Between his moustache and his hair, I never knew which he paid more attention to in those days.
However, his well-cultivated moustache made me admire him from a distance.In fact, the first day I saw him at his Festac residence, my gaze was fixed on his moustache as he entered the living room just some minutes after 6 O’clock in the evening.
Unfortunately for me, while I fixed my gaze on his moustache, his stern look of astonishment at the sight of a total stranger in his living room poured cold water on my admiration for his moustache.
“Good evening, sir”, I said in a panicky tone.
“Good evening, how are you?” he responded. This was sometime between February and March, 1984, some 42 years ago.
While, the conception of the story of my relationship with Uncle Bayo started from 2nd Avenue, 22Road, F Close, Block 2, Flat 12, the story developed into one of brotherly love at his residence of 41 Road, F Close, Block 3, Flat 3.
It started with one Uncle Kenny Shoye, who used to live and hangout with his friends at the 22Road residence of the Kayode’s (Foluso, Jimmy and Bukky).
I was preparing for my WAEC examination (May/June, 1984) but I was not convinced enough that my English Language preparations were in order, so, to Uncle Kenny I went.
He linked me with another Uncle Remi. Now, I can not remember if Uncle Remi lived in the same apartment of the Surakats, but he brushed me up in the preparations for the English Language Exam. My first script scored 11/40; the second was 15/40; while the third was 17/40. After that Uncle Remi said because he had applied the strict marking scheme of WAEC to my script, and I could score 17/40, he was certain I would pass. And I did with an A2 in English Language. In those days, an A2 in the English Language was rare.
What Inspired the title of this birthday tribute would become manifest soon.
In that apartment – just a two-bedroom flat – apart from Uncle Bayo and his irrepressible wife whom we all called Mama Deji, and the kids, the following uncles were also being harboured and catered for: There were two Gbengas (one was tall, while the other was sturky); then we had Bayo, aka Ateme (whatever it meant; it was much later that I got to know that Uncle Ateme’s real name is Adebayo Adejuwon; he’s now resident in Canada); Toyin (also know as Tunde) and Kenny.
Not that they lived there permanently, but for the about three months I was preparing for my WAEC Exams, they were mostly there and each person contributed to preparing me for the exam.
It would take a man with a large heart and an understanding wife to live in that apartment with all the big uncles. That speaks to Uncle Surakat’s accommodating nature.
Back to my first meeting with him.
After arriving in his Volkswagen Beetle 1300 model and greeting me that evening, he went straight to his bedroom which was directly in the opposite direction of the entrance door.
He wore a frown when he went in. But by the time he came out minutes later, he had become much friendlier, asking about my parents and encouraging me to focus on my education.
Whatever happened when he went Inside to meet Mama Deji, I do not know.
But Mama Deji accepted me once she saw me the first day as if I was her brother.
Since this is about the celebration of Uncle’s 70th birthday, some revelations can be made.
I’ve always heard some of those uncles saying “Broda Bayo ati Mama Deji o ni se ra won le se” (Hope Uncle Bayo and Mama Deji will not injure each other).
I did not understand what it meant until much later. Those gossipy uncles are alive and they know themselves.
But as for Uncle Bayo and his inspiration to the younger ones, his apartment played a significant role in my evolution from a secondary school student, to attending Federal Polytechnic, Bida; Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta; as well as an unfinished Masters Degree programme from the University of Leicester.
Because Uncle Bayo admonished me then that education is the only legacy that belongs to you, it also spurred me to go for Executive Courses at Oxford University’s Smith School of Enterprise And The Environment; Henley Business School; Aston Business School, University of Birmingham; and Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, all between 2014 and 2016.
Apart from the academics, the role 41Road played in my life remains inestimable.
My wife today, Sekinat, had the turbulent aspects of our relationship resolved at 41 Road.
Whenever we had any issue of disputatious nature, Mama Deji was always on hand to counsel. Once in a while, Uncle Bayo would walk in, drop one or two hints and just head straight into their bedroom.
Today, all those uncles are successful. For me, I’ve since become a successful journalist, courtesy of my A2 in English Language and the mentoring I received from 41 Road. I’ve served as Politics Editor; Deputy Editor, Sunday Vanguard; Northern Editor; and Sunday Editor of Vanguard. I also served as Special Adviser, Media, to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, between 2019 and 2022, after which Vanguard recalled and promoted me to be its General Editor, my current post. In the early 1990s, I worked as Assistant Staff Writer at The Sunday Magazine, TSM (1991-1992); and worked as Special Assistant to General Domkat Bali (1992-1995). 41 Road played a major role in all these. And all thanks to Uncle Bayo Surakat and his wife, Mama Deji.
As Uncle Surakat celebrates his 70th Birthday, I pray that the Almighty Allah (SWT) would grant him more grace in long life, unlimited joy and more blessings, Amin.
He also served as Deputy Editor at Sahara Reporters Sports and worked as Content Manager for the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), contributing significantly to sports journalism and digital content development in Nigeria.
Known for his strong storytelling ability and editorial expertise, Olayinka Olawole has covered a wide range of subjects, while also building a reputation in digital storytelling, audience engagement, and content optimisation for online and media platforms.
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