“Cowards die many times before their death, Valiant never taste death but once…” William Shakespeare
“The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good ” – James Allen
I met a man of deep influence, nobility in birth and character the very day I met Barrister Kunle Ishola. The day was like yesterday in 1991 when I was a key factor of Students Unionism at St. Andrews College of Education, Oyo.He came to request for our support for his father’s aspirations as Governor of Oyo State. He gave me a background information of who his father was, Surveyor Kolapo Olawuyi Ishola whom I immediately recollected often handled survey plans for my late father, Alhaji Kareem Olayiwola Bello (May Allah grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus)
I later got to know through one of my elder brothers that Barr. Kunle ISHOLA was an alumni of Lagelu Grammar School, Agugu, Ibadan as my brother met him in school. However, I did not meet this my brother in school. This resulted in my calling him Senior Senior Lageliites or Old Senior.
Buoda Kunle Ishola as I fondly call him possessed attributes of an Ibadan indigene as he preached love, exhibited integrity, gave maximum respect to senior and his transparency in any financial or business transaction is infallible. He imbibed the Omoluabi ethos in all his endeavors.
We transacted on quite a number of times on sales of land which lawyers regarded as devoid of any impediments, encumbrances, hitches and/or hindrances whatsoever.
I have also been a beneficiary of his kind disposition when he served as Commissioner for Land under Chief Alao Akala’s regime when he allotted a plot of land to me at Kolapo Ishola GRA, Bashorun, Ibadan which I sold 3 months after and yielded me a sum of 900,000 naira. The sum facilitated the rapid completion of the house I presently reside. (I praise God as many will be wondering why I sold it then)
Buoda Kunle was well respected as a legal practitioner on land matters, local government affairs, company matters and little on Divorce Cases (maybe because of his faith) e.t.c.
It is a known fact or would I say the court has taken judicial notice of his promptness to court as he will be in court by 8am when the court sits at 9am, getting ready, battle ready, full of vigour, strength and studious. He had also improved my promptness to court early in time.
Barr. Kunle Ishola was brilliant, intelligent, reserved, cool and highly respected among his learned ilks, seniors and juniors.
He came to request for our support for his father’s aspirations as Governor of Oyo State. He gave me a background information of who his father was, Surveyor Kolapo Olawuyi Ishola whom I immediately recollected often handled survey plans for my late father, Alhaji Kareem Olayiwola Bello (May Allah grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus).
I later got to know through one of my elder brothers that Barr. Kunle ISHOLA was an alumni of Lagelu Grammar School, Agugu, Ibadan as my brother met him in school. However, I did not meet this my brother in school. This resulted in my calling him Senior Senior Lageliites or Old Senior.
Buoda Kunle Ishola as I fondly call him possessed attributes of an Ibadan indigene as he preached love, exhibited integrity, gave maximum respect to senior and his transparency in any financial or business transaction is infallible. He imbibed the Omoluabi ethos in all his endeavors.
We transacted on quite a number of times on sales of land which lawyers regarded as devoid of any impediments, encumbrances, hitches and/or hindrances whatsoever.
I have also been a beneficiary of his kind disposition when he served as Commissioner for Land under Chief Alao Akala’s regime when he allotted a plot of land to me at Kolapo Ishola GRA, Bashorun, Ibadan which I sold 3 months after and yielded me a sum of 900,000 naira. The sum facilitated the rapid completion of the house I presently reside. (I praise God as many will be wondering why I sold it then).
Buoda Kunle was well respected as a legal practitioner on land matters, local government affairs, company matters and little on Divorce Cases (maybe because of his faith) e.t.c.
It is a known fact or would I say the court has taken judicial notice of his promptness to court as he will be in court by 8am when the court sits at 9am, getting ready, battle ready, full of vigour, strength and studious. He had also improved my promptness to court early in time.
Barr. Kunle Ishola was brilliant, intelligent, reserved, cool and highly respected among his learned ilks, seniors and juniors.
I remember with pride that cases against him were carefully selected, given and transferred to the meticulous senior when I was a pupilage lawyer in the chambers of Pastor R.A OGUNWOLE SAN.Baba R. A. Ogunwole SAN will tell those in chambers during my tutelage years ‘Omo Kunle Ishola Esq. or Kunle Faokunla Esq. yen ko se foju di o, bi eniyan ko ba mura daadaa, awon junior yen yoo layan mole patapata ni” meaning – “Either Kunle Ishola Esq.or Kunle Faokunla Esq. can never be underated when they handled cases, if care is not taken, they will defeat you by all professional proficiency”.
Bar. Kunle Ishola had also been to my rescue quite a number of times too. I recall of recent his help when I wanted to pay a sum of 60m Naira to an impersonator over a plot of land at Bolajoko Estate, Bashorun, Ibadan. If not for God, his involvement and guidance, only Satan will know what would have cost my esteemed image.
Baba R. A. Ogunwole SAN will tell those in chambers during my tutelage years ‘Omo Kunle Ishola Esq. or Kunle Faokunla Esq. yen ko se foju di o, bi eniyan ko ba mura daadaa, awon junior yen yoo layan mole patapata ni” meaning – “Either Kunle Ishola Esq.or Kunle Faokunla Esq. can never be underated when they handled cases, if care is not taken, they will defeat you by all professional proficiency”.
Bar. Kunle Ishola had also been to my rescue quite a number of times too. I recall of recent his help when I wanted to pay a sum of 60m Naira to an impersonator over a plot of land at Bolajoko Estate, Bashorun, Ibadan. If not for God, his involvement and guidance, only Satan will know what would have cost my esteemed image.My belief and closeness to him also facilitated the sale of a plot of land to one of my clients from his father’s estate at Ogungbade Area, Off New Ife Road, Ibadan from which my professional fee is paid to the fullest. One will wonder that I never do search at the land ministry, investigate either open or in secret any of my transactions with Buoda Kunle particularly when he directs to pay to his account. I will just leave him, sleep and later wake up to collect all necessary documents evidencing the transactions. He was thorough and by all standards, diligent and decent.
I remember how he once scolded me for not extending him an invite to my wife’s 50th birthday celebration. Yet, he sent his prayers and good wishes with a packed 500 crisp Naira notes for the celebrant.
Permit me to say that even in death, he had inspired me and his acts, sayings and deeds will continue to inspire many of us to be kind and compassionate to others around.
His impact in the lives of many of his relatives, friends and colleagues is always there to reflect.
My thoughts and prayers are with his immediate family, colleagues and brethren he left behind.
My belief and closeness to him also facilitated the sale of a plot of land to one of my clients from his father’s estate at Ogungbade Area, Off New Ife Road, Ibadan from which my professional fee is paid to the fullest. One will wonder that I never do search at the land ministry, investigate either open or in secret any of my transactions with Buoda Kunle particularly when he directs to pay to his account. I will just leave him, sleep and later wake up to collect all necessary documents evidencing the transactions. He was thorough and by all standards, diligent and decent.
I remember how he once scolded me for not extending him an invite to my wife’s 50th birthday celebration. Yet, he sent his prayers and good wishes with a packed 500 crisp Naira notes for the celebrant.
Permit me to say that even in death, he had inspired me and his acts, sayings and deeds will continue to inspire many of us to be kind and compassionate to others around.
His impact in the lives of many of his relatives, friends and colleagues is always there to reflect.
My thoughts and prayers are with his immediate family, colleagues and brethren he left behind.I pray that they find succour, comfort and strength IJMN over this phase of life .
Good bye, my Dear Senior by all standards, my pride in Legal Practice, one of the proud sons of Ibadan land, a very consistent, humble, amiable, gentle, easily going and accomplished philanthropist. Adieu, my political gist partner.
I pray Almighty God to repose his soul and grant him eternal rest, Aaamin
I pray that they find succour, comfort and strength IJMN over this phase of life.
Good bye, my Dear Senior by all standards, my pride in Legal Practice, one of the proud sons of Ibadan land, a very consistent, humble, amiable, gentle, easily going and accomplished philanthropist. Adieu, my political gist partner.
I pray Almighty God to repose his soul and grant him eternal rest, Aaamin
