USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: ProfOlukotun@65 roundtable discussion

Day of Celebration

Oh Ayo,

Such glorious celebrations of your quality and contributions in recent weeks; and now with the grand finale soon to come. 

First, the Great “Watchdogs or Captured Media?” Compendium/ then the profound challenge of your Address as Public Intellectual/ and now as fitting climax, this forthcoming 27^th May stellar Ibadan Gathering which embraces many of our “Family of Falola” to mark entry into your 66^th year—Elder in years to match the Elder wisdom you’ve long dispensed to many, many folk at broad reach and depth in Nigeria, and indeed the world beyond.

So looking to the past/ scrutinizing the present of all that you have contributed and directly challenged us with/ and now casting an eye to the future, what can I usefully add?

I would preface this by an observation which has long been never far from us all:

 “ …the ‘Engine Room’ of Africa is only just starting to produce serious thrust. It is a thrust rooted in great reservoirs of energy and ravenous hunger for all things. And while ‘primitive accumulation’ by most Africa oligarchs is the current norm—a practice that has turned many of its most brilliant and productive citizens into exiles; and that also is holding back a massive range of vitally important development throughout the continent—release and actuation will come. There is a limit to the time that growing multitudes of Africa folk of high talent, energy and intelligence can be ignored/ excluded/ suppressed. The huge and ever-growing force, the thrust from below grows daily. Eventually it will become too much. It will breach the ‘oligarchical dam.’ There will be a huge release. Folk from distant diasporic lands, and from all levels in Africa society, will flood forward. Africa will come into its own.” (On Wings of Light, pp.24-5)

And so, all will come forward, and Nigeria at last will shed its long-extended Darkness. It will enter into the reality of its Great Light. 

And In that reality I see not Ruler-ship, but Leader-ship.

At the Head is a person/ the inheritor of the antiquity of Civil Knowledge/ political and social acumen/ possessor of the natural-born power of charisma; a person for whom the folk of this vast and vibrant country feel great loyalty/ great pride/ great trust; indeed a person carrying closely the marks of character/ ability/ integrity/ great wit and humour of today’s remarkable supporter/ defender/ promoter of his people, the wondrous Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland. I see clearly the spirit of the Awujale in the person of Nigeria’s new President.

I see another person, the Vice-President and Chief-Adviser to the President; a person bearing the depth and reach of thought and engagement/ from highest intellectual contact to deepest sensory touch with the root heartbeat of Nigeria community; tis indeed a person who reflects a mirror-alignment with the spirit of our celebratee. Tis that of Prof Ayo Olukotun.

Finally, as chief operative and articulator of the Presidential Will, and enriched by the depth and wealth of Vice-Presidential guidance, there clearly before me is the spirit of one who throbs with the force of deep caring/ rooted Inclusion/ inspiration and discipline for the actuation of our rainbow vastness of human skills and abilities/ with total commitment to breaching age-old dams to the release of the great energies and determination within each one of us, and so to ACHIEVE these passionately sought objects/ aims/ goals. And in this person who is the repository of  this rainbow-range of applied ability, is the one who holds the Office of PM—Prime Minister. And the spirit being carried by this presence of the PM? It is that of Remi Sonaiya.

You see, the future is clear, very clear, if we can just keep our balance—often under  extreme provocation—and hang on. Nigeria is the land; this vast land of great beauty, great riches; it is the people I have met over the past 50 years, in land, or in heart and mind exchange; it is what they released in me, in heart/ mind/ energy/ being/ courage of conviction/ laughter/ gentleness/ joy of real human achievement in myself and others/ the phenomenal will to endure, to overcome and to prevail. 

In this Nigeria, this oyinbo has seen from the very start, that it is the commonalities that rise and bond and strengthen, and have the sure sense of underlying inclusion, something we all share in abundance. Tis just that we need folk like the Awujale, and Ayo, and Remi to remind us how greatly present it is beneath the many layers we have acquired often over generations, or been persuaded to put in place in our psyches.

We are, all of us, whole people. And as we are encouraged, and thereby allow more Light to come forward in our lives and communities, so can we see the Darkness of Division and Exclusion driven increasingly to the margins. Life can indeed be more abundant. It is for us under the inspiration of “humane and commonsense” guidance of our true Leaders, to seize upon Life Principles and Living Values and work hard for them.

And, I might add, never far from this oversight/ this presence of the Horizon Future; hovering close, applying a touch here, a guiding hand there, is of course the spirit of the person who has carefully moulded, and carried skillfully forward this “Networked Charter of True Liberation & Actuation, Within & Without” —and with breathtaking leaps. I speak of the Spirit of Oloruntoyin Falola.

Sunday 27^th May at Ibadan is of course Ayo’s Day. We celebrate him and his phenomenal public accomplishments. 

But none of us achieves totally on his own. There are friends and helpers. And the Creator and prominent deities play important roles—some, like me, might say determining roles. And so it is we toast also the Future that Will Be; and with it the spirits of a special land and a very special people, and the Leading Presence of those who give meaning and force to ALL of the Light that but awaits release to bring to actuation all that resides within.

May your years, dear Ayo, extend far into the future of which I speak. May the Creator ensure you are granted those years; years that will enable you to observe all that you foresaw and encouraged as potential, to be achieved in the reality, the Creator’s Civil Life for which he provides us, each one of us, with the Inner Force to achieve.

And Ayo, while I greatly regret I shall not in person be present at Ibadan on the 27^th May, I and Mama Pat shall nevertheless be with you and our friends gathered, throughout.  Twill be a day of Celebration, near and far. And here in our Sussex home, we shall drink to your health, longevity and continuing vital contributions to Nigeria, to the spirits of its land, its folk and its True Leaders, and to the spirits of the  folk and lands of the world beyond.

With all best wishes,  Baba Mike

 

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From: Grace Edema <gmso200212@gmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, 15 May 2018 12:15
To: Yusuf Bangura <bangura.ym@gmail.com>, Prof Ayo OLUKOTUN <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>, <habiblife@yahoo.com>
Cc: "Prof Eghosa E. OSAGHAE" <osaghaeeghosa@yahoo.co.uk>, Nimi Wariboko <nimiwari@msn.com>, Redeemer's <vc@run.edu.ng>, Akinjide OSUNTOKUN <josuntokun@yahoo.com>, Femi_Osofisan Osofisan <okinbalaunko@yahoo.com>, Bunmi Makinwa <bunmimakinwa@hotmail.com>, Prof Ayo Dunmoye <ayodunmoye@yahoo.com>, "peter.kimani" <peter.kimani@aku.edu>, OluYinka Esan <oluyinkaesan@gmail.com>, Orogun Olanike <dam_nik@yahoo.com>, Bolaji Ogunseye <erinje@yahoo.com>, omatsola edema <charlieedema@yahoo.co.uk>, USA-AFRICA dialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>, "hassansaliu2003@gmail.com" <hassansaliu2003@gmail.com>, Kwame Karikari <afumkarikari@gmail.com>, Prof YACOB-HALISO <jumoyin@gmail.com>, Femi Babatunde <ofemibabatunde@yahoo.com>, mimikofemi <mimikofemi@yahoo.com>, "Nwulu, Paul" <P.Nwulu@fordfoundation.org>, Prof Bayo ADEKANYE <profbayo_adekanye@yahoo.com>, Dr Nathaniel Danjibo <danjib@yahoo.com>, <rotimisuberu@yahoo.com>, Innocent Chukwuma <innocent.chukwuma@fordfoundation.org>, Prof Osinbajo <yemiosinbajo@yahoo.com>, <dr_golat@yahoo.com>, Bankole Omotoso <bankole.omotoso@gmail.com>, Segun Awonusi <segunawo@yahoo.com>, Ayodeji Olukoju <aolukoju2002@yahoo.com>, Margaret Ayansola <mdayansola@gmail.com>, Abubakar Rasheed <abubakarasheed@gmail.com>, "Jeyifo, Biodun" <bjeyifo@fas.harvard.edu>, Adebayo Olukoshi <olukoshi@gmail.com>, Prof Wale ADEBANWI <waleadebanwi@gmail.com>, Ayobami Salami <ayobasalami@yahoo.com>, Oluwaniyi Osundare <oosunda1@uno.edu>, <taleomole@yahoo.com>, Abigail Ogwezzy <abigaily2k@yahoo.com>, Prof Tunde BABAWALE <tunde_babawale@yahoo.com>, Ebunoluwa Oduwole <ebunoduwole2k2@yahoo.com>, Prof I Olawole ALBERT <ioalbert2004@yahoo.com>, Tunji Olaopa <tolaopa2003@gmail.com>, Is-haq Oloyede <ioloyede@yahoo.co.uk>, Olufunke Adeboye <funks29adeboye@yahoo.co.uk>, Christian Ogbondah <chris.ogbondah@uni.edu>, Mohammed Haruna <ndajika01@gmail.com>, "Edet(aen) Ojo" <edetaen@gmail.com>, Dr Wale Babalakin <bobabalakin@aol.com>, Bolaji Akinyemi <rotaben@gmail.com>, Ayo Ojebode <Ayorindeojebode40@gmail.com>, Toks Olaoluwa <olaoluwatokunboh@gmail.com>, Odia OFEIMUN <odia55@yahoo.com>, Peter Kimani <pete.kimani@gmail.com>, dhikru adewale yagboyaju <aswaj2003@yahoo.com>, "Gbenga Dr. Owojaiye" <gbenjaiye@hotmail.com>, Jinmi Adisa <jinmiadisa@gmail.com>, Dele Layiwola <delelayiwola@yahoo.com>, Dr Oluwajuyitan <ecjide@yahoo.com>, Prof Toyin FALOLA <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>, Dr Banji OYEYINKA <boyeyinka@hotmail.com>, Prof Richard JOSEPH <r-joseph@northwestern.edu>, Lai Oso <laioso@ymail.com>, dele Alake <alakedele@yahoo.com>, Royal Gardens <royalgardensnet@gmail.com>, Prof Jide Owoeye <babsowoeye@gmail.com>, Chief Femi Fani Kayode <ffk2011@aol.com>, "Prof. Adeola Adenikinju" <adeolaadenikinju@yahoo.com>, "Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina" <adesina1234@gmail.com>, rebecca adugbe <omoadugbe@gmail.com>, Hafsat Abiola <hafsatabiola@hotmail.com>, "Olupona, Jacob" <olupona@fas.harvard.edu>, <fawolew@yahoo.com>, Adigun Agbaje <adigunagbaje@yahoo.com>, Insa NOLTE <M.I.Nolte@bham.ac.uk>, "Dr O.A. DOSUMU" <toksx@yahoo.com>, <paddykay2002@yahoo.com>, "Dr.Remi SONAIYA" <remisonaiya@yahoo.com>, Alaba OGUNSANWO <alabaogunsanwo@gmail.com>, Cyril Obi <cyrilobi@hotmail.com>, Tade Aina <tadeakinaina@yahoo.com>, Noel Ihebuzor <noel.ihebuzor@gmail.com>, Michael VICKERS <mvickers@mvickers.plus.com>, Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon <cynthiafunmi@gmail.com>, Abiodun Salawu <abiodun.salawu@nwu.ac.za>, Emmanuel Remi Aiyede <eaiyede@yahoo.com>, "Prof. Lere Amusan" <lereamusan@gmail.com>, Shehu Dikko <shehuspen@gmail.com>, AbdulRasheed Na'Allah <abdulrasheed.naallah@kwasu.edu.ng>, Chibuzo NWOKE <chibuzonwoke@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: ProfOlukotun@65 roundtable discussion

Dear Sir/Ma,

Kindly find attached.

We are delighted to invite you to a Roundtable in honour of the celebrated scholar, writer 

and mentor, Prof. Olukotun @ 65.

Date: Sunday, May 27, 2018 

Time: 3pm prompt. 

Venue: Emerald 3, International Conference Centre, Lead City University, Ibadan.

Theme: 'The Public Intellectual as a Humanist'.

The event is particularly billed to interrogate the life 

of the celebrant, his scholarship and his impact on the society at large.

By accepting to be part of this event, you will be playing a crucial role in mainstreaming the 

very admirable qualities that make the celebrant outstanding, while recommending them for 

all and sundry.

While we eagerly look forward to receiving you at the event.

Yours in service,

..................................

Dr. Tunde Oseni 

For: The Organising Committee