By Oladipo Ibironke -Duyile
The former Permanent Secretary, Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence, Prince Dr. Oluyemi Joseph Bajowa (rtd), has been selected among the list of elder statesmen and eminent Nigerians lined up for recognition this year by the long-standing recognition outfit, Potter’s House.
The company Potter’s House, is a media, publishing an event company with long list of clientele who has contributed their quotas to the development of Nigeria.No doubt Prince Dr. Olu Bajowa {Rtd.} is a man of immense capability and impeccable character whose life has been exemplary and worthy of emulation by all and sundry.
The Jagunmolu of Ikale Land and Ojagbulegun of the Source, having served his fatherland meritoriously,indeed deserves the accolades he is receiving. Men of honour are always known by their traits and characters and General Olu Bajowa Rtd. is one of them.As he has continued to wax stronger at 81 years old.
True to kind, Gen. Olu Bajowa (Rtd.) is no doubt, a man of immense capability having begun his career as a young Military Officer where he climbed through the rungs of the officer corps to the enviable rank of Major General and retired at the age of 40 years. Having served his fatherland meritoriously, he indeed deserves the accolades he is receiving. He is a man of enviable and impeccable character both in private and public spheres. A man of strong will, conviction, boldness and courage and he is ready at all times to speak truth to power and doesnot shy away from ventilating his opinions.
Little wonder he was recently eulogized for his impeccable character describe by the Ondo State Governor, His Excellency, Rotimi Akeredolu when he said that “for a man who spent the better part of his life consolidating on the Nigerian Project, the people of Ondo State are happy to identify with him.We once again celebrate your invaluable contributions to the unity of Nigeria, the development of Ondo state and your community.As a state, we rejoice with you and wish you a resounding birthday celebration.”
The Jagunmolu’s exemplary qualities as a soldier also won him commendations from his superiors such as former President, Olusegun Obasanjo who emphasized that Bajowa being a performing soldier made him draft him to lead the 11 Battalion during the nation’s civil war.Major General Oluyemi Joseph Bajowa was a former Commandant of the Command and Staff College in Kaduna. He was also the former Military Acting Governor of Rivers State.
He was appointed as the Managing Director of the Nigeria Airways after his retirement in 1980 at the age of 40.He has been severally described as a very cultured and respectful man and a performing Soldier in his time.
General Olu Bajowa joined the Nigerian Army in 1960 at a relatively young age of 20 years and retired as Major-General in 1980 (41 years ago), at a prime age of 40 years.After 20 years of meritorious service to Nigeria, he was never a politician or ever held an electedpolitical appointment. He was a career professional officer, as a soldier on merit and not by the vote of electorates, with political promises.
The retired Generla’s. influence and contributions to community development were apparent in the establishments of several institutions and bodies within and outside Ikale land. Some of which are:
* Lubokun Comprehensive High School Igbotako,
* Community Grammar School Igbotako,
* The new St Stephens Anglican Church Igbotako,
* Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria Igbotako,
* Federal Science & Technology Incubator Igbotako,
* Police Station at Igbotako (courtesy of IGP Kumasi), Post Office, Medical Centre (now upgraded to General Hospital), and Electricity for Igbotako,
* Nigerian Army Barracks at Okitipupa (when I was the Quartermaster-General of the Nigerian Army),
* Ultra-Modern Science Library and Water Borehole at MMGS, Iju-Odo, (my Alma Mater),
* The newly commissioned Awawa Radio 94.1FM Station, in Ayeka Kingdom, under the umbrella of Iye-Lumure Bajowa Foundation.
In the military, he took part in fighting the legendary 1967 “Ore Battle” (“Olekuija Ore”), by defending the Western Region border to keep “Nigeria One”, and influenced the creation of Ondo State, by military fiat in1976.
Gen. Bajowa Rtd., encouraged several sons and daughters of Igbotako and Ikale land to enlist into the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, Paramilitary, and other security services, and employment into both State and Federal Civil Services. He equally assisted several Igbotako indigenes and Ikale people to climb the “millionaire” ladder and gave scholarships to some indigent students.
Also, for the records, Obasa Commission of Inquiry of 1976/77, zoned the Rebuja of Osooro kingship to Ilutitun, but Igbotako was preferred (courtesy of the Military Regime).
Presently, on the Ikale Vs AraromiObu Settlers land case which challenged Ikale heritage, andhis initiative during the Ikale Covid 19 Palliatives, he was the vanguard for the 10billion Naira Fund-raising, for the rehabilitation of Ikaleland, after the dastardly hijacked ENDSARS peaceful protests, which left several government owned facilities and private properties in ruins.
Born on December 27, 1940 in Okitipupa, Ondo State, after his primary School education, he proceeded o Manuwa Memorial Grammar School, lju-Odo, 1954-58, from there to Gboluji Grammar School, Ile-Oluji, 1959, Federal School of Science, Lagos, 1960, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, Command and Staff College, Camberley, England, 1970, University of Lagos, Lagos.
He then joined the Nigerian Army, Headquarters, Lagos, 1966-67; Brigade Major, 2nd Area Command, NA, 1967; Commanding Officer, 11 Infantry Battalion, NA, 1967-68; Commanding Officer, Nigerian Training Depot, NA, Abeokuta, 1968-69; General Staff Officer, 13 Division, NA, 1971-72. He also became a member of the International Institute of Strategic Studies, Passed Staff College (PSC), 1970 and acting General Officer Commanding, 3 Division, NA, 1971.
He became the acting military Governor, Rivers State, 1973; General Staff Officer, 13 Brigade Command, NA, 1973-74; acting Military Governor, defunct South- Eastern State, 1974; appointed Adjutant – General. NA, January – July, 1975; Quarter master-General, NA, 1975-78; Commandant, Command and Staff College, Jaji, 1978-79 and retired voluntarily from the Nigerian Army in1980. He got the National Honour and was awarded the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 1982. And National Decoration of Forces Star Medal (FSM); Foreign Decoration: UN Peace keeping Operation Medal, Congo to cap it.
After his retirement from the Army he was appointed Managing Director, then Nigeria Airways, January 7, ‘ 1988 – August 1989. He later went back to school and became a success story winning an award as Best Student, Correspondence and. Open Studies Institute (COSIT), University of Lagos, 1988. Gen. Bajowa Rtd. despite his wealth of experience, fame and blessings remain a proud Ikale man and a Prince of the soil, born at Igbotako, in Osooro Kingdom, his hometown.
