By Sola Lebile
Abel Mofeyisayo Lebile, community leader, educationist, mediator, and the Gbogunro of Igbokoda land has clocked a towering age of ninety (25-07-2024) and amazingly entered into the nonagenarian club with a healthy status, which is a rarity to behold. Hallelujah to the Lord!
He has been a man of different psychological makeup: humble, simple, gentle, diplomatic yet hardworking and persistent. He inherited, imbibed, and religiously exhibited the ancient path of obedience,( I don’t mean, obedient movement o!), honesty, and fear of God. And from childhood to adulthood, we have seen Baba A.M. never departing from these virtues.
His father, High Chief Joel (Beremuja) Lebile of the Yasere dynasty Mahin Kingdom was a fisherman and canoe carver. Each time the father would go fishing or to the bush, young A.M Lebile would follow loyally. Little Abel accompanied the father the lay reader to ‘dress’ the church on Sundays. He then barely had time to play with friends. The practice went on for years and young Abel became so skillful that he could step into his father’s shoes to become a fisherman, canoe carver, and earn a decent living. But that never came up.
Abel just took his eyes off such vocations and grew up determined to do all he could to get educated and pursue a career in law or medicine. Reflecting on the parameters of getting into schools during his era, he stated: “I planned to go to school and became a doctor or a lawyer, but you could not go to school until your right hand out across your head and your fingers touch your ears at the other side”. What a funny yardstick?!.
There and then, he stepped into school, first at the United Native African School (UNA) at Igbokoda where he was born on July 25th, 1934. He later proceeded to Methodist Secondary School Okitipupa between 1948 and 1951 and from there he left for St. Luke’s Anglican School, Igboegunrin where he completed this Standard VI certificate in 1952. Upon graduation, he took up the teaching job like his peers.
For 32 years, he distinguished himself by working hard and joyfully taking additional responsibility in the church and his community. He served as a teacher in several schools and at different times. They include St. Peter’s U N.A Idapo Asisa( 1954-1955); St. Philip’s Ereke (1956-1958); St. John’s Motoro( 1961-1962); Others include, Christ Anglican School, Aboto( 1963-1964); Holy Trinity School Igbokoda ( 1965-1966);, St. Jude’s School Atijere (1979-1980); and St. Saviours Agerige(1981-1985); He moved through the rank and traverse the local government and eventually became a headteacher at the Baptist School Atijere between 1981 and 1985.
What he did in the ’70s down to the late 90s along with his peers (like the other Lebiles (too numerous to mention) the Omoribas, the Odidis, the Ilaras, the Ogungbamilas in terms of selfless service to develop Igbokoda community remained unquantifiable. It was an assemblage of pioneering and selfless leaders who put the community in constant peace and steady progress through the reign of Oba Philip Omoseebi Ilara who was first Baale/ Oloja and later the first Olu of Igbokoda. For all their contributions, Baba A.M and many others never receive medals.
Check the fact: He played a prominent role in the establishment of Igbokoda Grammar School. Then Ilaje High School was the only public Secondary School in the Town and it got overflowed with students, showing the need to establish a new school. Baba, then a PTA member at the State level took the project as his brainchild, running here and there to tighten the loose end. Eventually, the new School came on stream to the delight of all.
Remember! In 1968, he married the woman of his dreams, Mrs. Omorinola Adeline Lebile (nee Orunto the then Holo of Okunmo land). The marriage is blessed with many children and grandchildren. Meanwhile, hear what he said about the teaching profession. “Teaching is a very good job to people who know it and understand it. You involve your students or pupils in your lesson. They will love you and listen to you. But if the salary is not regular, it may lead to a divided interest in the work”
Several years after retirement, he has kept working to impact his community and the people around him. He is notable for being transparent, not materialistic, and a fantastic record keeper. He is contented never seen amassing material possessions and never envious of the prosperity of his fellow men. “They always want him to be treasurer because if you give brother A.M. money to keep, he would not touch a dime and you can be sure that he would return the money exactly as it was handed over, untouched, unruffled!” a relation narrated to me donkey years ago.
If you are looking for someone vast in the folklore and tradition of the Igbokoda community and the Ilaje people, Pa Abel fits into the picture, after all our people say, that kola nut gains relevance in the elders’ mouths…Pa. A.M.Lebile, heir apparel of Yasere of Mahin Land parades a cherished traditional title of “Gbogunro” of the Igbokoda community having the duty of performing a pre-installation event by putting on the’ Akoko leaf’ on those who want to be made chief or king. He has been a marathoner in this sacred duty.
As a community leader and lover of education, he took a practical step to establish an additional secondary school in his hometown. Papa has some advice for the young ones, hear him: “Young ones should listen to the advice of elders. They should not play away their early age looking for filons that will not bring progress.
What does he want to be remembered for? His response could capture anybody’s attention. “I want to be remembered for humility,” he enthused. This word grips my heart. You see, at his age, he is still the Head of the Lebile family (Olori-ebi). As he used to play long tennis ball and run long-distance races, BABA A.M Lebile may run his birthday race to the century mark and even beyond. Ninety long Cheers to Baba!
PS.
A church service to mark BABA A. M Lebile@ 90 will be held today Saturday (27-07-2024) at the Anglican Cathedral, Igbokoda- Ilaje Local Government area of Ondo State.
