Obasanjo, Ajimobi, Fayemi, others eulogise Afe Babalola
Eminent personalities from all walks of life on Tuesday poured encomiums on a legal icon and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, describing him as an epitome of excellence.
The personalities, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, traditional rulers and others, spoke at the 50th anniversary of Chief Babalola's law practice in Ibadan.
The occasion featured the formal inauguration of Emmanuel Chambers, the corporate headquarters of Afe Babalola's law firm and a lecture delivered by former Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola at the Bar Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
President Goodluck Jonathan was also represented at the ceremony by the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed Yola.
The President noted that the legal luminary had served the country well as a legal practitioner and had thus become a living legend through his contributions to national development, especially his contributions to the evolution of the rule of law.
“He (Babalola) has remained a pillar of support and inspiration to governance in Nigeria. He has left a legacy for posterity, especially through the instrumentality of education,'' he said.
Former President Obasanjo described Babalola as a legal icon who had also contributed immensely to the development of education in Nigeria.
Governor Ajimobi, in his own remarks, also lauded the contributions of Chief Babalola to the development of education and the legal profession.
“He stands for excellence, perfection, affection, hard work, tenacity and he is a leader and fisher of good men. Those whom you have produced as lawyers are now internationally-acclaimed legal practitioners,' he said.
Both Governors Fayemi and Mimiko also described Chief Babalola as a hardworking personality who had succeeded in virtually everything he laid his hands one, particularly law and education.
They lauded his sense of accommodation, philanthropy and commitment to the well-being of the less privileged through his God-given endowment and resources.