Brother Lawale was certainly family but the nature of the relationship I cannot cannot be bothered to define at this point. Why so soon?
Brother Lawale, you joined the Ibugbe Alafia elites as a young boy. I was a little boy in primary school while you and Brother Goke attended Lisabi Grammar School. You owned a Raleigh bicycle that you rode to school then to the envy of your school mates.
He were scholarly and a keen athlete and that made you very popular at Lisabi during the Principalship of Rev. Lapese Ladipo (Laplad) of blessed memory. You were known famously as "The Miler" because of your performances on the athletic tracks in the Miles. We now call it 1,500 Metres. You ran the Mile like a gazelle.
You were very likeable and looked after me as my big brother among a few others your set at Babarinsa Street.
I particularly remember Brother Lawale been one of the lucky winners of a tenancy at the brand new FESTAC Village apartments. I went visiting with my Dad (Chief I. O. Babarinsa) your guardian and true to your natural self, you welcomed and entertained us and we had a great time with your young family.
I cannot forget the experiences of walking with you all the way through the bushes to Ototo village for the Annual Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Service. That was like an annual pilgrimage which was a whole weekend affair. I so much enjoyed those days of catching fish with Gamalin 20 from the river (thank God we survived the self poisoning) and hunting the bushes of Ototo for "Okete" before settling down to dancing away the night with the annual masquerade festival LOGOLO. It was all fun as we used to sing "Logolo o laso meji, afaso ogede, afaso pangolo"...
As life does its things, we lost touch for a long will. You were building a successful career/business and while I left the shores of Nigeria for the United Kingdom.
Our next meeting was in 2005 when I came home for IO's funeral and it was a happy experience seeing Brother Lawale who was not to be found wanting in supporting the family.
I maintained contact with you since then and I remember cherish the thoughts of you opening your Hotel doors up for us when I came home for mum's funeral.
I was looking forward to seeing you again whenever I visit Nigeria again but that was not to be.
Zacheus Olawale omo Ogundimu, you set himself apart when I think of my egbons from different parents that passed through the Peace Haven. I really will miss you my darling egbon but my prayer is for your soul to receive solace at the blossom of the Most High.
Didun ni iranti Olododo! Rest in perfect peace bro.
David Tolulope Babarinsa