Tributes to Quintessential Dar Babarinsa @70, by Akeju Olagbaju

The tributes continued to come even after his birthday, which happened on May 9th. He was born exactly that day, 70 years ago. This icon, together with the Gewa of Beaded Memories, Ray Ekpu, Dele Olojede and May Ellen modeled the landscape of investigative journalism in Nigeria and raised it to an enviable height.

The tributes that announced and followed Babarinsa’s seventieth birthday were not unexpected.

I met him once and I fought to match his face like my elderly man who was always at the call of the principal Ibikunle (Baba Sakoto) for one thing or another. I followed his trajectory and the meteoric rise on the ground of journalism.

Without a doubt, Babarinsa has become a national icon and the name resonates with greedy readers, intellectuals of the public space and academics in the diaspora. His articles in the newspapers, often intertwined with historical anectods, have no equal. I still have to see a tie in that arena.

To think that such a great man comes from a little known city of Okemese in the state of Ekiti and has created an epitaph for himself is incredibly impressive.

It shows that it is a product of disciplined education. He was Plutarch to once said: “” It is certainly desirable to be well descended, but glory belongs to our ancestors. “His ancestors would surely be proud of him.

Babarinsa’s damage gave its fruits. It is a pride for me to attend the same secondary school with this giant. What a coincidence! We are still in the streak of the Anglican grammar school Ife, Ile Ife in the state of Osun, celebrating 70 years and we have our icon @70.

70 warm applause to dare Babarinsa@

May he live to fulfill his mission in the world.

● Engr Akeju Olagbaju, retired director in the Federal Civil Service, is based in Abuja.