Life is a riddle. And nobody seems to have got a hang of the mystery. Life runs in binary, a kind of an undulating wave of sweet and sorrow. It is full of battles; for a life without battles is a life without victory. To have spent 70 years in this voyage of vicissitudes with outstanding achievements and accomplishments may be in similitude with a life of a General in the Army whose best epaulets are his scars!
Seventy is indeed a momentous year in the life of an individual, whose eyes are truly elderly, made sunken by the troves of variegated sights. This is probably the reason an American editor and essayist, Stacy Schiff rhetorically asked, “Who can adequately express his astonishment at the changes of fortune and the mysterious vicissitudes in human affairs?”
If there is nobody, then, Mr. Johnson Adesanya Adenaike popularly known as J.J. whose experience vividly illustrates the mysteries of life really deserves to celebrate his 70th birthday with pomp and ceremony. He has therefore invited the popular Juju maestro, King Sunny Ade to come and sing for him. It is worth it.
JJ is a Fellow, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and Fellow, Chartered Accountants, born on 23 February, 1952 to the families of Marcus Adesanya Adenaike of Odolameso quarters- Ijebu Musin and Princess Aiyedunro Adenaike- nee Adekoya of Idokunusi quarters, Ijebu Musin in Ogun state. He has risen from a humble background, under quite limited circumstances to become a mighty man of means and achiever extraordinaire. Today, he is a beacon and blistering light in usually impossible tunnels.
Yet, this is the same man who lost his mother when he was only seven months old. This is the same man who became a truant in his formative years due to lack of parental care. Indeed, the young Johnson who had been hitherto leading his class had to repeat in primary Three as he started living alone at the age of nine, taking decisions by himself in all aspects of life and subsequently growing wings!. His life became threatened. Indeed, little suggested that he would ever amount to anything in life!
But as luck would have it, in 1965, his sisters: Mrs. Adedoyin Aina of blessed memory and Mrs. Omodunke Eribake facilitated his coming to Lagos from Ijebu Imusin. With the assistance of his in-law, the late Mr. Oyebanji Eribake, the then little Mr. Johnson was admitted to Saint Andrew’s Primary School, Okepopo Lagos, where he started all over in Standard 3. Happily enough, his poor academic performance in St. Mary’s Primary School got revved up as he began to lead in his class.
In January 1968, J.J was offered admission to Ijebu Ode Grammar School where payment of school fees became problematic on account of poverty. But his two sisters rose to the occasion to ensure that his education did not suffer. Luckily, Mr. Johnson was awarded a Western State Government Scholarship in 1970 based purely on merit for the best overall student in Form 2 going to Form 3. With the scholarship, he completed his secondary school certificate examination in Division one as a pure science student. He wanted to become a Petroleum Engineer so as to work with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
In Social Anthropology, we are told that we become who and what we are by imitation and emulation. This assertion clearly manifested in the life of Mr. Adenaike as upon his joining the Federal Inland Revenue Service at Tinubu Square Lagos for a short job before proceeding to the university, began to see chartered Accountants driving exotic cars and looking dapper.
These successful accountants, including the late Akarigbo of Ijebu Remo, Oba Micheal Adeniyi Sonariwo motivated JJ into wanting to study accountancy. Consequently, he proceeded to The Polytechnic, Ibadan in 1973 for an ordinary National Diploma certificate. By the time he finished in June 1975, he had completed part 3 of the Institute of Chartered Certified Accountant of London examination.
Adesanya Adenaike later joined the Federal Audit Department, before proceeding to Yaba College of Technology for a Higher National Diploma certificate in 1976. He later joined Polygram Records Ltd as an Accountant and was immediately sent to its Africa Regional office in Nairobi for a year’s training. On his return from Kenya, Johnson was promoted to the post of Assistant chief Accountant and Chief Accountant in 1983. He eventually became chief Accountant/company secretary and General Manager much later.
Mr. Adenaike resigned in December 1992 to establish his own companies: Yomdass ventures Limited and Yomdass investments Ltd where he made a lot of money with which he regularly assists the poor, widow, wretched and less-privileged. Today, this silent millionaire has put smiles on the faces of thousands of people who come his way with one problem or the other.
Mr. Adenaike who has rejected so many chieftaincy titles following his principle of modesty and low-key lifestyle has offered employment to all manner of people without prejudice to their social status, tribe, religion, creed or color. He is gregarious, expansive and solicitous. He is ever cheerful as if he had not a care in the world. You could always take his goodwill for granted. And, he never lets you down.
This writer got married to his niece, Oyeyinka Ibironke Saanu, nee Eribake. I must confess that since our marriage, Mr. Adenaike has not failed to intervene with his financial assistance at each special occasion including child christening ceremonies. A meek man of stellar character, Baba JJ acts in a fashion of a gentleman as his humility is both amazing and edifying.
To pen a paean for this great man of honour on occasion of his 70th birthday is indeed a rare privilege that one does not take lightly. Those who hold the belief that Ijebu are notoriously thrifty and marked by obsessive frugality may not have come across the likes of this Ijebu Septuagenarian. He has spent millions of Naira financing church projects, taking care of the poor, orphans, physically challenged and the elderly. There are many lives he has touched with his money.
However, it must be pointed out that life has not been so straight without bends for Mr. Adenaike! His marriage in 1980 collapsed and the marriage was finally dissolved by a Lagos High Court in 2013. Baba however got married to his current damsel, Mrs. Tolulope Adenaike in December 1992 and the marriage is blessed with four highly resourceful children who are practicing their various professions in the United States of America.
Surely, a truly heroic way of life lies in squarely confronting and courageously overcoming the pounding vicissitudes that life always throws in our paths. Mr. Adenaike is an illustration of the unrelenting voyage of courage integrity, truthfulness and principles. I like Baba’s courage and admire his carriage.
Let me round off this tribute by reminding Baba that God’s favor to him are immeasurable. Therefore, seventy is a time for reflection, reconciliation, forgiveness and amendment. God has heard his prayers, helped him, and honored him. This is the time therefore for Baba to be more forgiving. This admonition connects so perfectly and usefully with the native wit and wisdom of the Yoruba who posit that “bi a ba n dagba, a maa n ye ogun ja ni” meaning, we become mellow with age. I pray for greater grace for greater glory. A happy birthday sir.
Saanu (08034073427) is with the University of Ibadan
Email: sundaysaanu@gmail.com