Dr. Femi Oyedemi
The ancient town of Abeokuta is central to the theme of this piece not only because the identical and scholarly Oyewoles are from the town but also because I served as a youth corper in Abeokuta Grammar School in late 1986 through the early part of 1987. Aside,the duo of Mustaphas have Abeokuta as their ancestral home. In addition, Abeokuta is also famous for producing some of the world’s best like the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, whose mother is Egba,two-time President of Nigeria, the wily and Owu-born Olusegun Obasanjo, Afro-beat maestro , legendary Abami-Eda, Fela Anikulapo, late frontline billionaire publisher and politician who paved way for the current Nigerian democratic governance,Chief M. K. O. Abiola, the Interim National Government leader controversial Earnest Shonekan and apala legendary performer Ayinla Omowura . Other several areas of excellence of Abeokuta as a town are legion. The town also produced the first indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Adetokunbo Ademola. All this is just by the way. The story of Dotun and Femi Oyewole as they relate to the life and time of the Mustaphas of Abese Compound,Isale Efii is the preoccupation of the write up.
Femi and Dotun Oyewole are not only identical physically but intellectually, emotionally, culturally and psychologically. They both read science and graduated the same day after their post graduate diploma in London. They were both celebrated academics and administrators having risen to the position of deputy Registrar in their various organizations. In short,the quantum of their academic contributions to physics and chemistry is legion particularly in the early days of secondary education in Nigeria.
In the same way,Taiwo and Kehinde Mustapha are popular and diligent individuals too. They had their jobs cut for them early in life and made fantastic use of the opportunity. They are both technocrats who made it to the pinnacle of their chosen career in the state and federal civil service . Their deep sense of community service reached its apogee when the two of them were decorated by Saki Parapo, the Saki town’s apex Socio-cultural non partisan behemoth a couple of years ago.
The Mustaphas are also noticeable in the National Association of Saki Elite ( NASE) where both of them occupy top positions. The one who is a Permanent Secretary (PS) in Ibadan is so well influential that he’s well connected and relate well communally.
Another highlight of this tribute is a town in Oyo State noted for producing world’s largest number of twins. Number of families with twins is so large in the town that one popular adage associated with the town has since changed. This is because the town has become globally famous for multiple births that every year,a day is set aside for twins celebration,Odun Ibeji. Some identical twins are noted for some other untoward instances. For example,one set drew the imagination of twins unity so far to the level of marrying the same woman. The Mustaphas are highly cultured and religiously dedicated that their family name, Mustapha is associated with great deeds. Noted for sartorial elegance, they are both savvy, technocratic, finicky, meticulous, eloquent and brilliant. They are so identical so it’s difficult to say who is a Facebook freak among the two. The Saki community and humanity at large is lucky to have been so blessed.
Happy birthday to the Mustaphas
Femi Oyedemi affectionately called YY Muslim hails from Saki, Oyo State.