AT 75, OMOJOLA, SOCIAL ACTIVIST, STILL DREAMS A JUST COUNTRY
THEY were all there: The progressives and the trade unionists. Dr Wale Balogun of The Centre for Constitutional Governance, Adeyemi Solomon of The Coalition of Odua Self Determination groups, Wale Adeoye of Democratic Journalism, Debo Adeniran of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders and Sola Olatunde of Odua Youth Movement.
June 12 Coalition of Democratic Formation was represented by Tessy Irabor, Covenant for Liberation was represented by Nelson Ekujimi, Awake Nigeria Movement had Popoola Ajayi, Constitutional Development had Odion Akhaine as did Middle Belt Youth Congress in Abuka Onalu.
The event was the celebration of the 75th birthday and 60 years of the campaign for a better society of a progressive, activist, economist and legal practitioner, Baba Oluwide Omojola. The carnival-like event took place at the Glitter hall, Kudirat Abiola Way.
In his reflections, Omojola said he took the road to fight for social liberty and justice very early in life because he noticed the huge gap between the rich and the poor as a teenager. "I saw that there was too much poverty, so I chose the class of the oppressed and poverty-stricken."
According to him, as the son of an Anglican minister, he felt embarrassed to wear shoes among bare-footed students. "Out of about 30 students, only five wore shod. I felt it was unjust and would either throw mine away or gave them out.
It was his determination to fight for a balanced society that earned him a provisional secretaryship of the Zikist Movement in 1953. He was also a member of the Youth Universal Liberation Army (YULA). YULA liaised with youths in other parts of West Africa and rioted over the massacre of Sharpeville.
"I joined in throwing stone against the South African House in Trafalgar Square in the late 1950s. We were sentenced with an option of fine in London. The officials of the Nigerian High Commission denounced us as ill-bred, but conservative white women bailed us out.
"That was when we stopped being anti-white and found ourselves as members of far left wing groups who acted from international platforms.
"My education deepened and I saw that there were other factors apart from demonstrating. So we grew from students who staged protests to people who took action. I was a member of the Committee of African Organizations. As an organizer of the Anti-Apartheid Movement, I was involved with South African exiles who were trained and educated in tactics, engineering and hydrology, both in the Eastern and Western Europe."
Baba came back to Nigeria in 1963 and was an active participant in the 1964 general strike. He was private secretary to the late trade unionist, Michael Imoudu until 1970. From then to 1979, he was full-time general secretary of the MPD, an organization that was made up of Marxist, Socialist, Labour, youth and patriotic professionals, which fought the military oligarchy at the height of armed crises in Nigeria.
Baba is the President of June 12 Coalition of Democratic Formation' President, Gender and Development Action and President, Action Group. He says that Action Group is not a political party but a party of activists in human rights, civil liberties, democracy and justice. It is also active in political, economic, social and environmental affairs, he stresses, adding, "We are just interested in transforming the society, if possible through a revolution."
Omojola is delighted that the youth of this generation are taking up the gauntlet in social activism.
Among those sent him congratulatory messages was the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. In a letter titled, 'Felicitation to a Progressive and activist at 75,' the governor observed that there was cause to celebrate "considering that not many people, particularly in our clime where life expectancy is miserably low are lucky to live up to this age."
The governor saluted Omojola's courage, commitment, doggedness and patriotism in the struggle to make Nigeria a better place.
Among those who have influenced him are Mokwugo Okoye, Raji Abdalla, Kola Balogun and Tony Enahoro. As a student of Law, Economics and Sociology, he says, "I had drunk directly from the fountain and knees of intellectual masters like Ernest Mandel, Felix Moumie and W Dubois."
In his office is a framed black and white photograph of the first Archbishop of West Africa, Archbishop Vining, which he explains is an inheritance from his father. His father was Rev. E. O Ajibola, the Cannon Residentiary, Christ Church Cathedral, 1944 to 1954. His father and the archbishop, irrespective of their positions were soul mates, he says.
Omojola is the Chairman, Econsultants (Overseas) Limited, a firm of integrated economic and industrial engineers, which he says are listed as planners in the Directory of African Consulting Organization by the united Nations Economic Commission for Africa since 1975.
Baba, whose gross salary was N6, 000 at one time, says that although he is not a rich man, he is comfortable.
He is the author of the books, Political history of Nigeria 1939-1950, Yoruba Social Science Terms, among other publications. He is the Editor, Mass Line - a Marxist cadre's journal.
Although, he is known variously as Baba Omojola and Baba Oluwide, he explains that his family name is Ajibola. The change came when he went to register as a student and was informed that he needed not be encumbered with long identity.
He is happily married to Dr. Yewande Cole Ajibola whom he describes as "a great cook, home keeper and an entertainer who welcomes my numerous visitors."
He attended North Western Polytechnic, London and London School of Economics. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1962. He also attended Central School of Planning and Statistics, Warsaw, Poland.
From: Mobolaji Aluko <alukome@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Oct 19, 2013 at 4:25 PM
Subject: Re: News Release: Baba Omojola's Death
To: ekiti ekitigroups <ekitipanupo@yahoogroups.com>
News Release: Baba Omojola's Death
 |
| Late Baba Omojola |
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