- By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
A ranking member of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Bamisile, has rejoiced with a Legal Icon, Chief Afe Babalola(SAN), for being celebrated by his kinsmen and admirers world over as a legend.
The Chairman House Committee on Delegated Legislation, expressed delight at how Chief Babalola is being celebrated in his lifetime, especially the pronouncement of October 18 by Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, as ‘Afe Babalola Day’.
The representative of the Ekiti South Federal Constituency II spoke, in his congratulatory message made available to TopNews in Ado-Ekiti to the legendary legal luminary on the maiden edition of Afe Babalola Day slated for Friday, October 18, 2024.
Bamisile, in a statement released from Abuja, on Friday, praised Ewi of Ado Ekiti and other proponents of Afe Babalola Day, saying this culture will promote the idea of eminent Ekiti indigenes being celebrated in their lifetimes, rather than being immortalized posthumously.
Describing Babalola as a God -sent to Ekiti and humanity, Bamisile saluted the Legal Luminary for consistently leading the fray against poverty among his people by his unsurpassable philanthropic gestures spanning over five decades.
Besides the foregoing, the Federal Lawmaker hinted that it was heartwarming that Babalola had maintained the lead as the highest tax payer in Ekiti since the creation of the state on October 16, 1996, which signposted how extremely committed he was to the state’s development.
Bamisile said the flagship of his contributions to the development of Ekiti was the establishment of the first private university, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, which now employs over 10,000 workers, and maintaining the lead in tax contributions to the state.
“Let me on behalf of my wife, children and the good people of Ekiti South Federal Constituency II, congratulated our respected Legal Luminary and priceless statesman, Chief Afe Babalola(SAN) on the floating of an annual celebration to celebrate his good deeds to humanity. I consider this action apposite and timely in his history.
“Chief Afe Babalola to us in Ekiti is a living legend. A detribalised Nigerian and erudite statesman, who has carved a niche for himself as a guru in legal profession, who won some difficult and unpredictable cases during his active legal practice.
“History will continue to remember Chief Babalola for setting up the best and most thriving university in Ekiti by shunning rapprochement and entreaties from other viable states in the southwest to berth the institution in his home State.
“Besides personal business ventures, Chief Babalola has entrenched the culture of philanthropy in Ekiti as a leading light. Though, he grew up in poverty, but he has joined forces with governments to combat the cankerworm, by floating bursary and scholarship schemes for students, special funds for farmers, and empowerments for the privilege.
“By all standard of measurements, Chief Afe Babalola deserves being celebrated. He deserves it and all lover of good things must support the Annual celebration and make it a success”, Bamisile said.
