OMOSEYE BOLAJI PAYS TRIBUTE TO AYO FASANMI

DOWN MEMORY LANE

I have a medley of poignant memories in respect of Pa Ayo Fasanmi, the quintessentially celebrated Nigerian statesman, and Patriarch who has just left us. Where do I start?

Perhaps some 35 years ago when I used to be a fairly regular visitor to their house in Osogbo, thanks to my early friendship with one of the great man's sons.  (We went to the University together). We were of course quite young then and I was always overawed  in the presence of Papa Fasanmi. He respected my own father (SL Bolaji) who at the time was a well known editor of Nigerian newspapers,  cum author. Though of course even in those days, Pa Fasanmi (below) always went out of his way to be very friendly with us anytime he came across us. 

 I remember when the Nigerian journalist and magazine aficionado, Dele Giwa was brutally killed in 1986. By a coincidence, I was in the Fasanmi residence that night in Osogbo when the drama unfolded. It was Senator Fasanmi himself who gave us the grisly details. His penchant for information, empathy and fairness came to the fore as he gave us gruesome details of the dark macabre  deed; it was an epiphany of sorts for me.

Fast forward  to the 90s when I wrote a book called Eagles at USA 94, and Pa Fasanmi gracefully agreed to be the Chairman of the Launch of the Osogbo edition of the book. In my naivety I expressed my consummate gratitude to him for gracing the occasion, adding that I appreciated his presence as I " knew that he did not like sports much".

Pa Fasanmi was incensed to hear me say this! Immediately he told the people present that there was no truth in what I had said, to wit, my claim that he was not an avid sports supporter. Indeed he went on to regale the audience with feats of his sporting excellence when he was a young man at school...

It was many years later that I would see Pa Fasanmi again, in the heart of Osogbo. Incredibly when I was beside him, he actually told me that he heard I had been abroad  for many years, that I had written many books etc. He said he was happy I was following in the footsteps of my late Father as a writer etc. "I was so pleased to hear that you even garnered a Chieftaincy award thanks to your Writing feats abroad " he generously added.

Pa Fasanmi was a truly illustrious, magnanimous man, a repository of awesome knowledge, history, sociology, and of course pertinent politics over the years. One always felt privileged being in his presence, and learning a lot, running the gauntlet of a miscellany of enlightenment.

The last time I spoke to the late Pa Fasanmi (alas, only on the phone) was in early May this year (2020) during the infamous series of lockdowns, as covid-19 held sway.  He chatted with me for some time, then startled me as he said: "Please give me a message for your late father. I'd soon be joining him yonder..."

I flinched. Those beside me noticed my discomfiture and probed me about this. I told them what had made me uneasy, and tried to pass the whole thing off as a joke.  But an elderly lady nearby told me pointedly: "I am sure Papa (Fasanmi) is serious.  Do go and visit him soonest. He probably knows he will be departing this world soon. It is NOT a joke"

And it was not.... Hmmm.  R.I P Papa.

 - Omoseye Bolaji (Chief)