We were supposed to attend a meeting together on the 8th of September and as customary between us, I called about 11am to confirm the pick up time and he said he had been in hospital since the previous night. That was the beginning of the end.
That was the beginning of the end of a relationship, personally for this writer, of about 37 years. That was how a man that was my brother, my mentor, my oga, all embodied together in one individual that I call an excellent personality, was snatched away by the cold hands of death.
The irony of it is that my views of him are shared by virtually all that ever came across him especially the thousands of people he mentored in the Aviary Club.
He was a key personality to the propagation of our Club which was basically formed to fight for social justice as an higher institution organisation then at University of Ibadan and as a matter of fact, our club, which he was one of the leaders, was the student club that protested via a demonstration, the killing of Gen Murtala Mohammed on Friday 13 February, 1976. He led the demonstration on the streets of Ibadan.
Several years after graduation, he went ahead to put a stop to the campus activities and transforming our boys’ club then into a global brand of professional multidisciplinary members, the Aviary Club, which consist of graduate members who imbibed the ideals of brotherhood, being brothers keeper and social justice.
That club today has become a worldwide club. With branches in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe.
Oloki was easy to look up to. An exemplary gentleman. A man of integrity. And a friend for all situations.
He dedicated his life to the things he believed in; his club, his friends, his family, his daughters and God who he served passionately in his last days as a Pastor. We celebrate you, Baba Oloki though you will be sorely missed. It was a privilege to have known you. Rest in perfect peace.
Bimbo Shittu
For Aviary Club of Nigeria
