedding and even sent members of the ilus with his staff of office to the wedding.
Kabiyesi’s palace was always a home for me and my colleagues whenever we were in Ogbomoso for any case as a whole guest house was surrendered to us and we were usually feted with 3 square meals whenever we were in Ogbomoso for his cases. Kabiyesi is humble to a fault because whenever I was around in the guest house, instead of inviting me to his palace to discuss his cases, he would walk over to the guest house after dinner with compliments of sliced lemons and pawpaw. This he consistently did until his health could not longer bear the rigours of performing this ritual.
Kabiyesi was a King with the foresight of redemption and the voice of truth; an encyclopaedia of Yoruba native law and custom and a reservoir of Ogbomoso traditional history, accomplished entrepreneur, a decorated Nigerian and a towering public figure who has bagged several national honours, a lover of his people and the masses, who has chaired several committees and has led the best of men and the worst thereof; a traditional ruler that never runs away from the mob but rather douses their dissenting voices with his voice of reason.
He follows those he leads; those devoid of objectives, giving them a purpose of pursuit, for like Oscar Wilde wrote, those who try to lead the people can only do so by following the mob. It is through the voice of one crying in the wilderness that the way of redemption must be prepared.
Kabiyesi is so big a client but the easiest to manage of all clients I have had, always consulting his counsel before taking any decision, his commitment to rule of law and faith in resolution of dispute through mediation and the courts is second to none . His carriage of the revered throne of a king is not only enviable but a model for aspiring traditional rulers, you may not like him for being principled but can not afford not to respect him, bold , courageous and honest to a fault, he says it the way he sees it not minding whose ox is gored. When he believes in you, he will stand with you whether you win or lose his cases. Kabiyesi is equally endowed with the wisdom of Solomon as he successfully managed seven wives with 24 children and loved all equally. I had cause to ask one of his trusted palace aides who served Kabiyesi for over 30 years of his favorite out of all his children and his answer was unequivocally clear “all”. Amazing. Another lesson I learnt from Kabiyesi is the act of drawing a line between his private and official life. Kabiyesi never throughout our relationship discuss any of his private family life or involved his wife or children in all the legal matters handled for him.
Kabiyesi was a devout muslim who refused to compromise his faith in spite of the fact that he was a custodian of Ogbomoso native law and custom. Regular visitors to the palace will testify to the fact that he consistently organized special Muslim prayers every Friday before the jumat service and feted all attendees with sumptuous meal of Amala and Gbegiri garnished with beef and assorted meats. Kabiyesi was not only a devout muslim but was active in the activities of the muslim community in Ogbomoso to which he supported financially and morally and was even surprised to discover while sorting out some of the documents in his strong safe that he was the custodian of all the cheques of the muslim community in Ogbomoso. Kabiyesi abhors fetish indulgences and cannot have such people around him. His passion for education is unparalleled as 99 per cent of his children are well educated amongst whom are four lawyers, a professor, four doctorate degree holders , three ex0commissioners in Oyo State to mention but a few.
According to Kabiyesi he never had the luxury of a prince or education during his childhood days as he was sent out of the palace to learn the trade of cloth weaving which after the mastery of the trade, he hawked “Aso Oke” throughout the south west before he moved to Jos where he finally settled and met the likes of Kayode Eso, JSC, also of blessed memory and others. Kabiyesi laboured to attain all he had. His legacies of integrity, honesty, hardwork and selfless service to humanity which he bequeathed to his wives and children are enough to suffocate the spirits of poverty.
Kabiyesi, although I missed the opportunity of seeing you immediately before your demise but had the opportunity once more of entering your private room to talk to you as you were laid on the magnificent bed I always admire and dressed in an expensive white lace with your choice perfumes as requested in your burial wishes. The only difference between now and those days is that you could not pass the instructions as you usually do. Kabiyesi I cannot thank you enough for all you did for me as a client, father and mentor. You are indeed a blessing to this generation. Be rest assured that with the help of God I will carry out your last testaments to the letter and pray that God gives me the wisdom to advise and guide the pool of intellectuals who are beneficiaries of the estate.
Adieu Kabiyesi and rest in peace.
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