…as clerics hold 40-day Fidau to pray for deceased, family
1: Over 80 years ago, Engr. Mohammed Oladiran Owoso a.k.a Baba Owoso was born to the family of Alhaji Bello and Seliatu Owoso in Erio Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. He was the 3rd child out of the 5 children.
2: He studied at St. Thomas’s Catholic Primary School, Ogotun Ekiti; Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Ekiti proceeded to study Communication and Electrical/Electronic Engineering at the Nigerian Army Signal School, Apapa Lagos and United States Army Signal School, Georgia, United States of America (USA). Earned Post-Graduate diploma in Journalism at the International Institutes of Journalism and received a Diploma in Law at the University of Ado Ekiti now Ekiti State University.
3: During the Nigerian Civil War, he fought for the Nigeria government following the declaration of succession by the Republic of Biafra.
4: Trained in the Nigerian Army and the US Army. During his training at the Nigeria Army Signal school, he was among the 3 young officers who were ordered by Murtala Mohammed, accompanied by Joe Garba to notify all GOCs using Static Communication that “a bloodless coup has just taken place, all GOCs should take over their stations for further instruction”. Directly or indirectly he participated in the 1975 coup that overthrew Gowon’s Government.
5: He was among the team that recorded proceedings of the Dimka in Lagos when General Abisoye was chairman of the panel. After the proceeding, he was posted to Ilorin as a Secret Officer which makes him relate with the Commanding Officer very well.
6: The Nigerian Army offered him a scholarship to study at the United States Army where he studied Electrical/Electronics. His love for the Military later deteriorated when the most charismatic Northern Military Officer in the Nigeria Army (Murtala Mohammed) was killed in 1976.
7: Before he left the Military he informed T.Y. Danjuma about his plan to leave the Military. According to him “As I walked straight to T.Y. Danjuma’s office, the first message in the background where Danjuma was sitting (The Army is a mad organization, this is why I am here)” after disclosing his reasons to leave the Military, Danjuma said “You must return all the money the Government spent on you, get out of my office.”
8: After 3 months he confided the reasons he wanted to leave the military with his Commanding Officer and went back to Danjuma. Danjuma said, “You are still a young man, your future is bright in the Military”. Unfortunately, Baba left the Military to join Ondo State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) now Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC), Akure where he worked with Baba Olaniyan Jegede, Baba Jide Olusola and others.
9: He was the Station Manager of the Ifaki Transmitting Station and coordinates OSRC stations in Oba Ile, Ifaki, Ido Ani, Okitipupa, and Obada terminal stations. During his tenure as the Chairman of the Radio Television Workers Union (RATTAWU), he led protests to defend staff and activities of OSRC against both the Military and the Executive Governors in Ondo State.
10: In 2000, he was Head of the Department of Engineering Division of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES), he defended BSES activities and Ekiti State Government led by Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo in the Court of Law against Falana and Falana Chambers when Falana sues BSES and Ekiti State Government for not making BSES a plain ground for all political parties in the 2003 General Election. According to him, the civil service system makes civil servants loyal to the Government of the day.
11: In 2003 and 2014 he was appointed Senior Special Adviser to the Wife of the Governor, Her Excellency Feyisetan Fayose. He was among State dignitaries who welcomed former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Wives of former Presidents Stella Obasanjo and Patience Jonathan and former Governors, Olusegun Agagu, Rashidi Ladoja, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Peter Odili and others to Ekiti State.
12: To reduce vulnerability in Nigeria, he founded a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) named Foundation for Sustainable Health Promotion and Development (FOSHPAD), the NGO receives funds from the World Bank, Management Science for Health (MSH), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Microsoft Nigeria, Malala Fund, Youthhub Africa and others to support vulnerable people and to fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other preventable diseases.
13: His NGO implemented projects in Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos, Niger States, and Ghana and participated in events held in Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, the United Kingdom, Kingdom of the Netherlands.
14: FOSHPAD was a member of the Coalition of Ekiti State Civil Society Organization (COECSO) promoting health, social and environmental development in Ekiti State and also monitoring government policies and actions.
15: He was a Customary Court Judge of the Ekiti State Judiciary.
16: When he was President of the Erio Development Union (EDU), he facilitated the construction of Elerio Palace and united Erio indigenes at home and Abroad.
17: He’s a Muslim and never discriminates against any religion, he reads both the Bible and the Quran. Has over 5 versions of the Bible and both the English and Arabic Quran while his children practice either Islam or Christianity. Whenever people ask about his religion, his response is always “My religion is Chrislam”.
18: Married to a Christian from a royal family. As a leader, he accommodates and doesn’t discriminate against any religion either Islam, Christianity or a Traditional.
19: Baba loves driving, he learnt how to drive in the USA, the longest distance he covered while driving was from Akure to Maiduguri using his Peugeot 504. Between 2014-2018, he used his official car for official duties and drove himself from house to work and vice versa using his private car.
20: He’s among the few Ekiti that never eat Pounded yam and his love for Amala was top notch maybe that was influenced by his mother, an Ibadan indigene
21: Love listened to the radio and read the newspaper.
22: He admires Murtala Mohammed, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, John F Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln.
23: He loves listening to Ayinla Omowura, Orlando Owoh, Fela Anikulapo music and loves watching Baba Sala and Baba Suwe
24: Before, during and after his political appointment, he was never a politician. He was fondly called Baba Owoso, a nickname given to him by H.E. Feyisetan Fayose.
25: For his Excellent services he received different awards and recognitions from the Nigerian Army (National Service Medal, General Service Medal, Defence Service Medal), US Army (Academic Excellent), RATTAWU: Ekiti and Ondo States Leadership Awards), United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Thanks to everyone for their support and prayers before and after the death of Engr. Mohammed Oladiran Owoso.