Biyi Orilabawaye
The paradoxes in his life are obviously pointers to the epochal roles he’s destined to play in our affairs. His parents were already old especially mama that had already passed the age of child bearing. But, against all odds, Barr Morayo Lebi came as the last born- he’s meant to be a grandchild to the old couple.
They named him Morayo! That name in the Southern parts of Ondo state is reserved for the female child. But baba insisted he must be called ” Morayo”! And, all his life, the name has been answering for him. Ŵhat is in a name? Plenty!
As baba Ajimisogbe ( a successful farmer in his time) decided to pamper his boy through unequaled indulgences like buying a bicycle to a little lad to ride around, mama, a disciplinarian wouldn’t accept that. She barely allowed the little Morayo to finish his primary school at home, and whisked him away to Lagos where he eventually did both his secondary and tertiary education.
Ordinarily, a quiet gentleman like Lebi would have been expected to be a Doctor, an accountant or any of those professions where one is expected to bury his nose in looking for figures or those endless data, but, he turns out to be a Lawyer, a successful one by every standard. Are you still noticing the paradoxes?
When baba Abodi of Ikale- land decided to christen Barrister Morayo Lebi as the ” Gentleman in Politics” in 2018, during the anniversary of his 80 years birthday and 30 years coronation celebrations, baba was still inadvertently alluding to the persistent uniqueness of Barrister Lebi’s enigmatic life. How can you be a gentleman in politics, much less, in Nigeria wild and stormy politics?
The puzzle is about to be cracked. Ondo State requires a leader that wouldn’t rock the volatile boat. The state requires the calmness of Barrister Morayo Lebi to tender and nurturing her to peace and posterity. Ondo state needs a steady character that Lebi symbolises. He’s a consistent party’s man and grassroots mobiliser . Barrister Lebi is both at home with the wielder of powers in Abuja/ Akure and remains the darling of the masses. To Ondo state, I dare to declare that, ” this is our finest hou
