I am gradually coming to terms with the fact that Poolu (officially Paul
Olatoye) has now physically separated from this earth, leaving his
physical body to be buried to enrich his Okemesi home and heath. As we
all await the family announcement of the funeral arrangements, I feel
urged to share a few recollections from my encounters with someone I
admirably describe as a "self-made" man.
Early beginnings I cannot remember exactly, when our
friendship started but we clearly started drifting towards each other in
our final year at St. Michael's Primary School, Okemesi. Indeed, it is
also difficult to for me to explain why we drifted towards each other
because, at that time, we appeared to have opposite tendencies: he was
tall, had a big frame but was relative quiet and studious. I, on the
other hand was very tiny but with a big mouth and always
getting into fighting frays with those who, at the time, thought they
could oppress us (myself and my co-collaborator, Debisi Adeoye) with
their height and big frame....he was not one of them.
Even
at such a tender age, Poolu had this egalitarian outlook and the desire
to seek succour for the poor. At that time, it was usual to celebrate
the Harvest ("Ikore") as a big feast in most of the homes of the
Christians in Okemesi, particularly the St Michael Anglican Community.
Each child, after the Church, will usually go back home, after the
Church for a big feast. As a Rice producing community, it was one of
those occasions when we feasted on Rice, which was a delicacy, primarily
reserved for Christmas. In our final year, Poolu, initiated a "pooling"
idea which worked wonders and, as I understand later, was adopted by
many Sets after us. His idea was that some of our classmates were unable
to afford the feast after the Church and therefore suggested
that we should team up to enable everyone to partake of the
festivities. His idea was that we moved from one family to the other and
eat whatever was placed before us. We started the eating feast from his
house in Odo Ese, moving therefrom to the homes of our Classmates in
the adjacent streets of Odowo and Itio....in any case by the time we
were approaching Odobi, my home and Debisi's, we were all so full that
we had to share the food with other children in the neighbourhood. Thus,
without raising any special fund nor making any extra efforts by our
families, we all had full load of satisfaction and shared!
Academic
competition tend to draw people apart in our days but that's not the
case with Poolu. We used to have weekly Tests and the results were
usually announced at the weekly assemblies on Fridays. Johnson Omilabu
came to join us as a final year student when his (Johnson) brother was
posted to teach in Okemesi. There was therefore a keen
competition for the first, second and third position in our class among
Poolu, Johnson and myself. My recollection was that Poolu, led the
class more often than the two of us but till he passed away, he never
accepted this and on the contrary, he claimed it was me that led the
class more often. Any time this argument started and I wanted to call
anyone of our classmates, this self-effacing man will dodge.....Now your
going ahead of me has confirmed I was right all along!
The "Self-made Man" Some
of us moved straight from the Primary School (St Michael's) to the
Secondary School and thereon to the University. The path that Paul had
to take was long and tortuous. He could not immediately enter a
secondary school, not because he was not a good student. Indeed, as I
have mentioned before now, he was simply one of the best in our class.
Fate and circumstances made it difficult for Poolu to join us in the
secondary school and in the University in
Nigeria. He took his circumstances and fate calmly and admirably, not
grudging nor envious of anyone unlike some of our other classmates. He
related to everyone like in the past and possibly drew strength, courage
and determination to overcome the temporary barrier that blocked his
ways.....and that is where the story started. Paul disappeared for some
years and, at a time, when telecommunication was a rarity, many of us
lost touch with him, only for us to understand that Poolu had moved over
to the United States of America. The full details of his journey to the
USA is a story for another day but suffice it to say that he left
Nigeria with a camera, got himself to Ivory Coast, with no papers nor
relations and no knowledge of French. He picked up the French language
on the street, got conversant with it, found his way to France and
thereon to the USA, again with no relations nor friends to meet. Paul
undauntedly adjusted himself to the harsh realities
of living in America and worked assiduously until he obtained a Masters
Degree in Engineering!
Community Engagements I
guess Poolu decided that he would spare as many people as he could
possibly assist, the ordeal that he went through. He therefore set out
early to ease the way for a number of his siblings and later some
friends and relations to join him in the USA. I am sure his nature and
his experience brought that strong determination to help the poor and
oppressed and I am not therefore surprised that he had a pervasive
influence on the setting up of the Olatoye Family Foundation which has,
within, a few years of its existence awarded scholarships for students
and funded other worthy causes, the most recent and ongoing project
being Street naming in Okemesi.
Political Engagement I
am sure a number of Paul's political associates will have a lot to say
here. I must, however, confess, that this remained a point where we
differed
till he died. As we were growing, making friends and taking different
paths, each person, at a time, would come to adopt patterns and
attributes which tend to become and habit and make one person to be
different from the other. Unknown to me, Paul had always been active in
partisan politics which does not sit quite well with me. Therefore, when
he suddenly called one day, when he arrived from the USA, requesting me
to come over to Okemesi as he wanted to participate in politics, he was
pained, when I turned him down. He and a number of our mutual friends
in Okemesi accuse me and a group of us in our Club of living in utopia
and allowing a number of unworthy candidates to take the lead in the
political life of Okemesi as we did not wish to be involved in partisan
politics. In retrospect, he may be right after all!
Conclusion Poolu,
Poolu, Poolu, the earthly school has closed and ended for you. No
longer the nagging worries and physical pain.
You now have the vast Kingdom of your Creator to engage yourself.
Please make sure that you continue to devote yourself to upbuilding and
ennobling engagements, which is part of your spirit. Bring this to full
blossom and soar aloft, my mate and friend! Buki Oluwadiya
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Comment by fatobas on 2014-04-09 19:49:58 I met Paul Olatoye in 1984 less than one year in USA, I found myself in the valley of death, seriously sick. Here he was in the waiting room at the hospital where I was being operated for hours with the mother of my first daughter. He called off from his work to make sure things were ok. Last time! I saw him was about 2weeks ago, hale and hearty talking to his daughter, son in-law and his grand children, shockingly that was the last time! April 2013, when I came to Nigeria for my sister's burial, he was always checking on me until I boarded the plane. Adieu a great man who cared about peoples' welfare. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Ilesanmi Adu-Fatoba Columbus, OH |
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