November 3 2008

READERS’ PAVILION

IRREDENTISM
The Editor,
You are a brilliant young man and you will not suffer calamity or slip on banana peels. But I have a grudge against you and if I don't tell you, I'll be failing in my duty.
In a gathering where the likes of Chief Bamidele Aiku SAN and I were, you described us as 'irredentist.' My prayer is that one day you will become an elder and excel even beyond our marks.
It is not right however for a youngster to pour abuses or insults on elders on the pages of newspapers.
Chief Wole Olanipekun S.A.N
Editor's Note:- In its semantic habitat an din usage, 'irredentist' is not a term of abuse and I have not used it to abuse you or your group. I used the term to describe and classify the colour, thrust and theme of your group's brand of bar-politics in the last seven years.

G.O.K
The Editor,
In your last edition, you reported Tunji Ayanlaja SAN as saying at a dinner, that his mentor was Chief G.O.K Ajayi SAN who in 1972 gave him £25 to celebrate his call to the bar. I can tell you that the Chief has not changed in that regard. One of my friends who did her chambers attachment in his office said when the programme ended, G.O.K gave them each N50, 000:00 and flight ticket back to Abuja.
My friend said she was completely stunned by the kind gesture of the Chief and it took her a while to realise that the gifts were for real. She said she sold her flight ticket and went to Abuja via “night bus.” What a nice man the Chief is.
Editor's Note: - Are you telling me?