The entire Ogunsakin family of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State today in unison celebrate the 30th memorial anniversary of one of their patriarchs, the late Alhaji Bello Olorunishola Ogunsakin who died on February 10, 1996 and was buried on February 11, of the same year in accordance with Islamic rites.
Alhaji Ogunsakin as he was popularly known in Ekiti was born in 1936 to the late Baba Sanni Ogunsakin and Iyasuna Sahadat Osatokun Omolu Ogunsakin. He was the third son out of five children. His other siblings include late Alhaji Tijani Afolabi Ogunsakin, late Gbadamosi Ogunsakin, late Madam Asimowu Ogunsakin and Madam Rabiat Fasanmi, the only surviving child of his parents.
Alhaji Bello Ogunsakin attended Our Saviour’s Primary School, an Anglican school now known as Emmanuel Anglican Primary School Okesa, Ado-Ekiti. He however dropped out at Standard Four due to financial constraints. Through a benefactor, he travelled to Ibadan, the then Capital of the Western Nigeria where he enrolled at Adeoyo Hospital and was trained as a dispenser. After his training, he was posted to Araromi Obu Oil Palm Estate established by the Western Region government as dispenser. He worked there for 14 years before he retired back home to Ado-Ekiti to start his own private business.
Getting back home, he established his Medicine Store, B.S Ogunsakin Patent Medicine Store at Okesha, Ado-Ekiti where he sold drugs and attended to the medical needs of his people. He did this so well that he became very popular in the town and its environs.
At the creation of Ondo State in 1975, Alhaji Ogunsakin was one of the first beneficiaries of Ondo State Small Scale Industrial Loan which he utilized by establishing Shola Bakery and Confectionary Factory, the first modern bakery in Ekiti. He ran the business successfully to the extent of distributing and selling bread across several Ekiti towns and villages.
A very devout Muslim, late Alhaji Ogunsakin was the secretary to the Ansar -Ud-Deen Society, Central Mosque, Oja Oba, Ado-Ekiti for nine years from where he was chosen as Chairman for another 12 years. He contributed greatly to the establishment of Ansar-Ud-Deen Secondary School, Ado-Ekiti where a House is named after him while he was alive. He also contributed much to the spread of Islam in Ekiti, and was turbanned as Baba Adini of Ado-Ekiti shortly before his death in 1996.
The late Alhaji Ogunsakin was a loving father, husband and totally devoted to his family, both extended and close relations.
In his tribute, the head of the Ogunsakin family, Mr Olusola Azeez Ogunsakin wrote:
A SHORT TRIBUTE
About this hour, 7:00am, on February 10, 1996, exactly 30 years ago, I received an uncommon visit to my house in Ogba, Ikeja by a familiar person, Mustapha. The question I asked was direct. “What made you come this early? I asked. He said Alhaji died overnight. What followed was a momentary silence of about a few minutes, gazing at each other, as if we knew nothing to say and indeed, we were lost for words as we were in a state of shock.
Just a few days earlier I was still shopping for some drugs requested, in Lagos, as these could not be easily sourced from Ado. They were very scarce. After I managed to get myself together, I just requested that he should give me some minutes to inform my wife and to dress up. Within an hour, we were on our way to Ado in my Nissan Sentra.
That was the beginning of the irredeemable miss, I and indeed many of us still feel about my beloved uncle, B.S., as we would to call him in our casual discussions in his absence.
The miss is remarkable, when one considers the many parts played by our beloved B.S. in the family, community and in the town, particularly in matters concerning Muslims. As a matter of fact, my father, Alhaji Agba(Alhaji Tijani Ogunsakin) as some prefer to call him, never fully recovered from the effects of the event until he joined him three years later, on August 17, 1999.
By all standards, my uncle was a VERY GOOD MAN. Gleaning from his interactions with dad and personal interactions, I saw a humble man, respectful, down to earth, very disciplined, full of integrity, focused, determined, enterprising, hardworking (couldn’t stand lazy people), kind and benevolent. I can go on and on. I can’t figure any part of life where you would find Alhaji wanting. He was so beloved by all the people that share his dream.
His relationship with his siblings was a model. I recall that in many important decisions of life concerning many of us in the family, you will find the input of B.S. I recall my own. My dad was so bewitched by Christ’s School that he decided to make me lose one year of secondary school, since I could not clinch Christ’s School at my first attempt in Primary 6 in 1969 despite the fact that I had passed entrance examinations for other schools. The next question was, what will I be doing for the next one year. As usual my dad turned to his brother, B.S., for advice. He advised that I should go and repeat Primary 6 instead of going to Modern school. I did repeat Primary 6 in 1970, which really in hindsight, was more beneficial to my later life experiences!!! Again, on my wedding night, B.S. delayed a little to be seated with his other siblings – Baba Jimoh, Baba Gbada and others, to receive the bride into the family. Point blank, my dad insisted the bride WOULD not come in UNTIL B.S. is seated!!! Such was the mutual respect that these siblings had for each other, a legacy worthy of emulation. The list is endless.
We remember our beloved B.S. every day and particularly, today, the 30th anniversary of his transition to immortality. To live in the hearts of the beloved is not death but life. Indeed B.S. lives on. We pray to God to continue to rest his soul in peace and grant him Aljanah Firdaus and pray that our memory of him will always continue to be a blessing to those of us left behind.
Mr Gbenga Abdul Razaq Ogunsakin in reminiscence stated: “My mum was very proud of our paternity. Often when Alhaji would emerge from the Okesha mosque opposite her shop..she would whisper to me..”see your father won’t you come and greet him?”… I was a bit “independent”.
My father, aba Gbada doted over his younger brother almost to my jealousy.
B.S. was distinguished, bold, indomitable. Extraordinary in enterprise and he was naturally accepted as everybody’s father. He was the system…backed up unflinchingly by his two elder brothers. He carried the light of this big family well, de facto omo iya Sunah.
He was like David the king, a man of many parts..most a lion but also capable of soft choice emotions. But if he is on your side you’re winning. Sure he diversified his biology..as only a man of strength and wealth would do in his time. So we are many more, much more and prouder.
I love him more in retrospect, now that I am older and can understand better. So that sense of history and legacy guides me. I understand better the content and context of the trilogy: Tijani, Gbada & B.S.
Thank God for this Memorial moment
Responding, Mr Mustapha Ogunsakin, his first son stated: ‘The bond between the three Tijani, Gbada, and Bello is unexplainable! I witnessed something first hand.
In 1983 during the political upheavals in the Old Ondo State, a crowd of UPN thugs attempted to burn the bakery on the premise that B.S was an NPN member. The community however prevailed and did not allow the thugs to have their way. For one week, the three kept vigil at the bakery. Alhaji Agba will stay with B.S downstairs while Aba Gbada will be with us upstairs regaling us with the family history. May their rest continue to be peaceful. May their memories continue to bless us all.