Femi Kehinde|The Kingsman
Lauded
historian, author, lawyer and politician, Hon. Femi Kehinde is one Avant
garde,away from the usual ceremonies of noise, his book ‘Of Rusts and Gold:
Snippets of History’ is a comprehensive account about our history, culture, education
and our lost values and of course politics.
Writes Aito
Ireho
Femi Kehinde is a rare gem. He is one of the very few distinct personalities
still living on the planet earth, yet nursing that grave concerns about lack of
adequate historical revelations and documentations of events that sharpened our
thoughts and behavioural patterns through literature and films. How many of his
generation can gather so many economists, scholars, politicians, technocrats, monarchs,
different generation and class of people under one roof for a book launch? The reason
he is a sheer class. Class, indeed in Femi Kehinde cannot be bought with money;
rather, it comes as a grace. How many Nigerian lawmakers know about our
chequered history? Or, still remember our heroes past? More so, he has thrown a
challenge to our new generation of writers and historiansabout what they write
for the people to read in thisjunk and blog gist’s literature era.
The 10th of July, 2017 will go down in history, as a day
set aside to honour a worthy one through literature and recitations. ‘Samuel
Ladoke Akintola: In the Eyes of History.’ A book written by revered historical
writer, Mr Femi Kehinde at the Michael Omolayole Hall, International Conference
Center, University of Ibadan. Dignitaries of different ages were in attendance.
Chairman of the occasion was Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the roll call included
special guest of honour, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Osun
State, publisher, Elder Akin Ogunbiyi of Akosa Publisher Ltd and Chairman of
Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc. The guest speaker was Bashorun Dele Momodu,
Ovation publisher and seasoned writer, while the book reviewer was Dr Festus
Adedayo, Member of the board, Tribune Newspapers. Chief Richard Akinjide, SLA
family members and close associates were in attendance. What a spectacle!
This is not his first book, neither his first work. Femi Kehinde, an
accomplished lawyer has done it all and still exhumes ambitious adrenalin in
him. My first encounter with him came at a time I started working on notable
and distinguished Nigerians for my documentary series “Movers and Shakers” and
my associate producer Segun Adedokun asked me to read a certain article on
Vanguard online, written about one extraordinary Nigerian industrialist and
Africa’s earliest entrepreneur, Sanusi Adebisi Giwa. The article was entitled, “Sanusi Adebisi
Idikan- (1882 – 1938) first Ibadan notable entrepreneur and philanthropist.” I
decided to go through it and I was amazed by the level of research that threw
me off guard. It was indeed an articulated story.I wasn’t in a rush to read it
all over as the writer’s use of English was lucid to feel and enjoy. History
was placed on my table easily by the writer. Every aspect of the protagonist
life and style was detailed. His odyssey and foray in commerce and business
were well researched. Sanusi Adebisi’s philanthropy, his hallmark remained
distinct and unrivalled. At a time getting to read about the author became a
beautiful mission and at the end of the ‘masterpiece’ I saw the name and
designation; Hon (Barr.) Femi Kehinde,Former Member,House of
Representatives,National Assembly,Abuja, Representing, Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa
Federal Constituency, of Osun State- 1999-2003.I became so much interested in
meeting him.It was looking though a very difficult mission but that eventually
came to fruition when I placed a phone call to a veteran journalist and erudite
writer himself, Dr. Festus Adedayo, who facilitated my meeting the ‘celeb’ of
course at the moment in the city of Ibadan in Oyo State.
Memorable
Encounter
On the 4th of June, 2017, I met the literati, one on one at
‘Handler’ hotel in Oluyole Estate, a middle class neighbourhood in the ancient
city, as he strolled in before the downpour that almost outshined our meeting
in a gold traditional kaftan.Dr Festus Adedayo, Segun Adedokun, Mrs Iretiogo
Bilesanmi, the granddaughter of the protagonist and her husband, Yinka were
also in attendance as I took him on as a ‘talking head’ in the yet to be
released documentary project. His presence is as captivating as he recounts his
odyssey as a young man, educational sojourn, career path and his mission
statement. One reflecting moment is, he is so passionate about the preservation
of history and culture and instead of him lamenting just like many of his
peers,and he has decided not to drop his passion for writing history. Rather,
the ink from his pen must continue to write and celebrate our heroes. During
the interview, Femi Kehinde took us on a roller coaster, telling us more about
what we should know about the protagonist, Sanusi Adebisi, in a recount that looks
as if he grew up with him. It was incredible!
Formative
Years
The Honourable was born on the 3rd of November, 1959 to
Samuel and Elizabeth Kehinde. His father was a nomadic Police Officer which
made him a traveling pupil in his elementary school education. He rounded up
his elementary school voyage at Saint Paul’s Primary School, Gbongan in 1972. Femi
Kehinde later went to Origbo Community High School, Ipetumodu, January 1973 –
July, 1977, then moved to Ibadan polytechnic for his ‘A Levels Basic Studies’
between 1977 – 1978 from where he gained admission to read Law at the prestigious
University of Ife renamed Obafemi Awolowo University from 1978 to 1983 and
bagged an LL.B Hons Degree, though with a brief period spent at the Department
of History in the same school. After his stint at Nigerian Law School, he was
called to the Bar on the 16th ofAugust,1984. The Law firm, Obafemi
Awolowo & Co [Barristers Solicitors] Park Lane Apapa, Lagos will be his
next destination where he had a pupilage law practice between June and October,
1984, with one more firm, Fawole Babalakin and Co, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, he
soldiered on to establish his law firm, Femi Kehinde&Co in October 1985 and
has remained a Principal Partner.
‘Of Rusts
and Gold: Snippets of History’
Femi Kehinde is a multitasking personality; in fact, he is a colossus to
behold in literature. I was honoured when he gave me one of his autographed
published works entitled ‘Of Rusts and Gold: Snippets of History’ a 2016
paperback 249 page publication, and a spectacular release that opened my eyes
to know more about the historical firmaments of Yoruba cultural and political
history of Nigeria as a whole. Also, included are essays on contemporary
Nigerian politics, the entrepreneurial efforts and dynamism of our earliest entrepreneurs
and industrialists. “I always find my way to make this work,”he says. “I go through
my research thoroughly, before notifying each family of my intention and they
always give me their support,” he recalls at our encounter at his Oluwalogbon
Motors Chambers in Ikeja. “Chief Richard Akinjide once asked me, “how old are
you?” he recalls. Chief Richard Akinjide, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and one
of Nigeria’s earliest practicing lawyers, alongside Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode
and Chief Bode Thomas, was a witness of history and a privy to some of the
research compilations by the author, became astonished by the enormous
dedication the writer, has given to do all these. The elderly lawyer sees Femi
Kehinde as a phenomenon!
‘Of Rusts and Gold: Snippets of History’ is a book that opened up our
‘lost account,’ and Femi Kehinde’s historical writing skill is like a flowing
stream that found the legs of a man lost in the desert. This is abook written
in precise and concise account with clear comprehension that draws the stories
to the reader’s heart.
Monarchs,
grandeur and travails
The lawyer cum literati delves into the grandeur and travails of our
monarchical systems that was accustomed with a God-like and mystified
attributes. The politics of coronation and depose among monarchs in Yoruba land
were exposed in a detailed account of how they happened. The Chief Bode Thomas
and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II drama in, 1953 would have looked
more like a fairytale to the young readers today. It was a historical account
that was underreported and very difficult to find from some of our available
libraries, but the writer did justice to it. The intrigues of Oni of Ife stool
and Olowo of Owo mysterious double reigns and others make the book a literature
classic!
Politics, Politicians
and Concrete Jungle
Modern students of history may find it difficult to embark on such
literature mission like Hon Femi Kehinde did due to lack of financial support
and grants. Today, our ‘plastic’ cultures may surely not give them enough
opportunities to walk on. Nigeria’s founding fathers would be so pleased with
the writer for his literature voyage to unravel the road to freedom and the
betrayals afterwards. From his account of history, the author deserves Man
Booker or Nobel literature prize recognition. Old political actors, some gone,
few still alive knew he wasn’t far from the truth in his fact findings, if they
check through his examination of conscience that he revealed in the book, as
most times, personal interests overshadowed national interests and to some
extent, spouses got themselves involved in the “battle creek brawl.”
‘Qui Bono’
Education and the decline in Statesmanship
Qui Bono? For whose interest? The writer seems to be asking a question
and begging for answer from some political actors who derailed in their
promises during electioneering campaign. It seems they keep losing their
confidence as soon as they attain power and care no more about the electorate.
They easily jettison the ‘consent of the governed’ according to John Locke. The
free education policies of some of the old political actors have been thrown
into a waste bag and it is obvious education and the legacy of the founding
fathers plays no role in their stewardship. Current school reforms are
nose-dived ones and making the system to be experiencing a downward trend. The
author himself, being a product of western region educational policy and largesse
laments the current situation being experience in the country, particularly,
his home state.
Early
Entrepreneurs, businessmen and writers
Names such as Sanusi Adebisi, Salami Agbaje, D.O.Fagunwa, Obisesan,
the Odutola brothers, Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chief Theophilus Oni, Alhassan
Dantata, Esan Da Rocha and others early entrepreneurs, writers, authors and educationists
were given special tribute on their contribution to economic and educational
development of Nigeria. When Hon. Femi Kehinde was given the commentary on
Sanusi Adebisi Giwa in a forth coming documentary, the grand-daughter of the
protagonist, Iretiogo Bilesanmi was also awestruck, as the historian narratives
were entirely new to her. She couldn’t hide her admiration of the writer and
she comments, “in fact, my father didn’t know some of these revelations, I am
honoured to meet Hon Femi Kehinde, he is one unique personality.”
Honourable Femi Kehinde is a quintessential gentleman who lives on Law
as a profession and not politics with a vast experience in law practice
spanning over 30 years. He started his political career as a grassroots
politician,and at aged 27, he contested for the Local Government Councillorship
in an independent election in 1987 and won. He believes in collective
governance and currently vying for the top job in Osun
State as the governor in 2018. A mission he says, is to impact positively on
the lives of his people so that the “Living Spring will Flow Again.”
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