Jimi Adekanle goofed on Gen. Olu Bajowa- Prince Adegboyega Adeolu
– Steve Ovirih.
Prince Adegboyega Adeolu , a concerned Ikale stakeholder has made a statement debunking the erroneous impression made by one Mr. Olujimi Adekanle in a video that is trending on the social Media. Mr. Adekanle , an Irele man from Lijoka quarters had in the trending video made attempt to castigate and rubbish some Ikale elders by downplaying their roles and noble contribution to Ikale Land.
While Prince Adegboyega Adeolu noted in his rejoinder to Mr. Adekanle’s online video that the latter had raised issues of great concern and importance not only about Ikale Land but the entire Ondo south senatorial district, he however observed that Adekanle’s genuiness of motive paled into insignificance and became questionable at the point when he started to mention names of Ikale Elders for the purpose of derision , casting aspersions on their person to the point of outrightly denigrating their long standing personality and integrity .
Prince Adeolu said, ” Gen. Bajowa , Adm. Aduwo and JK Naiyeju are respected ‘Omoluabi’, great Ikales with impeccable character who at different times did whatever was withing their power and withing the purview of the law as civil/ public servants , to help the Ikale people and people of Ondo south senatorial district .”
Continuing the rejoinder, Prince Adeolu said, ” of particular interest to me is the reference made in the video to Gen.Oluyemi Bajowa , the Jagunmolu of Ikaleland. The tirade against his person is uncalled for. The aspersions against him is unfounded . The expectation of Mr. Olujimi Adekanle that Gen. Olu Bajowa had capacity to populate the Nigerian Army and civil/ Public service with Ikale people without considering the Federal character policy is undue, misplaced and uninformed even as such expectation exposes the
ignorance of Adekanle on the rules of engagement in public servic.
Prince Adeolu therefore advised “the video maker” to purge himself of destructive tirade , noting that the rejoinder is necessary and a moral obligation to educate Adekanle and help him out of his groping ignorance , bad faith and mischievous misrepresentation of the personality of Gen Olu Bajowa , whom he (Adekanle) made several attempt to denigrate in his social media binge.
In the four page rejoinder signed by Prince Adegboyega Adeolu and made available to thepolity.net, some
out of the numerous and salutary contributions of Gen. Olu Bajowa were enumerated. Prince Adeolu while drawing attention to these facts said, ” among the major and salutary contributions of Gen. Bajowa which Mr. Adekanle intentionally blindsided in bad faith are the fact that in the 20 years of meritorious service of the Ikale born Army General, his very clean public records are ascertainable and remained unblemished.
” Of note is the fact that Gen. Bajowa played a prominent role in the creation of Ondo state in 1975, when he was a Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army.”
Prince Adeolu noted with regret that Mr. Adekanle’s ignorance of history will not make him remember Gen. Olu Bajowa’s role as the commanding officer of the historic August 1967 battle at Ore ( famously tagged “ole ku Ija Ore”) that warded off the invasion and needless incursion into Yoruba land during the Biafra war by the agressors from the East. ”
Adeolu noted that as a matter of fact, Gen. Bajowa led this battle in person and delivered the Victory gallantly to and for the Nigerian nation.
Prince Adeolu wondered if Mr. Adekanle , a confessed ” sacked banker” had not had his expectations misplaced , he would not have tried his perfidious “pull him down ” tirade on the impecabble brand which Gen. Olu. Bajowa represents among his kit and kin Ikale people and Nigeria as a whole.
” Significantly, Gen . Bajowa influenced the establishment of three federal institutions: the Army Barracks, Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria and Federal science and Technical incubator all in Ikale Land. Equally, as the Commanding Officer, Abeokuta Training Depot between 1967 to 1969, Olu Bajowa recruited and trained Yoruba able bodied men, including over 500 Ikale, Ilaje indigines as combatant soldiers to join the Nigerian armed forces. He also assisted notable Ikale and Ilaje business men of his generation to climb the “millionaires ladder” before he retired from the Army in 1980 ( 4o years ago!)
Prince Adeolu reminded Mr Adekanle that , ” the role played by Gen. Olu Bajowa even on retirement when he assumed the Vanguard role by speaking the truth to power in the land struggle between Ikale and Araromi obu settlers remain every green in the mind of historically conscious and unforgetful Ikale people, adding that concerning the Ago Alaaye issue, Gen Bajowa ensured that the Ikale people were not shortchanged in their heritage and patrimony.
