Nobody is remembered for the amount of money he left in the banks. No one is ever remembered for the amount of wealth he accumulated. Nobody is remembered for the amount of money he stole. But one is ever remembered for the positive impacts one made on humanity.”
These words by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), perhaps put to rest, the minds that had for long, remained hungry for why the courtroom firebrand had remained inseparably wedded to philanthropy.
It was at the premises of the High Court situated in Ikere-Ekiti, the legal giant’s home town. And the outing was the formal commissioning of the multi-million-naira Wole Olanipekun Bar Centre the frontline lawyer built for the Ikere Branch of the NBA.
Oyo State-born building expert Yusuf Adeoye, an engineer, who handled the project, told The Nation that he executed the project in five months. “We reclaimed the site because it was waterlogged. Last October, when I started the project, Chief Olanipekun briefed me that he wanted a befitting Bar Centre for Ikere Branch and I set out for it. It has seven toilet facilities, six air-conditioners, plasma televisions and a water borehole. Built with qualitative materials, its premises will easily accommodate 50 vehicles,” he said.
An architectural masterpiece, the 400-seater structure pleasantly tortured guests’ eyes and lips for moments while the event lasted last Friday.
On hand to witness the event were notable names in the Bar and the Bench from across the country. They were led the President, NBA, Chief Okey Wali, Senior Advocates including Chief Yusuf Alli, Chief Mike Ozekhome, Funke Adekoya, Niyi Akintola and Dele Adesina stepped out to be counted. They were received by the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adegoke Adegboye, accompanied by his chiefs, and Mr Funminiyi Afuye, the state Commissioner for Civic Orientation and Inter-Governmental Cooperation.
Residents of the ancient town were not left out. They stood in groups around the sprawling premises to behold another index of the trademark magnanimity of their own ‘SAN’ as they fondly address the legal icon. With a groundswell of prayers, they gleefully recalled how he had proved a treasure to the town; how he had been empowering unemployed youths and the elderly. They did not forget his annual Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme for students from across the state and the multimillion-naira vicarage he built for his church, St. Peters Anglican Church, Oke-Kere, which was commissioned last year.
Before the kick-off of the event, the Chairman, Ikere Branch of the NBA, Olubunmi Olugbade, knew no rest in sheer excitement. He paced up and down pumping hands with visitors as they arrived. “This is my day and Chief Olanipekun made it,” he tacitly told himself. And to him, the donor is a major pillar of the association who, by the gesture, has written his name in gold in its annals.
Cutting the tape to commission the edifice, Alli was profuse in praises for the donor. He added: “I was there when Chief Olanipekun made the promise to donate this to the association. Now, he has delivered on the promise. The monument will surely produce more SANs and leaders of our noble profession.”
Adesina, who said he was not surprised in the least by the gesture, said he had known for long that it is in Olanipekun’s character to share his wealth among the needy. “He has continued to express his love for the profession; for this, he remains an inspiration to us,” he added.
Ozekhome, who recently got off the hook of kidnappers who seized him on his way back to Lagos from his Agenebode, Edo State home, praised Olanipekun for his “uncommon love for his people and home town.”
With kind words for Olanipekun and the contractor for its enthralling finesse, everyone admired the beauty of the structure as they filed in to inspect it. “This is a wonderful gesture that will be of immense benefit to the branch and its members. It is worthy of emulation,” remarked Chief Benjamin Ogunsemi, a member.
Afuye described it as “another addition to the long list of value creation to the profession, the community and his family by Chief Olanipekun. The monument will be there for posterity.”
Another son of the town, an Ibadan-based legal practitioner, Ola Alonge, said: “We can only continue to pray for him (Olanipekun) for all the wonderful things he has been doing for our dear town and its people. He is an asset to humanity and a cheerful giver of no mean order. To us, he is a model.”
Swell refreshment later took place at Olanipekun’s palatial Iyaniwura House on Moshood Road, GRA. His delectable wife, Princess Omolara was personally in charge, serving the dignitaries. Residents who thronged the place ate and drank without let.
It was a good outing for a local band that was on stand-by. Though uninvited, its members ate and drank to satisfaction before entertaining all. It was another opportunity for Osekhome to thank God for his safe journey from ‘Golgotha.’ He was the cynosure of eyes as he danced spiritedly, ‘spraying’ the band’s leader with naira notes.
In his characteristic fashion, Olanipekun did not disappoint the boys. Beaming with toothy smiles, he dipped his hand into his pocket and blessed them with N1000 notes.
Explaining his passion for the town, Olanipekun said: “I hold the concept of nativity very dear to my heart. I have travelled far and wide, but there is no place like home. Ikere is my cradle; the onus is on me to use my God-given endowments to leave it better than I met it. Nothing is too much for one to sacrifice for one’s cradle. It is my avowed commitment.”
The town, The Nation learnt, might soon receive another “blessing” from the accomplished lawyer as he is making arrangements to secure a land at its General Hospital to erect a monument in memory of his late mother.
