Prof. Olumide is a descendant of warriors but he is the embodiment of quiet dignity combined with self-effacing and clinical determination. He is certainly not at war with anybody. It’s only when he is confronted with social injustice, corruption, impunity or malice that he becomes a combatant. Rather odd.
It will be very difficult today to find a rival for Igbobi College in the whole federation of Nigeria.” Nevertheless, it was at Igbobi College that he experienced the vicissitudes of Mr.Esubiyi “the strict disciplinarian.” He was famous for frequently saying: “I canned your father and I will cane you too” when he had taught father and son.
Fortunately, he remedied matters because in his testimonial and witness statement, he acknowledges the brilliance of his brother Olufolahan who was born in 1947.
“He is the one I call the genius of the family. He attended King’s College. He had passed the entrance examination into Igbobi College but dad made him stay to repeat the examination into King’s College the following year. Dad and the principal of King’s College then persuaded him to accept the offer and today, he has no regrets whatsoever.
He practises as an architect, engineer and builder (in the United States of America) and still has time for some painting. He is exceptionally talented” Floreat Collegium.
With considerable wit, the author teases us relentlessly. Here is a sample which you may nor may not find in the book:
“We did not live a sheltered life because there was nothing to shelter anyway.”
Virtually every table at the Metropolitan Club is represented at this book launch. May I seize this opportunity to publicly acknowledge my indebtedness to the President of the Club, Chief EmekaAnyaoku GCON for reminding us that:
“Every memoir (autobiography) has two-pronged layers of significance. The first layer is personal, while the second layer is public.”
Perhaps I should add that Table 4 at the Metorpolitan Club is a “King’s College Colony” and we maintain a strict quota system which restricts Igbobi College and C.M.S. Grammar School to only HALF a member. Both schools have trumped us by presenting Prof. Olumide as their joint candidate!! Hence, he is entitled to sit amongst the iconoclasts and the irreverent.
Every Tuesday, he is ever ready for combat and jousting in the passionate and intense dissection of the ills, peculiarities and challenges of our beloved nation, Nigeria as well as the Black race. Being a surgeon, Prof. Olumide is at his sublime best when it comes to dissection – even when bombarded by those who refer to Igbobi College boys as “Maths, Maths (Additional mathematics) and Physics”!! It is typical of the King’s College cult at our table to advertise their suspicion that such excellent books that are being launched (which have nothing to do with mathematics or physics) could not have been written by an Igbobian!! We suspect that the real author (just as has being the case with the lingering doubts over the books and plays attributed to William Shakespeare) is none other than Mrs. Folasade Olumide!!
Those who are looking for evidence of marital strife, filial alienation, sibling rivalry or acrimony in the Olumide family and the extended branches – Ajose, Agbe – Davies, etc are in for massive disappointment and life threatening heart attack. The shock that awaits them is the catalogue of peace, harmony, cordiality, tolerance, love as embodied by none other than Prof. and Mrs. ‘Folabi Olumide radiating warmth and affection around their dining table and beyond.
Of course they are an odd couple. Nevertheless, they are soul mates or what the English would describe as two peas in a pod with plenty of room left for their children, in-laws, friends and well-wishers.
In “If I Had Wings”, the author has let it slip that he lived for quite a while at Igbosere Road, Lagos. Members of the Solarin clan who are here in large numbers would no doubt recollect that as a teenager Folasade (nee Solarin) lived with her aunt late Mrs. Adedoyin (wife of late Prince Adeleke-Adedoyin, Speaker of the Western House of Assembly) on the same Igbosere Road. Mrs. Adedoyin as a dutiful auntie continuously lectured and admonished Folasade to be wary of wolves (boys). Little did she know that there was a particular one lurking down the road!! The book contains a picture of the match-maker Abiola Amure who I believe is married to Tunde Odugbesan.
However, my recollection is somewhat different. Mrs. Adedoyin marshalled her sons, late Adetokunbo and Adekoya to keep a watchful eye on their cousin Folasade.
The two brothers promptly drafted me to join the vigilante group to keep a 24-hour watch on Folasade. I guess we must have slept on duty because the resourceful Afolabi Olumide who was much older surreptitiously offered to coach Folasade in science subjects and assist her in preparing for her A-level examinations. All went well at the beginning but matters developed rapidly and veered off course when the intrepid teacher/predator offered to reward his student with a kiss for every question she got right. This was a classic case of what Fela Anikulapo-Kuti described as:“Teacher, Don’t Teach Me Nonsense.”
The author’s version of events is as follows:
“Between leaving University College Hospital [UCH] and leaving Nigeria for Canada something significant happened. I got engaged to Clara Folasade Abiodun Solarin. She was fondly called Fola Rose in those days.” I suspect we all agree that fifty-two years afterwards, she is still a rose. William Shakespeare was right:
“A rose by any other name is still a rose.”
Thankfully, Folasade’s dad did not need to pull out a shot gun to extort both confession and commitment from the young doctor.
“Sir, my intentions are honourable. I am going to do everything to ensure she gets a good education and she is properly settled in life.”
In order to decipher the genetic make-up (DNA) of the author, we need not look beyond his tax return which is published in the book:
“Our parents were disciplinarians, who insisted on the importance of hard work. They used to say, “Hard work never kills anybody!” We were brought up to be disciplined people and to value the dignity of labour and hard work. We were made to understand that there is “No Free Lunch.” To gain anything in life, you have to work for it. If you work hard, you will get the reward for it. Nothing comes easy. The essence of hard work was always discussed around our dinner table. More so, they placed emphasis on honesty, respect for elders, diligence and consideration for others.”
Of their own volition both the author and his adorable wife have added contempt and disdain for the “new normal” where everything is upside down. Both of them are advertisements for trustworthiness (a rare commodity) and humility. As a Librarian, Folasade matches Folabi in the department of / or the section of the library devoted to being upstanding as well as being outstanding. In her own right, she was a superlative first female Registrar of the University of Lagos. They are NOT the odd couple. It is our own prism that is faulty. They prefer to swim against the tide even at the peril of battling against the odds. They have no interest whatever in private jets or magnificent yatchs. Instead, with an uncommon tenacity of purpose, they have clung to the time-tested virtues of tenacity of purpose with a fierce passion. They have jointly achieved perfection through practice.
In the case of Professor Olumide, responsibility came early:
“In my final year (1953), I was made school and chapel prefect at Igbobi College. I was at the same time, one of the school’s pianists.”
In due course, he reaped his bountiful reward as a newly graduated medical doctor:
“I showed my father what I was paid for the one week. He shook his head, saying that the amount was more than the largest he ever collected in his entire thirty-five years in the civil service!! It made him very happy and undeniably proud.”
J.K Randle
