Abubakar Osaya is a retired staff of the Environmental Unit of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB). He retired more than a decade ago land left great impacts in the lives of many people who crossed his path. Many would refer to him as Oga Osaya. Truly, he commanded so much respect and honour among all categories of staff.
He is one of the few people you meet in life and their thoughts resonate in your mind for who they were, what they stood for and their disposition to life.
I had very casual relationship with Oga Osaya while I was the President of the Students Union in 1999/ 2000. His boss, Rtd Captain Sikiru Babatunde, the Chief Security Officer of the University was fully on ground and therefore I did not have much opportunity to interact with the ebullient character called Osaya . His boss, Captain Babatunde was a great man who was as strategic and tactical as he was social. Through Captain Babatunde, I met some powerful people in town and was quick to realise that the rich old people have their own world where they play as little boys reminiscing old memories. The Yorubas of Nigeria succinctly captures it as ”Agba wa bura bi ewe o ba se o ri ” meaning elders have their past times.
By the time I returned from National Youth Service Corps and was employed as the Student Affairs Officer at the Centre for Human Resources Development ( CENHURD) of the University, Mr Osaya was on ground as the Security Officer of the mini campus of the University situated at Isale Igbein.
CENHURD was a centre of the University of Agriculture Abeokuta where Pre-degree and Diploma programs of the University were domiciled. The mini campus of the University otherwise known as Isale-igbein was full of activities at the time with two sets of Pre-degree students running morning and afternoon classes. The Diploma students on Science and Management courses were also in their good number while Executive Diploma programs for Senior citizens who thronged in from different areas of the South West took place on weekends. The centre was at its peak 24/7 and the Director, Professor Segun Lagoke, one of the best human beings I have ever come across was always on ground.
Oga Osaya, a retired soldier who was always happy to share his soldier experience had his office strategically located close to the second gate of the University which was some distance away from the office of the Director and my office. Despite his age, stature, he would navigate these two offices endlessly on a daily basis. He was very energetic. We got closer by the day and before I knew it, it was either he was in my office or I was in his office or both of us were in the office of our Director.
His job ethics was fantastic. He would never complain. I had seen staff complaining about using their recharge cards to make official calls but Oga Osaya would never complain. He would put a call through. I think he considered having credit on his phone as a check list of his performance.
There is hardly any student who passed through the University and had intearction with him that would not have admired his disposition to work and kind disposition. Even when he had to take very hard stand, the recipient would be fully aware that he had gone beyond his boundaries. He perfectly blended his security tactics with kindness and application of rules.
Mr Osaya had been working in the University before I gained admission into the University. He had some very important information on his finger tips. He does not have a PhD and had not been to the four walls of any higher education to study but his memory was astounding and his composure fantastic. He is among few categories of people that will remember an event, remember the date and the comments made by each active participant.He was that good!
Chief Osaya was a security officer but I can state categorically that he knew the rules and workings of the University better than many administrators. He would push his position without condemning what was on ground but speaking from informed position and evidence based approaches. He interacted effectively with all segments of the University, not writing down notes but storing them in his God-given computer. Lest I forget, he was a good writer too. His very brief mails conveyed understanding and authority.
Despite being advanced in age and being an old staff of the University, Oga Osaya had respect for all staff and even the students. It was not uncommon to have students both male and female hovering around him. Once they saw me, they would disappear. He would never ask for why I ask him to come at any point in time. Once he saw the number, he would be set to come over, never considered that the person calling him is his boy. Yes, he is a father figure.
Through the synergy between us, we were able to resolve many issues that could have degenerated into crisis. He was a very smart officer both physically and psychologically. A wink or cough from either the Director or myself gives him a clear signal. I should also say that he was in control of his officers and through his influence I became very close to some of them.
There were instances when myself and Chief Osaya would be on Okada and you would be surprised the way he would jump in. It was always a moment for him to remind me that he was a soldier. I think he missed leaving the military. Once a soldier, always a soldier!
I discovered early in our friendship that he was a family person. He loved his wife and children so much that I was almost thinking that it was excessive. I think I understand better now. I remember we had travelled to Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro to check one of his boys. He was always following -up on them and would seek my opinion on issues. We would flow freely. He was so plain and so free.
I think he belongs to the category of people that naturally love to nurture children. Despite having his own challenges, he would still give token to some indigent students. He did not have much but did not have problems releasing the little he had.
By the time I left the centre and resumed to the main campus of the University, I missed Oga Osaya greatly. He would alert me whenever he was coming to the main campus of the University. We would walk around like two old friends who had departed after primary school and reunited after secondary school with lots of things to discuss. There was never a dull moment with him.
He transferred the love he had for me to my wife. The first two lines of his calls are constant. Amino, how are you? How is Madam? I remember some of his officers were surprised to see my wife and I in his house during one of the Ileya celebrations. That is to show the magnitude of love, respect and honour I have for him.
His wife, whom we call Mama is a very strong and supportive woman.
I consider Chief Osaya as the type of worker that any good system should covet. A diligent, forthright, unassuming , energetic man who would put the larger picture above his personal agenda.
Today is not his birthday. However, I celebrate him for his impact to his world.
