…celebrates ninety three years birthday in grand style
A nonagenarian, the Olori Ebi of Akogun family, Irona street, Ado-Ekiti, PA Michael Akinyemi Akintola says it is the work of God, what he involved in since youth, obedience, perseverance, endurance and tolerance that gave him long life.
The 93 years old who is a Chieftain of the Progressive Congress APC in Ekiti State stated this while addressing Roundoffnews crew about the story of life.
According to the elderly citizen, If you don’t hate your neighbour, you are not a thief, fraudster, you will have rest of mind, nothing will panic you, hence your system will function well.
“I was almost 14years before I started going to school. My father was a farmer, we lived in the farm, being the only son of my father, they didn’t want to send me to school because they said they used to punish people”
“My father called me in 1945 and asked me if I would go, I was silent when he first asked me the question.
“He asked me again then I told him I would go, regardless of what they said about it”
“It was that year that I came from the farm, we were about three and we started here at St. Thomas Primary School, Irona, Ado-Ekiti.
“I was firstly put into Class 1C then to Class 1B in the following day which I spent 6 months there.
“Then, I was promoted to Class 1A. Naturally, Primary 1 was the highest Class in Irona here. So, they took those of us who were older to Ojudo Catholic School and took our exams with Class 2 and we passed it which we were promoted to Standard one.
“Normally, they spent three to four years before one could leave primary school but, I spent just one year.
Then, I started my standard one in St. Judges Catholic School in 1946 till I finished standard six in 1952, that was how I ended my educational career”
“In 1953, I became a Clerk as a Cocoa Produce Buyer. In 1954, I was transferred to Ijesa-Isu, as a Clerk again. By the end of same year, I said I wanted to learn trade in as much I had no chance to further in my education.”
“In 1955, I went to learn Carpentry. I learnt the job for 1 and the half years where some people learnt it for 3 to 4 years; all these happened because of my educational experience, I was able to outsmart the illiterates; in fact, I was the one teaching them the job.”
“Carpentry work is very educative, we learnt inches, yards, feet, and others, which I learnt from the school.”
“I went to Akure in 1957 where they gave me a Verandah to construct.”
When they gave me that work, I didn’t know how to do it, I was ashamed of myself. So, in 1959, I went to Lagos to further the profession, by that time, we have not got independence.”
“I worked with one Firm owned by Europeans, the English man who was our head always took me along in everything because I understand and can speak English language which enabled me to gain alot of experience in carpentry work. I spent 5 years there and returned to Ado-Ekiti.
Speaking on standard of education in Nigeria, PA Micheal Akinola said In those days, they used to teach thoroughly compared to what we have now.
” Some of us withdrawn voluntarily because of punishment. If you don’t know it, they would punish you but, I was determined not to withdraw.
All they were teaching us then were better English and if I begin to talk, some people won’t believe my educational standards.
“So, the education of that time is superior to the present one”
The first problem we have is indiscipline. As at that time, our Teacher used to teach us very well. I have about four graduates now, they used to beg me to write application for them because I have good handwriting and I can still write it up till now.”
So,there is no discipline and the teachers of those days paid more attention to their profession, not the ones we have now who only care about money.”
” During our time, there were teachers, whom they gave motorcycles but, there is no such thing now, that’s how everything become paralysed.”
While speaking on his experience, the Nonagenarian said the first day he was unhappy was the day he arrived from work in Lagos when he cooked and I slept off.
He said the food burnt beyond repair, saying when the burnt smell woke him up felt sad because he didn’t have wife.
He said he called house the following day, that he needed a wife.
“I was happy when I finally got my woman, a beautiful lady and I was further overwhelmed when I was called that my wife gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.”
“The day I was sad to the extreme was the day I lost one of my sons, it was as if a part of my body was dead.”
“For your information, I am still an active Politician under the platform of APC. I am a member of Ekiti Elders’ Forum.”
“I have been in Politics since 1966 up till now. I have held positions of high repute like Chairman, Alliance Democracy in Ado local government (ADA).”
“I have been a Chairman of different political parties before I became the Chairman of that party in Ado here.
I have held positions in many Political parties like SDP(Social Democratic Party), ACN(Action Congress of Nigeria), AG (Action Group), UPGA (United Progressive Grand Alliance)”
” UPGA was the first political party I took part in.”
“I was the first secretary in our Constituency as at then, we had the three Constituencies in Ado local government, 1,2,3 and I was in Constituency 3 under the chairmanship of Pa Iginla who was assassinated in 1983 during the Omoboriowo -Ajasin crisis.
“My advice for politicians is to be tolerant, they should love each other, there is no need of forcing someone on others because to avoid disaster. If we say we are democrats, we have to do it democratically.”
“I am very happy that I am alive today and I am still praying to God to spare my life but man can die anytime.
So, I am very happy that I am still alive.”