Ajasin house
14 years after : Michael Adekunle Ajasin museum opens

It is exactly 14years the late Chief Ajasin died at 89.A museum is now in place for him where his treasured works and materials are displayed .Taiwo Abiodun who visited the place write
Today the late Michael Adekunle Ajasin’s house at Oke Ogun, in Owo , Ondo state can be ranked among the best houses in Owo but it was once an old one storey building and the only property the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin had in his life time. It was once an old structure but had been restructured to a modern house and now is serving the community as a computer learning centre ,it also has a library where students from secondary and institutions of higher learning come there to borrow books and read apart from this it has a museum where the treasured works, and materials of the sage are kept for the unborn generation to visit and ponder over.
The late Ajasin was the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) leader who fought the military to a standstill not minding his age and fragile health. He led the NADECO to fight against injustice especially when June 12,1993 presidential election supposedly to have been won by the late MKO Abiola was annulled by the then head of state General Ibrahim Babangida while an interim government was put in place and led by Chief Ernest Shonekan. Later, the late General Sanni Abacha came with his despotic reign and was not ready to leave the office while it was only the NADECO members had the gut to confront the dare devil.
Among the late NADECO’s chieftain displayed in his museum are : his Primary six leaving certificate, Grade III, Grade II certificates , Bachelor of Arts degree, he obtained from Fourahbay University of Sierra Leone. Others are his diaries where he wrote in cursive handwriting all his plans and messages showing how he was meticulous in his days .The museum also keeps the cartoons, paintings , photographs of the late old man from his young days, his marriage , when he was the first principal of Imade College and when he was the first civilian governor in Ondo state and many more.
According to Mrs Jumoke Anifowose, one of the children of the late chieftain ,all these materials are kept in the museum to encourage the younger ones to aspire high in their lifetime and to show the current politicians the type of politics played in the early 50s, 60s and to the late 70s and early 80s.

A Day with Agbako, no, Charles Olumod

A Day with Agbako, no, Charles Olumo

By Taiwo Abiodun

His gentlemanly character could melt a stone- hearted man and could make a beautiful woman say ‘I do’ .He gesticulates and smiles once in a while .He frowns his face as if acting on stage and with all his energy he speaks , that is Agbako

Agbako , now 81years had been off the theatre stage for sometime as he unfortunately met the real Agbako [evil]when few years ago he battled the dreaded ailment - stroke as his mouth , one hand and one leg were paralysed while the rumour went round the town that he had died.

‘’I was sick and it was God that rescued me from the fangs of death .The stroke affected my speech, my hand and my leg. Eventually I was cured after using local herbs. It is the local herbs that saved my life when other drugs failed’’, he said as he shook his body and with voice raised then said ’’ We still have powerful and potent local herbs that can treat serious ailment .Now, I am hail and hearty. I am unshakeable as I am as strong as Iroko tree. I do not know where they got the news that I was dead from’’, he said in annoyance and again shook his body to prove that he is healthy to the admiration of those present.

Olumo is not happy at all for being neglected and abandoned by his professional colleagues in his trying period when he was sick ,according to him he did not see any of his professional colleagues to assist him when he needed then most when he suffered stroke, ’’I saw only my family members and my people who are my professional colleagues did see me when I had stroke but thank God that I was able to overcome the problem. I sold all my property to treat myself.’’

The much ‘dreaded’ artiste said at his age when he should be resting he is still working hard in order to keep body and soul together due to poverty.’’I am still struggling that is why I am still driving my crew to locations .I cannot hire a driver due t o my poor financial status. Where will I have the money to pay the driver?’’He beat his chest boastfully and said he covers thousands of kilometres within and outside the country.

,His words ‘’ What has age got to do with money? I have no money to pay driver though I am 81years old but I still drive thousand of kilometres to the neighbouring countries like Cotonou Lome, and within Nigeria all because I cannot afford to pay for a driver’’, he said ,pointing to his Bus parked outside the premises. The Bus has his artwork of him printed on it and the name Charles Olumo Agbako inscribed on it. ’’I have not completed the house I have been building since all these years, and it shows my poverty level .It is a pity.’’ ,he affirmed revealing his financial status.

‘’Nobody knows me here, nobody knows me here in this country, Nigeria, but when I go to foreign countries I am appreciated’’ was his reply when he was told about his fame and popularity in Nigeria.

Reminded that some of the artistes do partake in hard drug to feel high and face the large audience while on stage, but Agbako denied his involvement saying he had never touched narcotics in his life, said he ‘’I don’t take alcohol or smoke Igbo to feel high. If you see me at times you will think I am a dunce

‘’On voodooism he said he does not practice voodooism as he does not believe in it as he only acts it but not real, In fact I don’t seek fame through juju ‘’

he stressed further that he does not believe in voodooism because he is a devoted muslim cleric.

Speaking about women, he admitted that the female counter parts do appreciate him and flock round him but says that does not mean he womanizes , according to him women loved him but he runs away from them , ‘’at 81, what do I want again from women ?Nothing ‘’ .I have two wives but one died last year so I am left with one,’’ he told The Nation.

While some artistes would like their children to toe their lines and step into their parents’ shoes , Olumo said he does not want at all ‘’I have children and I want them to go to school not to into the theatre world. No, Never ‘’ he stated in an anger as he said he had nothing to show for it .’’There is no money in it , I cannot deny the fame but they did not appreciate me here in Nigeria.My children must go to school at all costs’’ , he repeated it many times.

For Charles Olumo he has produced and acted countless number of works but the one that shot him into t he limelight is the role he played in a film called AIYE where he acted as Bad man and house maid to the witches

How do we remember you when you are gone ? The Nation asked, Olumo looked at this reporter and charged “ I am a poor man , just remember me for me works ‘’

The name Agbako means danger,Bad man or the evil one, with this many believe meeting or seeing him connotes danger and means ill luck , no wonder he is dreaded outside and people run away from him. He however recounts his own experience as he said he faces embarrassment anywhere he goes he said ;‘ each time I entered a public transport the passengers would immediately disembark from the bus leaving only me in the vehicle.’’I remember many times when I am sighted in the public Bus , all the passengers would scream and say’’ Ah, this is Agbako !, and then disembark from the vehicle while I would be left speechless. It had happened several times leaving me in total embarrassment..

If you call him Charles Olumo he may not answer but would quickly respond to Agbako if called but the man who gave himself the stage name said he loves the man, and said though his parents did not christen him Agbako that but he gave himself when he was young when his classmates were giving themselves nicknames, he in an effort to distinguish himself then label himself Agbako. Defending the niuckname he said ‘’ I had wanted to carve a niche for myself when my friends were giving themselves nick names, I thought what I wanted to be called and picked the name Agbako since then it has stuck on me ‘’

Asked to demonstrate how he acts on stage, Charles Olumo immediately became charged and changed, and before you say Jack Robinson he had ‘transformed’ into Agbako as he went into action and grew wild .He became charged like a wounded lion , stood still as if electrocuted then suddenly moved forward and backward ,grew wild with grimed face ,gesticulated and in coarse voice , he said; leave me alone ,my own meat is poisonous for you. My skin is maggot so you cannot have me as your delicacy, I say l eave me alone.

As you are reading this story May you meet Charles Olumo and not Agbako[amen]

A visit to Babalola's mausoleum

A visit Babalola mausoleum

‘Is Ayo Babalola the founder of CAC being worshipped ?’

Efon -Alaaye in Ekiti state is popular and called a prayer town where Christians to commune with God because of the serene environment and many Mountains of prayer there. Today, Ayo Babalola’s faithful worship him at his grave. Taiwo Abiodun visited recently

Efon Alaaye in Ekiti state is not only popular because of the number of praying mountains where many Christian faithful go to for spiritual incubation, and special prayer but it has also become a tourist centre where the Christ Apostolic Church[CAC] members go to either pray at the grave of the late Ayo Babalola the founder of the church or sleep in the mausoleum believing the spirit of their late leader would solve their problem..

To most of the CAC faithful they do not only go to the grave of their founder to pray, some also sleep there while many bring kegs of water to the grave with the belief that the power of their founder is still potent and could still perform miracles as he did when alive. They come for healing , and solve their problems through his power as he did when alive as it was recorded . For the Christ Apostolic Church faithful, the graves of Apostle Ayo Babalola and his father, David Rotimi have become a source of receiving power, healing and miracles in Efon Alaaye, Ondo- state .

A visit to the white- painted mausoleum where the graves of the founder of Christ Apostolic Church[CAC]Apostle Babalola and his father, Rotimi were buried have become a Mecca of sorts for its faithful. The faithful do not only go there to pray at the grave sides alone but the graves have been turned into tourist attraction centre where people visit to have a glimpse of the graves. But what amazes this reporter is the turning the grave sites into praying ground believing that the spirit of their founder still live

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On the grave of Ayo Babalola are the following words engraved on the tombstone; THIS IS TO COMMEMORATE THE IMMUTABLE WORK, THE PRICELESS LOVE AND SELFLESS SERVICE TO MANKIND AND EVANGELISATION OF LATE APOSTLE AYODELE BABALOLA.

BORN IN 1904, CALLED TO GOD’S MINISTRY IN OCTOBER 1928 AND SLEPT IN THE LORD ON SUNDAY26TH JULY 1959

BY APOSTOLIC CHURCH COUNCIL…

Apart from these words , items like kegs of water, bottles of olive oil, bells, Babalola’s photograph where he was holding a bell, letters, photographs , Holy Bibles among other things were placed on the graves. While Babalola’s father’s grave too had the following items on the it; key holders , hand prayer bells, batteries ,some bottles, gaslight among others.

The Grave Prayer House Pastor, Pastor Rufus Babatunde Adetayo heads the mausoleum and prays for those who come to the mausoleum seeking solutions to their problems. As this reporter was chatting with Adetayo, about 10 people came into the mausoleum with their kegs of Oni stream water[of which they called Holy water , said to have been blessed by the late Babalola ,potent for healing and miracles] and before you say Jack Robinson they had knelt down by the graveside pouring out their minds making prayer requests .Some were speaking loudly while others were gesticulating and with their lips opening and closing praying thus reminding one of the Biblical Hanah in the Bible

. Not only this some do sleep by the gravesides too, a man was seen lying by the graveside.

Confused whether the practice of sleeping and praying by the graveside is normal or not ? Or whether communicating with the dead is Biblical

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The man in charge of the Grave Prayer House Adetayo, defended the idea and he described the place as a prayer house and also an important place to visit at all times. When challenged that bringing oil, water , and other material things to the grave for prayer is not right and unbiblical , he declared that there is nothing wrong in it and said ‘’ No, I don’t believe that .People come from all places to take from the Oni Holy water of which the late Babalola blessed before he departed , they would bring the water to the grave side here and pray over it .Many people have received miracles and healings from all kinds of diseases ‘’, he stressed and added’’ Let me tell you, the power of Babalola is still there. He still communicates with his people so he answers prayers and with a condition , that is if you believe it will be done .You must have faith that it will be done .’’

He cited examples of the wonders and miracles that had happened at the grave of the late Babalola , he said ’’ there is a man of God who was paralysed but when he came to the grave of Babalola and prayed he was healed. Spinsters and who are looking for husbands and the barren looking for the fruits of the womb do come here to the grave to pray and he[Babalola] answers their prayers , they are many and I cannot count them on my finger tips .In fact , many prophets and men of God do come from Lagos, northern Nigeria, and from outside the country to take from the Oni water and bring them to this grave for prayer.’’, he added with confidence.

Speaking further on the power of the grave , Adetayo said the olive oil or water prayed upon at the grave gives an instant healing , ‘’when you pray on the oil or water which is placed on the grave , and you take it home and rub the oil on your body or drink it, it would remove all the curses or bad dream laced on you and the bad dreams will stop, because the spirit of Babalola is still working and he has blessed it’’

With all curiosity , this reporter demanded the reason why these things are placed on the grave still the old man insisted that the spirit of Babalola is still alive and in the grave and still performs wonders like when he was alive, he added ‘’ there is no place in the world during prayer session where the name of Jesus is mentioned and Babalola’s name will not be mentioned. Despite the fact that he is dead , Babalola still speaks from the grave and there is no place or church in the world where Jesus’ name is mentioned without mentioning Babalola’s name. Those who have the photograph of Babalola would pray over it and he[Babalola] answers their requests. Those who give birth to Born –to- die-children [abiku], and those whose children die at infancy , people suffering from insanity do come here to receive miracles and healing too. And in fact if a woman falls into labour in the hospital and is given the water that had been prayed upon from this grave she will undoubtedly have safe delivery .You can see many photographs placed on the grave, they are meant to be prayed upon.’’

Thumping his chest, Adetayo claimed that Nigerians abroad do send their photos to Babalola’s grave for prayer request, ’’those who are in the United States of America, London and many other foreign countries do come here to scoop from the water and bring it to the grave for prayer while water from the Oni stream prayed at the grave side are sent to them in overseas if they cannot come’

Babalola’s grave is placed side by side with that of his father in the same mausoleum, Adetayo said the old man, Rotimi who died in 1935 while his son, Babalola who too died in 1959 were buried by their side because the church members found it honourable to honour them by burying them by their side.

Do people redeem their pledges after receiving healing and miracles? ’’Yes’’, the Babalola Grave Prayer House Pastor replied ‘’ A moslem was here last year February to pray and when his prayer was answered , he bought that giant generator for us and brought it here on a Good Friday last year, [pointing] another had his company collapsed and was instructed by the holy spirit to go to seven mountain and offer prayer, he went did what was instructed and his business was revived , today he is now doing well in Lagos where he assembles wall clocks , he later brought the wall clock you are seeing on the wall here

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On how Adetayo became a ‘devotee’ to the Grave, he said he was being posted to be in charge, he however spoke on how he abandoned his job for the job, according to him he was once a civil servant and had worked in Ibadan , Akure in Works and Transport Department until he submitted himself to God’s calling. His words’’I was not progressing in the job I was doing as God continued to be telling me to leave the job I was doing and follow him .I was born and bred in the CAC and I had never turned my back. When I retired in 1993 God asked me to come and served Him but I did not quickly answer His call and I started having progress for I want successful in whatever I laid my hands upon , so at last I decided to serve Him and I was posted here to this Babalola Grave Prayer House’’

What of Babalola’s children?Are they still alive and what ate they doing ?The Nation enquired, the man of God replied’’ they are alive , one is in Ilesha and she is the Iya Ijo while the other woman is a Lady Evangelist ‘’, Adetayo said with total conviction.