Baba Samuel Omotosho Isamotu’s Life And Legacy- Oluniyi Isamotu

Baba Samuel Omotosho Isamotu from the respected Baale Oke-saaji Compound of Isale-Oba quarters in Iwo, Osun State, was born on September 1, 1940.

Baale Oke-saaji Compound is a family compound that features a high Chieftaincy title that has now been upgraded to a Royal stool (Onisaaji of Oke-saaji) in conjunction with other designated family compounds in Iwo, and under the royal authority of the Oluwo of Iwoland.

‘Tosho Isamotu’ as fondly called by all, started his elementary academic life at D.C School, Ajangbala Eleha in Iwo, a school not far from his family compound and  the residence of his parents  at that material time (Ile Baale Oke-saaji).

After primary school, he proceeded to the then highly rated Baptist Modern School ‘BMS’ in Iwo between 1961 and 1963 (which is now referred to as Baptist Grammar School, Iwo).

Afterwards, as a proper Yoruba man who loved farming, he decided to go to the Farm Institute in Odeda, in Ogun State where he was for two years and later served at a farm settlement in Osogbo, Osun State as one of the mandatory prerequisites for studying at the farm institute. The Farm Institute, which is one of the legacies of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, served as a vocational course, which entitled him to farm settlements in Osogbo, Iwo and other places. 

While at this and doing several jobs to make ends meet for himself as a lone survival after losing his father at a very tender age, his bosom friend , who is the current Kabiesi of Ikonifin, Oba Oyewo Ojo advised and convinced him on the need to continue his studies which he eventually agreed to even though, he had initially planned to join the Nigerian Army at that time. 

He consented to his friend’s advice and furthered his studies at Baptist College, Iwo, between 1968 and 1970. Because of his brilliance, he was immediately engaged as a teacher at D.C. School Ajangbala Eleha, Iwo between 1971 and 1974, before later deciding to quit the job in order to further his studies. 

It was the Modern 3 Leaving Certificate he had gotten from the Baptist Modern School that qualified him to attend Baptist College for his Grade 2 certificate which further enhanced him to Adeyemi College of Education for his NCE programme. He attended Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo between 1974 and 1977 where he got trained to become a passionate and hardworking teacher that was more interested in moulding the students passing through his tutelage to become successful in life notwithstanding the paltry remuneration for teachers at that time.

He had his mandatory one – year service (NYSC) at St. Thomas College , Ogoja, in   Cross River State between 1977 and 1978

After working for a while, he later attended the Premier University of Ibadan between 1982 and 1985 , where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health Education  and he was a proud member and alumni of the ‘great zikite hall’ of the Premier institution.

Pa Samuel Omotosho Isamotu was a teacher and a livestock officer at Apostolic Teacher’s College, Ilesa, between 1978 and 1981, before deciding to leave Ilesa to return to his hometown, Iwo. Thus, he was transferred to L.A Commercial Grammar School, Iwo, where he served meritoriously from September 1981 to 1999 and later at St. Mary’s Grammar School, Iwo before leaving the service.

Tosho Isamotu was a tough disciplinarian known by all and at the same time, a compassionate guardian that was always concerned about the growth and success of all his students with epoch making testimonies to this effect from his former students and those associated with him since that time till his death.

He was married to a virtuous woman, Pastor (Mrs.) Bolanle Beatrice Isamat (JP), and they have six lovely children;  Olufunmilayo, Odunola, Olubukola, Opeyemi, Oluniyi and Oluwafeyikemi Adetipe.

As a man who will never take any act of kindness done to him from anyone for granted and in his bid to immortalize someone who was an integral part of his life, he changed his surname from his father’s maiden name (Yaya) to that of his father’s younger brother (Isamotu) who had no child but was the one who took care of him from the very tender age that he lost his father.

He was a man who loved to give and do more for people around him and society than for himself, and being a naturally born leader, he was involved in different leadership roles until he breathed his last.

He was the President, Iwo, and District Union of Students ‘IDUS’ in (1970) which is now  known as ‘FILSU’ (Federation of Iwoland Students’ Union). He was also the President, Iwo, and District Union of Students (Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo) in 1977.

He served as the Vice President, Iwo and District Union of Students, University of Ibadan –1985.

As a P.E. teacher, astute lover of sport and versatile defender during his football playing days, he was the Sport Organizer, Ilesa zone between 1978  and 1982.

He served as Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Iwo Local Government between 1989 and  1993 and equally state publicity secretary of NUT, Osun State Wing between 1997 and 2001

He was the Managing Director of ‘BolaTosho Ventures’, a firm he founded with his wife and as a proud farmer and Agripreneur, he was a large-scale poultry farmer,  a crop farmer, and  the secretary farm settlers association in Osogbo (1967).

He was also the Chairman, Farm settlement establishment Committee, Iwo, that eventually facilitated the renowned farm settlement of Iwo. 

As an astute community developer and stakeholder, Pa Omotosho Isamotu was involved in diverse community development organizations striving to make Iwo better and hasten Iwo growth and progress socially, economically and politically. 

He was a founding and integral member of I.D.C (Iwo Development Council), a foremost community organization that is saddled with the responsibility of organizing the annual Iwo Day celebration among other developmental focus of the group in conjunction and interwoven with IWAC (Iwo Action Council) and I.B.O.T (Iwo Board of Trustee), the highest decision-making body in Iwo kingdom under the royal authority of Oluwo of Iwoland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Adewale Akanbi (Telu 1).

As a founding member of the community organization, he served as the Sub-Committee Chairman of the community organization that liaised with the Osun State Ministry of Agriculture for the eventual establishment of Akinleye Farm Settlement and in conjunction with other notable people, he was instrumental in Akinleye community having their first appointed Baale under the royal authority of late Oba Ashiru Olatunbosun Tadese OON (Ariwajooye 1), an effort that later facilitated the elevation of the Baale of the community to a monarch status.

As a community developer, he was the protem Chairman of Isale-Oba Parapo, a community organization that represents the interest and amalgamation of all family compounds in Isale-Oba quarters of Iwo at a time. In concerted efforts with other people, notably Pa Adebayo Akande, Pa Salawu Legbe, Pa Giwa, among others, were then instrumental in the rural electrification of some family compounds within the Isale-Oba quarters,  Iwo . 

His community relations and being a blue blood made him a close associate of the late Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Ashiru Tadese (Ariwajooye 1), the late Olupo of Oluponna, Oba Emmanuel Onaolapo Oyebanji (Fadare II) in Aiyedire local government and his bosom friend, Oonifin of Ikonifin, Oba (Dr.) Solomon Oyewo Ojo (Akinyena 1) in Olaoluwa local government, a monarch he has been a close friend with since their youthful age in 1961.

As a resilient community developer, lover of knowledge and that of the growth and progress of his community, in conjunction with a friend, he facilitated the establishment “Grade 2 level” and “N.C.E” certificate programme to Iwo under the authority of the foremost “National Teacher’s Institute (NTI), Kaduna. 

He did this to salvage and comfort the situation of many teachers in Iwo and environs at the time who were travelling to far places outside the state to acquire upgraded professional certificate after the government in power at that time had issued a directive that teachers in public schools with lesser certificate qualifications may get the big stick of the government if they fail to have the  then new required qualifications for Teachers in public schools. 

The products of the school he facilitated to Iwo are now scattered all over the country today, impacting the knowledge they’ve gotten from the institution and also earning their living with the professional certificates gotten from the school while the school still stands strong till today since  getting facilitated to the town many decades ago with his wife as one of the products of that school before  bowing out of public service over ten years ago.

As a socialite, he was a member and  a one-time secretary of IRIS Club in Iwo and Club 25 Iwo, among others. 

His political participation and active political leadership role transcends from the days of NPN of second Republic to the  PDP in the present  democratic experience. 

He was the PDP Chairman in Iwo local government and his tenure was the most successful and harmonious in the local government until most recently. 

He was actually the second PDP Chairman in the local government and a foundational and legacy member of the party until he breathed his last on the 11th of October, 2024.

Apart from being a party Chairman during the first tenure of former Governor of Osun State, Omooba Olagunsoye Oyinlola, he was equally a member of the State Library Board  alongside Chief S.O Adigun and other erudite Board members. 

He had in the 70s sought to represent Iwo District in  the House of Assembly.

Sequel to the return to democracy,  he was a front-runner for the Local Government Chairmanship position in Iwo under the banner of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the early 2000 before Hon Ajadi Salawu ‘Asaliwa’  eventually emerged as the party’s candidate  while  he led others in campaigning for him  and Asaliwa’s victory made Pa Isamotu  the first party Chairman to produce an elected local government chairman under the umbrella of PDP in Iwo local government.

 He coordinated and led the party to victory  in the local government, the state and by extension Nigeria, being a frontline member and stakeholder of the party since its formation in 1998.

His close political associates includes but not limited to Baba Bilawu Ebo “Onseyoo”, Baba Salawu Olopa, Barr Gbadegesin Adedeji, Prof Oladipupo, Alhaji Liad Tella Prince Wale Osunwo, Alhaji Tiamiyu Alidu, the current PDP Party Chairman in Iwo local government among others, while he also held Late Barr G.A Aremu of blessed memories (Ekerin of Iwoland)  in reverence.

Pa Samuel Omotosho Isamotu was born a Muslim but converted to Christianity and became a follower of Christ through his personal conviction and without any coercion. He actually got converted to Christianity on an Eid Day in 1963. While passing through a church, he was listening to the Pastor’s sermon, got interested in what the Pastor was saying, and then decided to listen to the sermon till the end. He entered the church premises and that was how he became a follower of Christ for more than six decades till he breathed his last. The church was known at that time as ‘2nd Olukotun Baptist Church’  it later became Ebenezer Baptist Church’  but now called ‘Precious Baptist Church’

Baba Toso Isamotu was a liberal man but a proud Christian and a true believer. He never joked with anything that concerns God and the church. He was a man of faith and a true lover of God. Nothing was worth denouncing his faith for. 

He was a founding member of Imole Jesu Society (1973). Chairman, Imole Jesu Society. 

Among other leadership roles he took  up in the church, includes; member, Men Missionary Union (MMU). Member, Precious Baptist Church Constitution Review Committee. Chairman, Historical Committee, Precious Baptist Church, including Chairman, Parent Teachers Association of Precious Baptist Church Group of Schools, among others.

He was a man of integrity to the core. He cherished his integrity than silver, gold, or pot of porridge. He was a disciplinarian, strict and, at the same time, loving and compassionate. 

Truth was his life currency. He detested dishonesty.

Baba Samuel Omotosho Isamotu, was a lovable father to his children in every way an awesome grandfather who loved his grandkids with passion. Most importantly, he was a great family man not only to his children and wife but to the extended family, relations and a dependable ally to all his associates and known friends.

‘Separations are not new things. Death is not a new thing. Death is the ultimate end of every man born of woman’.

Omo Baale Òkè ṣááji, omo olori ìlú, omo o sayo bolaja, ọmọ afinju eye tin mumi ninu agbaada. Omo otun oloja to m’Oyo ro, omo alugbulugbu omi”

Ọmọ eni to mi kukute ara re lo mi, eni tí se Omotoso ara re lo ńṣe.

May his gentle soul continue to rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Sun re ooo, omo Olubari, Baba Omo… Mr Oluniyi Afolabi Isamotu ‘MC-MALAGA’, Office of the Governor, Osun State, writes From Osogbo, Osun State