Two Sundays ago, I was at Heathrow Airport in London to pick up my mum. As I was waiting in the arrival area, I saw a man who looked young and agile, walking so fast like someone who was rushing to catch a “Lagos Molue”, or our “Bere/Oje/Olodo bus” in Ibadan.

As a lover of Yoruba culture, living a a place where Yoruba attire can be scarce, the first thing I noticed was the attire and “Fila Yoruba”, before I could look twice, it was the former President Obasanjo.

A man who was more than lucky to be the military head of state, and gracefully survived a history that could have wrecked him without having to witness another grace that was bestowed on him in 1999, and became a democratically elected Nigerian President.

I stood up immediately to offer my respect and prostrated fully, and Baba offered a handshake 🤝. After some minutes, I reflected on life, especially, on the popular saying that, power is never going to permanent, cos, there was no paparazzi of any kind or much entourage, and most people couldn’t and can’t even recognize him as a former head of state or president of the most populous black nation on Earth but, a mere traveler but, that do not take his respect away in the international arena.

The Edide-Ejoko croner enjoyed that power, of course, had some lapses, which contributed to some political do-or-die of today, and others but, that can’t take away the fact that Grace has spoken in his life, I envy that Grace, I must say.

I recall Baba’s contribution towards removing Ladoja as the then Oyo state governor, and with some well-known dignitaries in the state, a well-cooked meal he ate, which affected his political journey to date, in a very shameful and undemocratic manner.

I can’t possibly say Ladoja didn’t wait for so long to grab an opportunity to deal with those he knew would burry him politically but, not every opportunity could be met.

As Grace will have it, Ladoja, as the next Olubadan, is a successful man, both in business and politics, and this privilege crowned it all, He is, indeed a great man, who enjoys the Grace of God for jumping a lot of obstacles and still standing today.

Obasanjo as a traditional man, who loves to regard the Yoruba Traditional Stools and occupants, in his one-sided or a few selected ones, as seen in the picture is the only avenue Ladoja will see as a final Alhamdulillah”, Mo Ri Eyin Ota Mi”…..

May The Reign Of Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja bring peace to Ibadan Land, and Oyo State entirely.

copyright Ejileye Abdultawwab Olanrewaju.