Pa (G.A.) Gabriel Ajibade Ogundele (13th Baasi of Iseke-Oyo)

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BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD:

Pa Gabriel Ajibade Ogundele was born around 1927 to the families of Ogundele of Baasi compound Iseke, Oyo and that of Okunade of Ilogbo- Akeetan, Oyo. His father, Raji Ogunsola, died when he was about three or four years old. However, his mother, Ojekemi Ogundele lived and died to see him become a grandfather of many children. Ojekemi died at a very ripe age after living a hundred and four years in good health. When Pa G.A Ogundele grew up, he had to collect information on how the father looked like from elderly people. However, he was a lucky chap. He was very lucky that his uncle, Chief Situ Barber Ogundele, took him up.

Chief Situ Barber Ogundele was a very famous man in the society and immensely kind-hearted. Chief Situ had no education. Despite this, he moved, worked and played with educated people. As a barber, the first in Oyo, he used to cut hair for all government officials both white and black, in Oyo. He also cut hair for notable people like Aremo Gbadegesin and Rev. J. Ade Taiwo. During all these times, Pa G.A. Ogundele (as a young boy) used to go round with him, helping to carry his box. After sometime, his uncle decided to send him to school. He sent him and Oyelowo Aborode to school the same day. Oyelowo Aborode was son to Chief Situ Barber’s sister- Aina who married at Onalemole compound Oyo. During this time, it was a norm to register pupils in their guardian’s name. Hence, Pa. G.A., instead of being registered as Ogunsola; his biological father’s name, got registered as Ogundele; his uncle; Chief Situ Baber’s name. From then on, Pa. G.A. would be forever known as Pa. G.A. Ogundele and that was how he began his journey through formal education

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EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER SOJOURN:

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Pa G.A Ogundele started his formal education in 1936, at N.A. Town School, Idiope, Oyo. He then moved to Durbar school Oyo in 1940 where he completed his primary education in December 1944. His classmates included Late Chief J.B. Oluokun, Late Dr. Phillip Adedeji – the Adelodun of Isale Oyo, Moses Oyekola Ajibi and Dejo Ige – both of Ilora, Alhaji Ahmuda Sanni of Iseyin and Alhaji Busasri who was the Local Government Chairman – Iseyin. Pa G.A. Ogundele was offered scholarship for his standard V and VI education. It was a full scholarship (tuition and boarding). He got the scholarship along with J.B. Oluokun and they lived together at Durbar school Oyo, which had boarding facilities during their time.

In 1945, he worked briefly as a bar man and later in the year, as a barber. He used to be a good barber at Akesan motor park.

In 1946, he became a teacher at Baptist High School, Iwere-Ile, where he taught for two years; 1946 and 1947.

In 1948, he joined the N.A Schools where he started his primary education- N.A. town school, Idiope, Oyo. He remained in this school for four years (1948 – 1951) under Late Mr. G.H. Fareo who had taught him at Durbar School, Oyo. He remained so long as a pupil teacher because he wanted to become a court clerk or forestry guard which were the popular and lucrative jobs at the time. He did not like teaching.

However, in 1952, he gained admission into the famous government Teacher Training College, Ibadan where he obtained the teacher’s Grade III certificate in December 1953. He was sponsored by Oyo N.A. Some of his classmates during this time include Chief S.A. Farinu, Late Ayo Alabi, Late Wahabi Adedotun and deacon S.A. Oyedemi of Okeho.

Then in 1954, he was posted to N.A. school, Ikoyi where he spent just a year.

Following this, he was posted to New Durbar School, Oyo (Akinmonrin road) in 1955. He was the first headmaster of the school. That year, he passed the GCE qualifying test. This was a great achievement for a grade III teacher in those days.

In 1956, he gained admission to Wesley College together with Chief S.A. Farinu for the Grade II certificate. Again, he was sponsored by Oyo N.A.

Then in November 1957, while still in school, he married his loving wife, the only one he ever had, Adebisi Elizabeth of Amori family. It was around this same time that he had his first child- Ogundele John Adedayo.

After his course at Wesley College Ibadan, he was posted to L.A. Secondary Modern School Fiditi, Oyo in January 1958.

He got his grade II result passed creditably. In addition, he passed the GCE exam the same year because he had put in for the GCE exam as a student. He was rated as a grade II.A teacher because his GCE result included English language.

In 1959, he was then transferred to L.A. Secondary Modern School, Durbar, Oyo, where he also spent only one year. In 1960, the L.A.T.T.C. Oyo made L.A. School, Bola Oyo, the practicing school. He also taught History in the college for some time in the evenings.

In his efforts to further his education, he gained admission to U.C.I – University College Ibadan (now U.I.) in September 1960 for the Associateship Diploma in education. It was only U.C.I. that offered the course at that time. His course mates included Hausas and Ibos. He was sponsored by Ondo/Oyo Joint Provincial Grade II College, Ile-Ife, where he served from June 1961 to December 1963.

Pa G.A. Ogundele had sponsored education from standard V in the primary school (Durbar) to the University level. (Glory be to God).

In 1964, he moved to St. Agnes’ Teacher Training College, Maryland, Ikeja- Lagos where he taught until September 1967. He left Maryland when the called was to be merged with St. Leo’s College, Abeokuta. He chose to remain in Lagos however. He taught briefly at the Lagos City council schools Obele Odan, Surulere and at Gbobi up to April 1968 when he joined the Western State Civil service as Assistant Inspector of Education.

While in Lagos, he made efforts to travel overseas and at the same time attended extra classes where he obtained diploma in Book-Keeping and Accounting (London School of Commerce) and the corporation of Secretaries final part before pulling out of Lagos.

As an Assistant Inspector of Education, he served in the following places:

1. Ile-Ife: 1968 – 1969
2. Ikire: 1969 – 1971
3. Ogbomoso: 1972 (Jan – Dec)
4. Okitipupa: 1973 – April 1976
5. Iwo: April 1976 – November 1976
6. Ilesa: November 1976 – June 1978
7. Eruwa: June – August 1978 (Secretary)
8. Saki: 1978 – September 1979 (Secretary)
9. Ibadan: October 1979 – May 1984 (Secretary)

He was secretary Ibadan Municipal Schools Board from October 1979 to May 1984.

He retired as Chief Assistant Inspector of Education. Immediately after his retirement, he was appointed Chairman for Oyo South Divisional Schools Board where he served for three years. The area included Oyo, Afijio, Ikoyi and Iseyin schools.

Farming for pensioners was very popular at this time. He joined them and had his farm at Iya-beji, Iseyin Road

He had a bookshop at his residence at No. 6 New Iseke Layout, Oyo – Soladele Bookshop, which functioned into the nineties.

CHURCH ACTIVITIES:

Pa G.A. Ogundele was baptized by

1. Late Rev. J. Ade. Taiwo in 1948.
2. He was a member of the church choir from 1948 – 1951.
3. He was a convention delegate to Ijaye Baptist Church, Abeokuta in 1959. He lodged together with Late J.A. Adeniran from Zaria and Late E.O. Morakinyo from Potiscum.
4. Member of the church Executive committee from 1985 – 2005
5. Class chairman for many years.
6. Chairman of the vehicle committee that bought the first church bus in 1986
7. Travelled to Lome- Togo with Pastor Oyekan to look for a church bus but later bought it with late Mr. Tunde Adesina at Leventis stores Ibadan for about #46,000.00. air ticket to Togo was then #80.00 (to and fro).
8. He was first Chairman for vehicle committee. He left office when he became church Treasurer (1990-1992) and re-appointed when he relinquished the post of the Treasurer.
9. Treasurer- M.MU.
10. Represented the church at Eka Isokun meetings.
11. Was member and treasurer of Education Committee.

OTHER ACTIVITIES of Pa G.A. Ogundele

1. He was in politics briefly. During the SDP era, he was vice chairman for Oyo Local Government Chairman in person of Chief S.M. Akindele.
2. He was the first secretary for New Iseke Layout. He handed over to late Mr. J.A. Adeniran when he left Oyo for further studies.
3. He was a member of Atiba movement Oyo.
4. He was a member of the Action Committee that fought for the creation of Oyo West Local Government.
5. He was a prominent member of several associations and social clubs.

N.B:

N.A – Native Authority

L.A – Local Authority

Pa G.A. Ogundele’s Family Life:

He married and had five children:

1. Wife – Ogundele Elizabeth Adebisi (fondly called Iya Dayo), married in 1957.
2. Son – Adedayo John Ogundele born November 14, 1957. Married Florence Adejoke of Adeyemi Family – Ogbomosho in 1983.
3. Son – Ayodeji Joshua Ogundele born June 23, 1960. Married Ayobami Olapeju of Ojeniyi family – Isokun, Oyo in September 1987.
4. Son – Ayotunde David Ogundele born May 18, 1965. Married Mortunrayo Asiata of Ayilara family – Ibadan, Oyo in April 1998.
5. Daughter – Folake Regina Adegite born August 18, 1968. Married Adegite Olurotimi Segun from Ogbon Ado house, Ekiti, in December 1998.
6. Daughter – Abimbola Oluokun Adepeju, born April 7, 1973. Married Adekunle Sunday Oluokun of Isale Agbala-Oyo in March 1999.

He was the Baasi of Iseke-Oyo from 2011 to 2019. He became the Baasi upon the demise of his dear brother Late Chief J.O Ogunmola who was the previous holder of the title. The Baasi of Iseke title unlike other chieftaincy titles in Iseke-Oyo is non-rotational and traditionally goes to the eldest in the extended family.

He had 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Meanwhile, he was a family man. Always in the frame of family events and advancements.

DEATH:

As was told by those with him during the time of his death; Ogundele Marley Kolade along with one of his friends, Mr. Segun Oladokun:

Pa. G.A Ogundele was having his breakfast, a meal of pap and moinmoin prepared by Iya Dayo, after a normal morning routine of praying, cleaning up and changing clothes which according to them, went smoothly and jovial, when he breathed his last breath on August 7, 2019 at about 11 am. A male family nurse living in the neighborhood in person of Mr. Adedayo Akintola was then summoned immediately to confirm if indeed, the Chief was dead. Upon the nurse’s arrival however, he sadly pronounced the great man; Chief Gabriel Ajibade Ogundele dead. He had long battled with his walking after he fell and broke his hipbone in December 2011 in his home at New Iseke Layout Oyo.

He is survived by:

1. Siblings: Salami Alimi, Salami Karimu, Akinpelu Titilayo, Aiyegoro Modupe
2. Wife: Ogundele Adebisi Elizabeth   
3. Children: Ogundele John Adedayo and wife; Ogundele Florence Adejoke, Ogundele Joshua Ayodeji and wife; Ogundele Ayobami Olapeju, Ogundele David Ayotunde and wife; Ogundele Motunrayo Asiata, Adegite Regina Folake and husband; Adegite Rotimi, Oluokun Abimbola Adepeju and husband; Oluokun Adekunle Sunday.
4. Grandchildren: Ogundele Sydney Adewale and wife; Ogundele Sefiyat Oyepeju, Ogundele Kingsley Owoyemi and wife; Ogundele Julianne Oluwatoyin, Oyeniran Stella Titilope and husband; Oyeniran Oluwashina Akinloye, Ogundele Marley Kolade, Ogundele Collins Ayodeji, Ogundele Alex Diekade, Ogundele Rita Adebisi, Ogundele George Oluwadamilola, Ogundele Stanley Oluwatobiloba, Ogundele Winnie Fiponmile Ayobunmi, Ogundele Jennifer Omosalewa Omodasola, Ogundele Ernest Ayokunnu, Oluokun Lewis Adeyinka, Ogundele Sandra Adedoja, Ogundele Jessica Eniola, Oluokun Hillary Oluwafemi, Adegite Lesley Oluwatumininu, Ogundele Victoria Olubusola, Oluokun Juliet Oluwasegun, Adegite Favour Temidayo, Ogundele Frank Busola,
5. Great-grandchildren: Ogundele Goodluck Adewumi, Ogundele Stephanie Oluwatomi, Oyeniran Nelson Akinloye, Ogundele Clinton Ayodeji, Ogundele Isabella Oluwatooni, Oyeniran Mikel Akintoye, Ogundele Flora Ireoluwa.

Pa G.A.O’s Memorial ground at the backyard in his compound off New Iseke Layout, Oyo Town, Oyo State

Wake Keep in Pictures

Funeral Service in Pictures

Burial Ceremony in Pictures

Photo Memories of Pa G.A. Ogundele

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