The adage that 20 kids would hardly stay together for 20 years often comes alive with ironical tragedy. Although, some might die early, some might relocate, but in the case of Segun Aderibigbe, a notable genius while growing up, his falling out of the group of the 20 kids is ensconced in the bitter irony of fate.
Segun was not wayward. Afterall, he was said to have known the gospel of Jesus Christ very early in his secondary school days as a committed member of the Deeper Life Bible Ministry. He was never into smoking or drinking, a total teetotaler, but suddenly his trajectory trailed off and everything changed for him. He lost his mind!
His going round the bend was a shock to his entire community. He was well-known as a well behaved young chap and as a footballer, earning the name Ozogula, with the famous Samson Ozogula, a Nigerian international, who once donned the colours of the 3SC Shooting Stars of Ibadan and New Nigeria Bank FC of Benin.
As a fervent member of the Deeper life Ministry, he was said to be very versed in bible passages. And this he taught the younger ones around him. He was a well disciplined Christian and led a dignified life.
Mr. Olabode Ekundayo, a friend of many years became nonplussed, shocked beyond words. He was sad beyond words that Segun, a Chemical Engineering student at the University of Ilorin, is now the shabby looking insane man with rags, always around the round-about, roaming the streets barefooted and always with cigarette.
Among his peers, www.esaoketodayonline.com gathered that Segun was not a push-over. He was said to be brilliant, intelligent and more, very focused and hardworking. But somehow, along the line, his story changed.
According to his childhood friend, Mr. Ekundayo, Segun was very successful in his West African School Certificate Examinations in 1986. He thereafter set his mind up for a university education, being a brilliant science student.
Bode Ekundayo continued: ‘Segun Aderibigbe attended Saint Mark African Church Primary School in Esa Oke between 1975 and 1981; he was known with his nickname ‘Apola’ because of his rather unusually big head.
‘He then proceeded to Esa Oke Grammar School in 1981 and finished in 1986 as one of the best science students from the school.
‘He was reputed to have scored A’s and Credit in all the science subjects he sat for’, Bode recalled sadly.
With the secondary education completed in flying colours, Segun now focused his mind, with full determination on becoming an academician.
He was said to have sat for the University Tertiary Examinations many times in the late eighties, but due to poor guidance, he could not select a course that could offer him admission with his low scores. He then became an unfortunate victim of the cut-off mark syndrome for the course of his choice.
He had desperately wanted to study Aeronautical Engineering and, because of this determination, he was not ready to take any other course his UTME scores could offer him. So, each year, he kept aspiring.
While hoping for a miracle with his chosen course of study, he started rendering free teaching service to the younger ones in Esa Oke. He was to be giving organized tutorial lessons, free of charge, to students around him.
Segun was said to have continued his search for the Golden Fleece till 1991 when he sat the UTME again at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. But because of his preferred area of interest, Aeronautical Engineering, and his unwillingness to change to another course, he did not bother to take any other course.
Shockingly, Bode would recall that ‘I never knew him to be a smoker or womanizer, but in 1994, during the ASUU strike when I was at Esa Oke to cool off, I saw him with a stick of cigarette and noticed some kinds of changes in his behavior’.
But while Segun continued to grapple with the oddity of life, about 13 years after he left secondary school, he secured an admission to the University of Ilorin to study Chemical Engineering. Ironically, this was in the late 90’s, when most of his secondary school mates had already graduated.
While no one took notice, Segun’s health had started suffering. According to Ekundayo ‘as at 1998 he was no longer the Segun I used to know, his health continued to suffer. Upon enquiry it was reported that he had developed mental issues’.
However, heavens smiled on Segun on the18th of November 2023, when Mr. Ekundayo was in Esa Oke for a program. He came across him as usual around the round- about.
Ekundayo recounted to our www.esaoketodayonline.com correspondent that ‘Immediately I called him, being an old friend, and I just couldn’t afford to ignore him. The thinking was to give him money as I used to do, but on the 18th of November 2023 I went for a program at Esa Oke and came across him as usual in the same venue.
I was ready to give him money as I used to do, but this time, the Holy Spirit instructed that I should not give him the money, because he was going to use it to buy cigarettes. I was instructed to snap pictures with him and I did’.
Ekundayo continued that ‘on May 26, 2024 after the Church service I was about to take a nap in the afternoon when a voice said ‘Post Segun’s picture on the EIHD platform and on Facebook. I immediately obeyed. To my utmost surprise, people started calling, sympathizing with him, even some were ready to tell stories about his predicament’.
This simple intervention has brought back Segun Aderibigbe to life.