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About Oba LEKAN BALOGUN’s Other Sides
Aremo Femi Balogun is the first son of late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Ali Okunmade 11, who recently joined his ancestors at the age of 81.READ FULL ARTICLE>>>>
In this interview with City People’s DARE ADENIRAN (08057639079) Aremo Femi Balogun shares last moments with his late father. How he had trained his children to be independent right from the beginning. The plans to immortalise his memories and all that. Enjoy it….
What does it mean to be Oba Balogun’s Aremo (first son)?
It’s heavy. It’s not an easy tasks. Because Baba himself was father to all. So as his first son he has taken a lot of activities into his life that is not easy to for me to sustain.
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But we’ll try. Nobody comes to Baba unhappy and leave the same way, they always go back smiling. He has left a large legacy for us to build on. Which is looking after the interest of humanity. That is actually big for me. And that is actually what I have been thinking about, how to continue with what the man has done. The great legacy he has built over the years.
Share with us your last moment with him and what you discuss about?
I told Baba how his slow health development was holding me back from doing a lot of things. He said, no my son. I’m better now you can start doing things. And his health actually improved. But all of a sudden things just changed. What happened on Tuesday is left to God. He prayed for me. I normally tell him that his prayer is my tomorrow. I just love the man.
What would you say is the big lesson you learnt growing up with your dad?
Humility. Ensuring that people are happy and taken care of as best as you can. He’s a very generous person. It’s a good thing that I have taken that from him. It’s not about accumulating wealth. Your accumulation of wealth is when you share with people. Because you might spend what you have not having money tomorrow, it doesn’t mean you don’t have wealth. That is what I have leant from him.
What will you miss most about him?
Everything. He’s a very jovial person. Everything is happiness to him. I will miss that his happiness, his laughter. Whenever I think about these things, I always shed tears. I couldn’t cry because he lived a fulfilled life. But sometimes when I see that this man is actually dead, I shed tears.
Kabiyesi taught us to be independent. He sent us to best schools. He would tell you that he doesn’t owe you anything but good education. And sometimes you get angry for not getting some things. You may even see him as a wicked man sometimes. I now find out that he was actually developing us. We don’t cry over anything because he has made us independent from the beginning. And that is one good thing I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Let us into your plans to immortalise the memories of your late father?
There is a lot. We won’t leave here if I should start taking about it. Definitely, the Olubadan-designate is also a nice person. He loved Baba, he loves me and I love him too. What I have been able to do with him is that I have not messed up my tomorrow. So I’m believing that he will also honor Baba with what we have put together to immortalise his memories. When he do that Ibadan will be happy for it.
How would you describe your late father in a short sentence?
He’s the father of the people. I can’t claim him to be my father only. So many times I stepped aside to allow him take care of his family, the people. Ibadan, Nigeria and the world are his family.
Tell us little about yourself, sir?
I’m Aremo Femi Balogun, the first son of late Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun, Ali Okunmade 11. I’m a businessman. I was involved in some feeding programs for Ibadan indigenes as well. We are starting that again by God’s grace. To try and see how we can reduce hunger in Ibadan.READ FULL ARTICLE>>>>
