Alao-Akala: One Death, Too Many By Bagbansoro Uthman
When Jack Thorne said, “Those we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch” he must have had situation like that of the former Governor of Oyo State, South West Nigeria, Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala in mind.
In 40 days, the grim reaper travelled to Oyo snatching three illustrious sons of the state, including her in-law in quick succession.
It first travelled to the Ogbomoso community, Snatching the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, and his daughter in scarcely one month after.
It left Ogbomoso then travelled to the capital city of the state, Ibadan to say hello to the Olubadan Of Ibadan land and paramount ruler of Ibadan land, Oba Soliu Adetunji.
The state and her environs hadn’t come to terms with the death of the Kabiyesis that the news of the death of Alao-Akala broke, Ogbomoso, the entire Oyo state and her sister states were thrown into another round of mourning.
It also snatched Angela Nwaka Folarin, the beautiful wife of the former Nigerian Senate Leader and senator representing Oyo Central, Senator Teslim Folarin.
I have an abiding interest in reading the memoirs of successful people because in it, I always take a cue of how they climbed the success ladder, from the bottom to the peak of thier career.
Alao-Akala’s memoir, Amazing Grace wasn’t an exception, it was as if the highly cerebral and charismatic politician had a premonition of his impending death in 2020 that he quickly completed and published his memoir after several years of being in the fridge.
In Amazing Grace, he narrated his sojourn in the Republic of Ghana, growing up with his maternal grandmother ‘Iya Alaro’ whom he thought was his mother until he eventually got to know later, his love for her nicknamed him ‘Omo Iya Alaro’.
His distinctive political career in the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, helped and shaped his different style of politics which earned him the sobriquet ‘Oyato’.
He also gave an account of little-or-no involvement in the June 12 saga due to his status as a policeman. He narrated the special relationship he had with the former Ogbomoso-born Nigerian Police Chief, Sunday Adewusi and the persecutions he faced in the hands of his successors in office, Idris Commasie.
In Alao-Akala, I saw a man that enjoys according to the title of his memoir, the Almighty’s uncommon grace from his birth to his death, having rose through the ranks to become a DSP in the Nigerian Police, his foray in the Nigerian politics at the twilight of the fourth republic, saw him becoming the Local Government chairman Ogbomoso North, Deputy Governor, Acting Governor and substantive Governor of Oyo State.
The almighty God that cooked Alao-Akala’s food hasn’t left the broth, may his amazing grace touch everyone of us.
May the almighty Allah condole the entire Oyo State and the family of Otunba Alao-Akala.
Alao-Akala didn’t only come, he saw and he conquered. Goodnight, Omo Iya Alaro.
Bagbansoro Uthman Olamilekan
[email protected]
Twitter: @The_Bagbansoro
