Installation of Fagbemi as Baba Ijo of African Church, Ebenezer Parish Well Deserved Honour, says Ogungbayi

A frontline politician cum education strategist, Prince Adesegun Ogungbayi in this interview spoke glowingly on the installation of the former Senior Special Adviser to the former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on Energy, Elder Prince Taiwo Akinsanya Fagbemi on his installation as the Baba Ijo of African Church, Ebenezer Parish, Ijoko Ota, Ogun State. He described the installation as well deserved honour. Excerpts:

Can we meet you, sir?
Firstly, I thank you for the disturbance and share the joy of the installation of my elder brother as Baba Ijo of Ebenezer Parish, Ijoko Ota on Saturday 19th November 2022. I equally thank you for stressing yourself down to my office here in Shomolu on an appointment fixed in Ijoko Ogun State. My name is Prince Adesegun Ogungbayi. Am one of the younger brothers of the installed Baba Ijo African Church, Ebenezer Parish, Ijoko. Am the Board Chairman of MIMS Educational Services, Shomolu, Surulere and Epe Lagos. I am also the Chairman of the Governing Council of Calculus Comprehensive Schools Itele, Ota, Ogun State. Am equally the Governing Council Chairman of Likeminds Model Academy Abeokuta, Ogun State. Apart from that, I am the Project Coordinator of Academic Excellence Initiatives AEI (a leading national educational NGO in Nigeria) through it I have added value to the lives of thousands of youths and adults globally.

Wao! But I taught you are his PA the way you were moving with him wherever he goes?
Yes, a typical Yoruba man will always remain a Personal Assistant to his or her elderly one, no matter your personality, whereas I am nobody. Whatever we are today was based on the solid mentorship of our elder brothers and sisters so I am proud to be my elder brother’s PA. Thank you for the appellation.

Waooo, happy to meet you, sir. But what personality is in the installed Baba Ijo of African Church, Ebenezer Parish that could not permit you to grant me an instant interview? I asked because I don’t even have the opportunity to talk to him as well and I want to know him.

Laughs! The gentle giant I was following here and there is an uncommon son, Chief and father of Awori and the most outstanding dearest and closed elder in my Ileshi Royal family of Ota Awori kingdom as of today. He is very close to me and I am very close to him. He has the right to become the next Olota of Ota Awori Kingdom after the present Olota of Ota, His Royal Majesty Alayeluwa Oba Professor Abdulkabir Adeyemi Obalanlege, Lanlege Ekun II. He is Hon. Elder Prince (Chief) Taiwo Akinsanya Fagbemi, Chairman / Managing Director of Gasoline Automotive Products Marketing Company Limited. He was the most historical and memorable former National President of the Institute of Marketing Association of Nigeria. He equally served as the Senior Special Adviser on Energy to His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Ibikunle Amosun CON, FCA the immediate past Executive Governor of Ogun state 2011-2019, while serving Ogun State he made unprecedented success in the office which lingers in the memory of all those that worked closely with him till date. He is a philanthropist that has been making impact in the life of the people of Ijoko, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government and Ogun State as a whole. Mr Editor, that is just a little out of the personality in the latest Baba ijo in town for you.

Does that mean Chief Taiwo Akinsanya Fagbemi emerged as Baba Ijo based on his important personality and philanthropic roles in the community alone?

My friend that is just a little out of the qualities that led my big brother to emerge as Baba Ijo of African Church, Ebenezer Parish Ijoko. Our late dad, Pa Akinbode Fagbemi was one of the pioneers members of Ebenezer African Church Ijoko. Our father forgo his leadership position as the only surviving son of Ajana whom everybody was waiting for in the olden days of Christian faith. He lost all his inheritance for Christ’s sake which laid a solid foundation for my uncommon big brother in Christian faith leading to his support in every aspect of life to different churches globally and the Ebenezer Ijoko Church and environ till date. That is why the early morning of the installation, the first session of the installation was led and conducted by The Most Rev’d Solomon O. Babatunde Ojomu, The Archbishop of Ogun Province himself in a glamorous way in his residence before possession to the church for general ceremony.

Chief Fagbemi (2nd right) pose for picture with guests

How come it’s only African Democratic Congress ADC Governorship candidate Barrister Olubiyi Otegbeye that you have at the installation?

It has to be like that because Hon (Prince) Taiwo Akinsanya Fagbemi is a distinguished global professional in different fields of life and can not come back to Ijoko, Ado-Odo/Ota environs with ordinary politicians who are non professionals who have not make impact in peoples life. For your information, Biyi Otegbeye is a legal luminary, global insurance guru, a distinguished Managing Director and CEO of different establishments that are flourishing till date. Barrister Otegbeye has global managerial skills, organizational acumen, administrative knowledge governorship leadership traits to rescue and re-write the developmental history of Ogun State and equally make Ogun state to be competing with Lagos State before moving out of office. Apart from that we are sons of Ogun West and the Governorship candidate you have seen is the only Ogun West candidate contesting to represent us for the first time. So, ‘awalokan’ and its Barrister Biyi Otegbeye ‘loma se’ and this is the best time for us in Ogun West and we must use all means to showcase our candidate and make people to reckon with him at all events. Thank you.

Sir, how did you view the installation?

The installation of Elder Prince (Chief) Taiwo Akinsanya Fagbemi was glamorous from the begining to the end. The occasion was witness by who is who in the society apart from all the Church dignitaries and Guests led by Rt. Rev’d Dr. David Adedeji Sogbanmu, Ph.D, Bishop Diocese of Ifo, Chief Derin Adebiyi, Hon. Vice Lay President, The Rt. Hon. (Prince) Olakunle T. Oluomo, Diocesan Secretary, Barrister Adebanjo Adeliyi, Diocesan Legal Adviser, The Venerable MichaelnO. Oladipupo, Cathedral Provost/ Archdeaconry Chairman, The Rev’d Canon M. T. Omolehin, The Vicar. Bro. Joel Ojelabi, Parish Secretary, Bro. Sunday Oguntayo, People’s Warden.
Other important personality that celebrated with us were His Royal Majesty, Oba Alani Matanmi, the Onijoko of Ijoko kingdom, Barrister Olubiyi Otegbeye, the Governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress ADC, Hon. Chief Aderinola Adebiyi, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun, Alhaji Hon. Prince Dr. Adesoji Sirajudeen Olusesi, Rt. Hon. Chief Olusegun Gbeleyi, Alh. Hon. Chief Yakubu Ajayi, Chief Wole Elegbede, Chief Mrs. Elizabeth Irokosu, Hon. Ademola Ashaoku, Comrade Olamilekan Amoo. The occasion was witnessed by all family members, friends across the world.
Infact, Ijoko and Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government people were overjoyous of the occasion. Thank you.