BABATOPE: An unrepentant Awoist at 70 Ebenezer Babatope is a legend as well as an icon, quick-witted, eloquent, dogged and fearless. He is a moving encyclopaedia with a knack for historical details on the political emergence, growth and development of the Nigerian nation. He made the public scene tick during his heydays as the spokesman for the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, his leader and mentor. A former student activist, Babatope, fondly known as Ebino Topsy, came to national prominence as the national director of organisation of the UPN. He was a member of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), the United Nigeria Congress (UNCP), under which he was elected at the party primary as its senatorial candidate but was disqualified by General Ibrahim Babangida for no reason. Babatope presently is a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He has never left the party, since he joined it in 1999, even at the time many people expected him to leave as a result of his inability to clinch the ticket for the position of the National Secretary of the party. Babatope is now a senior citizen, and age, no doubt, has mellowed him down. The boisterous revolutionary no longer dons his Fidel Castro cap. The prolific writer, the ebullient historian and astute Ijesa man is an apostle of the Ijesa agenda that wants an Ijesa man to be governor of Osun State. He is the Olori Ebi of Odele Gidigbi chieftancy family, a family man, a man of the people. As a man of many parts, he has been humbled by vicissitudes of the political terrain, but fortified by the grace of God. Babatope is reputed to display profuse humility, patriotism, justice and equity. He was born of Ijesa parentage, but was brought up in Ifaki Ekiti. The combination of stubborn Ijesa with heady Ekiti can only produce a man, to whom nothing else matters, but integrity, uprightness and focus to tread the narrow path. He is a writer, journalist, historian, philosopher as well as lawyer. He is a graduate of Chief Awolowo’s school of political philosophy. His analysis of events is clear and accurate and his presentation is mature, educative and thought-provoking. As the spokesman of UPN, the man was a delight to watch. He was a powerful speaker, whose historical analysis is yet to be beaten by any past or present publicist of any political party in the country. He has abundance of history to back up his speeches or debates as the Director of Organisation of the most disciplined party in the country. Ebino Topsy’s dogged characteristics, geared towards ensuring that Nigerians get a better life, met with a measure of force. He was in the detention of former military head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, from 1983 to 1985 and his offence could not be more than working for Chief Awolowo. He was denied by the Buhari junta to witness the burial of his father. Babatope is a committed Awoist, who has never deviated from the sage’s political ideals. As a journalist, Babatope writes with convinced views about the movement of history and his thoughts are multi-dimensional. His power of recall of events is fantastic; his style is simple and presentation, informative. We wish Chief Ebenezer Babatope good health to enable him traverse the political terrain and ample strength demanded by party politics. We wish him also strength of conviction in what he does these days when values have collapsed. Olatunji writes from Ibadan, Oyo State.
Posted on: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 09:22:21 +0000
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