‘‘Chief Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), OFR, SAN, LL.D and his wife, Princess Omolara Olanipekun would be respectively conferred with the prestigious chieftaincy titles of Asiwaju and Erelu of Ikereland by His Royal Majesty, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, Agirilala Ogbenuotesoro II, the Ogoga of Ikere Kingdom on Saturday, 22nd October, 2016.’’ That was the content of the message I received a few days ago.

I must say I received the message with great excitement and also in agreement with the fact that these unique titles for both wife and husband are well merited. Seeing Princess Omolara Olanipekun with our irrepressible legal luminary all these fruitful  years teaches us alot about how to place high premium  on family values, mutual affection and understanding as well as what love truly means.

Impressively, the Princess has proven to be not just a good wife, but a solid pillar of support for her husband on all fronts. Her quietness, humility and unassuming nature are qualities that have endeared her to so many people. The world is proud of this amazon for her enviable and commendable dispositions.

However, tracing back my relationship with Chief Olanipekun I will say I enjoyed every moment I spent wiith him. But I will never forget so quickly when he once told me I should not go into politics, with the anxiety that I may be killed. He was particularly uncomfortable with my style in politics. He opined that it was alien to our politics in Nigeria and that I was better off being a lawyer. In spite of this insightful advise, because of his benevolence and magnanimity, he still contributed financially to my campaign for a Senatorial seat and when I was subsequently faced with life-threatening challenges in the course of those campaigns, his words proved prophetic.

He is passionate about Nigeria, he has never relented in supplying voice and vision for the genuine emancipation of the downtrodden. Chief shows great concern by calls to his friends to discuss every issue that plagues Nigeria.

Bestriding the landscape of the Legal world in Nigeria and Africa like a colossus, we once had Timi the Law,  we had GOK Ajayi, Chief Kehinde Sofola, Clement Akpamgbo, Phillip Umeadi, all of blessed memory. We also had  Chief Afe Babalola who seems to have now taken a new bride in his University our brilliant Chief Richard Akinjide who also seems to have hung his gown. Today, we have OLUWOLE OLANIPEKUN, SAN who by his antecedents and even present engagements and performances in the legal world has earned the indisputable title of The Asiwaju of the Nigerian Bar.

Scarcely is a prophet honored among his own people. Today, Olanipekun has beaten that limitation as he is being conferred with the title of Asiwaju of his own home city, Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

The legendary Chief Olanipekun is a man of many parts. He is a success story in everything attributed to him. He has remained upright, principled, and philosophical about man’s existence especially the underdogs  whom he has strive to lift up through his philanthropic gestures.

Chief Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun’s antecedents on the path of the struggle to uplift our moral standards, the crusade against the exploitation of the poor/oppressed by the rich or the elites in Nigeria and above all, his consistent opposition dogged stance on national/topical issues against government and his colleagues are phenomenal.

The indelible marks of his giant strides on the sands of time will forever remain in our memories both in Bench and Bar. If there is one man who has been crossing the nation to ensure that the records of our electoral process are straightened, it is this man, he is thorough and cerebral.

I have the privilege and utmost pleasure to congratulate Chief Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), OFR, SAN, LL.D and his wife, Princess Omolara Olanipekun just as His Royal Majesty, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, Agirilala Ogbenuotesoro II recognized their impacts and contributions to nation building by pronouncing them Asiwaju and Erelu of Ikereland.

Oye a mori o.

Signed
Dr. Olukayode Ajulo,
Castle of Law, Nigeria.