CELEBRATING ‘CHIEF ADEYEMI KOTOYE’ AT 90; A TRIBUTE FROM A SAN.

It is quite challenging to write about someone you first knew as “Baba Moyo” before knowing him as your father. Someone whose impeccable reputation preceded him and who, for his entire life, had lived up to that reputation.

Gentle. Amiable. Kind. Loving. Brilliant. Intelligent. Diligent. Handsome. Disciplined. Neat and extremely fashionable. He had them in abundance.

However, like Mark Anthony, I have to extol one of the hidden qualities and strengths of the celebrant. That is his culinary skills. The celebrant is a wonderful chef. At times and till now, he still finds it easy and convenient to navigate his way in the kitchen, notwithstanding his age.

I often narrate the story that until the year 1993, I was solely in charge of cooking in the house, especially during Christmas. All thanks to the celebrant. Whilst other families dwell on Christmas chicken, we always feast on duck or obuko (he goat) and pounded yam. All courtesy of the celebrant. The late wife will, of course, be on sabbatical.

Between 1983 and 1985, upon the relocation of Mama to Abeokuta, the celebrant and I lived alone. That was the period of my cooking pupilage. The recipes and varieties of dishes are too numerous to recount here.

I narrated this experience to my wife at the early stage of our marriage, the day one of her sisters saw me in the kitchen making amala. I told her that in my house, everybody could cook, either you’re a boy or a girl.

As a matter of fact, growing up, our daily routine was wake up, household chores, cooking breakfast, reading, cooking lunch, reading, cooking dinner, reading, and sleeping at night. Nothing else. No TV.

The celebrant must not come home and find you idle or loitering. It can’t even happen when the OC discipline, Iya Moyo, is at home. It’s either you’re cooking, or you’re reading, or you’re in your room sleeping.

The celebrant’s love for education is unparalleled. In my opinion, it’s on the same pedestal as his love for good clothes and fashion. That is one area none of us has been able to match him. He will push you to strive and attain even a level that he could not reach. He never believed in the word impossibility. He will tell you difficult, yes, but not impossible.

It’s a wonderful experience being your son, though with its attendant challenges. You have taught me a great lesson of how to be calm even during the most turbulent situation. Your composure even when provoked is extraordinary. Your resilience and capacity for forbearance in the most difficult situation is legendary.

Ogoluwà, N.A.B, Fope, Ehis, and I are grateful to God for being some of the arrows from your quiver. Thank you for all the advice and strength of character, which you have made abundantly available to us. Most especially, thank you for the good name, which you have given us as a legacy.

Happy birthday, Grandpa, and here is to many more years of good health.

Adeyinka Moyosore Kotoye, SAN, MCIArb, FCTI, Ph.D (Honoris Causa).