By Wahab Shittu
A terse text message from eminent silk, Rafiu Lawal Rabana SAN, "We lost one of our SANs from Offa, Prof. Rasheed Ijaodola SAN today," jolted me into consciousness immediately l woke up this morning. I felt and still feel devastated and shocked beyond belief.
Here was a man who bestrode our legal landscape like a colossus that he was, and impacted our jurisprudence beyond the contributions of many of his peers.
On a personal level, he influenced my career and always encouraged me to excel. First, as National President of Offa Students Union (OSU), he was a role model who posted phenomenal achievements. He raised the bar of students unionism in Offa so much that many took notice. His activities encouraged me to also aspire to Offa Students' Union presidency. His record as "A Level" student at Kwara Tech, Ilorin, was stellar. He was the first to offer "4 A level courses" at the college with outstanding results. Encouraged by his feat, l also attempted four A level papers. He graduated from the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, again my Alma mater.
The departed was a man of high excellence with uncommon passion for education and dissemination of ideas. Many Offa indigenes benefitted from the Summer School programme of his administration as OSU president. A one-man riot squad, the departed raised his voice against injustice and oppression. His famed public statements and releases as OSU National President in Offa raised the populace's temperature and popular consciousness. He was not afraid to take on powerful vested interests and was a lion to elements he perceived as oppressors. Vintage Rasheed Ijaodola was everywhere in his student days, and as a lawyer, he was bold and fearless. He was a courageous man.
Prof. Rasheed Ijaodola SAN mentored many students as Lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin. Many lawyers who passed through his tutelage will always extol his virtues to high heavens. Many offered testimonials of his rating as "The best lecturer in the Faculty." The departed indeed touched lives and impacted scores of generations of students.
When he felt his efforts were not successfully recognised at the University of ilorin, he moved his services to Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo state. He transformed the Faculty of Law in the university, and held sway as the Dean of the Faculty of Law for about 14 years. He was an individual institutional figure at the university, and his record of achievements at the university was unprecedented and stellar.
A man of high excellence, the departed took about four PhD degrees, including PhD in Christian Studies, even if he remained a moslem until death. He was promoted to the professorial cadre and subsequently elevated as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
A great family man, the departed raised highly successful children. About three of his children graduated with First Class honours degree at the university and the Law School. One of them Dr. Lawal Ijaodola holds a PhD degree in Law, after posting First Class honours both at the university and the Law School. Dr. Lawal Ijaodola currently practices at the G. O. Elias UK Office where he has been posting remarkable achievements as an Attorney of high distinction. In one of my last discussions with the departed, Prof. Ijaodola SAN extolled the virtues of his son, Dr. Lawal Ijaodola. He informed me of how his son wrote off his medical bills, and like all of his other children, took special care of him. Dr. Lawal Ijaodola is a model son and his father was very proud of him.
Prof. Ijaodola was an extraordinary scholar, mentor and a great motivator.
Popularly known as "Osiapabiekun", the departed was very proud of his Offa roots and Ajase-ipo ancestry. He prided himself as a Warrior. Indeed, the departed was a warrior-lawyer in and out of the courtroom.
The departed was a kindhearted and generous man.
I recall his last conversation with me. He told me he refused to belong to any cult group. He reminded me that the current Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and former Education Minister, Prof. Mamman Tahir were some of his classmates. He wanted us to continue to support the activities of Offa Students Union.
He also revealed some of his plans. He planned to set up a sprawling law chambers in Offa, and may have started the construction of the project. He wanted building approvals for the project facilitated, and at his request, l introduced one Engineer Muideen from Offa to him to actualize the dream. He told me the said Engineer Muideen will enjoy him if he remains honest and trustworthy. Such was his love for core values.
The departed always spoke his mind and never grudges against anyone.
It is shocking that we lost such a huge brain, a remarkable scholar and a moving jurisprudence. The departed was an encyclopedia of knowledge.
His death this morning is a huge personal loss to me. He encouraged me to take a PhD degree. At a time, he invited me as Guest Speaker to the Final Year graduating students of the Igbinedion University, Okada. It was my first visit to the ancient Okada town. He shared his intimate secrets with me. He showed me love and affection. He influenced my academic and professional career like that of many across ethnicities and throughout Nigeria.
He was a giant.
He was a philosopher-king.
He was a warrior.
He was a good man.
He was controversial because he was a Great man.
In the words of a famed American psychologist, "History does not record the achievements of any great man of vision and dynamism without some comments of controversy." The American psychologist had the late Prof. Rasheed Jimoh Lawal Ijaodola SAN in mind when he wrote those immortal words.
And so with his death this morning, l have lost a great brother, an excellent motivator, a giant of Jurisprudence and a real human being.
May Almighty Allah bless and reward his soul with Aljannah firdaus, Ameen.
Adieu, my philosopher-king.
* Dr. Wahab Shittu SAN is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos
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