Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other dignitaries across the country will storm Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, on October 18 to celebrate a legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola.
Addressing a press conference at the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, the co-chairman of the planning committee, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, said the event organised by indigenes of Ado-Ekiti is part of the activities to honour the legal icon.
Senator Ojudu who is also the co-chairman of the event explained that the decision to honour Are Babalola was in view of his numerous contributions to the growth of Ado, adding that Oba Adejugbe had consulted relevant stakeholders before arriving at the decision.
Giving highlights of the celebration, Ojudu, a former lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said the purpose of the event is to celebrate the legal icons that have impacted the state and country in the areas of education, legal, health, and agriculture, among others.
According to him, the celebration of Afe Babalola Day which is the maiden edition, explained that the town will continue to celebrate and honour its Indigenes who are making headway in their various fields of endeavours.
His words, “Great people are honoured when they are dead, but Ado-Ekiti wants to establish a new standard of honouring our living heroes so that these will further encourage the living to do good in their community.
“Ever since Afe Babalola became an adult, he has put himself to the development of this town and state when even the state was under Ondo State.
“Not less than 20 lawyers who have served under his chamber have become Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), not less than four have become the attorneys general of this country.
“He is a very generous man; he’s willing to give, and that is why God has preserved him for us.” He added