Life And People
Good night, Oladinni, the squash aficionado -By Festus Adedayo
Outside the court, Oladinni operated a live-and-let-live life. In the court, he allowed you have your points, products of your sweat, but determinately pursued the points he felt were within his grips. Outside the court, that too was Oladinni. He was fatherly and had a purity of heart. At his burial on Friday held at the All Souls’ Church, Bodija Estate in Ibadan, attendance reflected that he had sown seeds in the lives of a cross-section of people.
In September, 2017, I penned a tribute to Omooba Olagoke Jones Oladinni. He was 70 years old. I began by stating that, someday, I would dwell on squash, an indoor game and its addictive inclination; how, inside the court, the game is the mirror on the wall which shows the totality of the life of its players. Squash is a thread that links Generals Sani Abacha, Abdulkareem Adisa, Olusegun Obasanjo, David Jemibewon who were reported to be good squash players. As a mirror, the moment these military big-epaulettes entered the court, their play downloaded all their outward and inner qualities. By merely watching them play, you could say a lot about their inner constitution. Obasanjo, for instance, I was told, would not allow you defeat him in a game. Does that speak to his placement of value on himself above others? It would be nice to hear from those who once played Abacha in a game of squash. Some vicious strokes might have foretold his maniacs.
On June 29, 2022, Oladinni, a very good squash player and Prince of Ile-Ife, bade the world bye. His father, the second male child of Princess Maria Adedipe Saatu, was the first child of Ooni Adenekan Olubuse 1. Like every player of the tiny black ball, Oladinni was addicted to squash. While on the court playing, Oladinni’s strokes were like the lacerating strokes of music which Bob Marley says when they hit you, you feel no pain. With white/blue bands on his head and wrist, a tiny necklace on, Oladinni’s strokes came without empathy on his opponent.
Outside the court, Oladinni operated a live-and-let-live life. In the court, he allowed you have your points, products of your sweat, but determinately pursued the points he felt were within his grips. Outside the court, that too was Oladinni. He was fatherly and had a purity of heart. At his burial on Friday held at the All Souls’ Church, Bodija Estate in Ibadan, attendance reflected that he had sown seeds in the lives of a cross-section of people. Cleaners, gardeners, drivers and high net-worth individuals in society were there to bid him bye. He was Chairman of many companies, among which were Princeton Health Ltd and Deguards Security Services Ltd. He was President of Ibadan Recreation Club, its Trustee and former Chairman of its Squash section.
May this debonair soul rest well in the bosom of his creator. May this debonair soul rest well in the bosom of his Creator.
