Late Chief Samson Oyun Ogunbiyi (The Aro Of Odo-Eku)

Late Chief Samson Oyun Ogunbiyi (The Aro Of Odo-Eku)

• Overview

Late Chief Samson Oyun Ogunbiyi was born in 1904 into the royal family of Late Baale Momodu Ogunbiyi and Late Madam Bilikisu Ogunbiyi of Oke-Olola Compound, Odo-Eku, Isin LGA of Kwara State. His father, Baale Momodu Ogunbiyi was a direct descendant of Ogunlade Alapa, the great hunter and founder of Odo-Eku Kingdom, who originated from Ile-Ife, via Olla town, in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Papa Samson Ogunbiyi had a very humble beginning in a polygamous but closely-knit family setting. While living with one of his maternal uncles, Alhaji Mustapha of Ile Sawo, Oro, in 1927, young Samson ran to Lagos in search of knowledge. Chief S. O. Ogunbiyi was a product of self-development and strong determination. He enrolled for private lessons in Lagos from 1928-1936 after which he sat and passed the Junior Cambridge Examination in 1937 with flying colours. He was thereafter employed by the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) in 1937 and in January 1955, through a dint of hardwork and devotion to service, he was awarded a Scholarship by the NRC to proceed to the United Kingdom (UK) for further studies in his chosen field.

He attended the BENNET College, Sheffield, UK, where he bagged a Diploma and the E.H.I. Institute, London, where he received a Certificate of Proficiency after the final examination from both institutions. While in the employ of NRC, he worked at Kano, Kaduna, Kafanchan and finally in Lagos. His efficiency and character, which were exemplary were rewarded with promotions to the “Senior Service” grade from where he retired meritoriously from the Corporation in December 1971.

In December 1942, Chief Samson Ogunbiyi got married to his heartthrob, Late Madam Ajike Ogunbiyi, from the royal Ile Nla compound of Iwo, Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State. They lived a happy and fulfilled Christian life together for sixty-one [61] years, before Mama went to be with the Lord in November 2003. Their union was blessed with three children, Remi, Shina and Tayo, after a period of waiting on the Lord.

Late Papa Ogunbiyi valued education and he denied himself the pleasures of life to ensure that his children attended the best missionary schools in Lagos and the best Universities in Nigeria. He also encouraged them to attain the highest levels in the ladder of success in their various professional callings and career. Dr. (Mrs) Oluremi Adeyemi, Ph.D, resident in UK, is a successful clinical Pharmacist who retired from BOOTS (UK) Ltd, Maj Gen (Prof) Shina Ogunbiyi, mni, retired as the Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Medical Corps and now a Professor of Anaesthesia, while Mrs. Tayo Buraimoh, retired as Principal of a Government Secondary School in Ilorin.

Late Chief S. O. Ogunbiyi was a devout, committed and born-again Christian. He was tutored by the missionaries of the then Sudan Interior Mission (S.I.M), later ECWA Church. He introduced Christianity to Odo-Eku in 1924 and with other five of his cousins and friends, including Chief P. B. Olatunde, Alagba John Binuyo Ogunniyi, started Christian services right in the Baale’s Palace, Oke-Olola Compound, where his parents and other siblings were Muslims.

Late Chief Samson Ogunbiyi was a Nationalist and was a member of the defunct Egbe Omo Oduduwa. He was a pioneer activist and patriot of Isin land. This man of courage single-handedly petitioned the then British Colonial Resident in Ilorin, for the removal of the Ajia (Ilorin/Fulani rulers) who were then oppressing the Isin people, from Oke-Onigbin. This singular initiative was acclaimed to have spelt freedom to Isin land from the Ilorin/Fulani political burden.

At another occasion, when Odo-Eku Christians were fraudulently accused of felling commercial trees that was forbidden and a huge sum of money was extorted from the Christians, this ardent, intelligent activist single-handedly petitioned the Colonial head of Government at Ilorin for redress. This resulted in the dishonest forest guards being reprimanded and the extorted sum was refunded. He was part of the Odo-Eku high-powered delegation to the then Kwara State Governor that facilitated the upgrading of the town’s rulership to a graded “Oba” in Isin land, titled Eleku of Odo-Eku, as His Royal Majesty is known till date.

When he was alive, his awards included, but not limited to:
a.  Best candidate in Painting and Design, E.H.I. Institute, London (1956)
b.  Merit Award for selfless service by the Odo-Eku Community.                           (December 2002)
c.  Merit Award by the Isin Community.

d.  He received a Post-humous award and special recognition in a book, “A Compendium of Igbomina People” by the “Omo Ibile Igbomina” Organisation. (July 2024)

Chief Samson Oyun Ogunbiyi lived a life well-spent in service to man and his creator. He was the patriarch of the very large and extended Royal Ogunbiyi family of Odo-Eku, Isin Local Government Area, Kwara State till he answered the Almighty’s call to eternal glory, peacefully on 1stJune, 2007, aged 103 years. He was one time the Aaro, a High Chief, of Odo-Eku Kingdom while alive.