‘ABA’LU’: FAMILY, KINSMEN REMEMBER ADO-EKITI-BORN ENTERPRENEUR, OLUSOMOKA AKINOLA AFTER TEN YEARS
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‘ABA’LU’: FAMILY, KINSMEN REMEMBER ADO-EKITI-BORN ENTERPRENEUR, OLUSOMOKA AKINOLA AFTER TEN YEARS
…The people are reflecting on the life and times of a man who began as a blacksmith and later ventured into commercial driving before ending up as an outstanding motor dealer
It’s an interesting story of a prominent indigene of Ekiti state where the people believe in hard work and dedication.
An average Ekiti man is known to be courageous, focused, outstanding, committed, forward looking and enterprising.
This is the story of our darling pride of Ado-Ekiti the capital of the Fountain of Knowledge.
The attraction of this piece is an illustrious son whose impact and contribution to various sectors remain a reference point.
Michael Olusomoka Akinola was born on February 28, 1939 as a direct descendant of the aduloju family in Idemo, Ado Ekiti.
Aduloju was a famous warrior who led the liberation of Ekiti from the Ibadans.
He married Alapata who who gave birth to Oguntoye who fathered Jeremiah Akinola who eventually gave birth to Olusomoka Akinola.
His father left Ado Ekiti for Aisegba-Ekiti when his father died to live with his uncle pa Famuwagun who inherited the mother.
Olusomoka’s father married a princess of Aisegba Ekiti, Aina Oye Familusi which union led to the birth of Olusomoka Akinola.
According to his first Son, Bisi Akinola popularly known as Bisime It was a period when accessing western education was a luxury and so Olusomoka Akinola was not lucky to escape the implications of the reasoning at that period.
The alternative was to learn a trade through which he could also forge ahead in life.
In a chat with one of his younger brothers, Mr. Arowolo Akinola, blacksmithing was the trade Michael Olusomoka Akinola settled for and the location was Ilesa in the present day Osun State.
“He had to relocate to Ado-Ekiti where he started the trade at the popular Orereowu Street which was then his neighbourhood having grown up with the popular Eye Lomodeyin.”
That was how he got the nickname , “Olu Agbede”.
Speaking further, his son Bisi Akinola stated that his father became a successful blacksmith, having been exceptional in the trade and got his first car at the age of 27.
He got married to janet Funmilayo fabusuwa and later took another wife, Esther oluwalagba.
Michael Olusomoka Akinola later realised he could venture into other businesses.
He tried his hands in the transport sector.
Oga’Lu became a driver, plying major roads in Ekiti. From korope to bus to Peugeot saloon car as well as station wagon.
In a chat with an old friend of the enterpreneur based in Ifaki-Ekiti, Pa Esan Ogundana of the famous Ogundana Motors, he said he was a close friend to Baba Olusomoka Akinola.
He explained how Baba used to buy cars from him and later sell to his customers, even when a brand new Peugeot Car was sold for less than 3,000 naira.
Similarly, his son, Bisi Akinola also narrated how Aba’Lu was the lead driver of the Ayemi Motor Corporation by leading about thirty drivers to and from Peugeot Automobile Nigeria in Kaduna for the purchase of cars.
In his words, “at that time, the woman running the outfit had to give my father concession to buy two or three cars in his name and from there, my father got more entrenched in car business.”
Meanwhile, don’t forget that before he got to that level, he had been driving commercial vehicles to Lagos and Onitsha while his two or three other drivers also had their own routes.
He was such a honest person and this earned him a great degree of integrity from all those who worked with him as it is on record that he imparted positively on his colleagues and family members.
Late Pa. Micheal Olusomoka Akinola later known as Oga’Lu and eventually Aba’Lu did not exist only for himself or his immediate family, the enterpreneur imparted positively on the lives of the people around him.
His other children who include Oluwole Akinola, Banji Akinola, Feyi Akinola and Kunle Akinola described their father as a lover of education as he did everything to ensure they were well educated.
Family members and friends of the family who include Arowosafe Olukayode and Yinusa Adeyanju analysed how the Late Patriarch of Olusomoka Akinola dynasty imparted positively on their lives.
A lot has been said about his contributions to lives of individuals as well as communities and this must be responsible for the degree of honour done this pride of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State and even Nigeria in general when he departed this sinful world on September 23rd, year 2014.
It was a carnival of sort as the family and other well wishers from within and outside Nigeria did not see his exit as mourning but rather celebration of life well spent.
Ten years after, the children are still reflecting on the lessons their father taught them and these have continued to guide their decisions both domestically and economically.
Aba’Lu was a devout Christian who eventually went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and came back a fulfilled man.
Olusomoka Akinola left this sinful world on 23rd September, 2014.
And to mark the remembrance of an entrepreneur who lived for others, low-key events have been slated for his residence at Kajola area of Dallimore on September 28th while friends and family members are expected to gather at his children’s residence at the Egbewa area of the state capital on September 29th.
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