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| LATE BARRISTER FELIX ODUSANYA DINA |
He who, knowing that what he would say would definitely get some people angry, but puts it to the test of sincerity and honesty, convinces himself that saying it would be for a good cause before decent men and God Almighty, still goes ahead to say it, is a damn good man!
Those may not be his exact words.
But were he alive and you ask Felix Odusanya Dina, LLB, BL, his response would not be too far away. A man of character, Mr. Dina, as he was generally known by fellow residents of Abesan Low Cost Housing Estate, Abesan, Ipaja, Lagos, particularly his Block 396, Flat 3, was one damn good man.
Our paths crossed sometime in 1995. I had gone to the six-flat block to check the condition of the flat I was prospecting to rent – which happened to be Flat 4, just directly opposite his. Totally beaten by improper use and left to the elements and a safe haven for rodents around, the flat presented the sight of a cesspit. Seeing me, Mr. Dina approached and sensing that I would be his new neighbor, straight-facedly said, “Aburo, ise lo ma se ni bi yi-o” – “my brother, you would need to brace yourself for the arduous task of restoring this flat”.
But he did not let it stop at the realm of armchair observation. Within minutes, Mr. Dina had emptied his entire household (save the wife) into my flat with buckets of water, brooms, mopping sticks, rags and hand-towels: They were all ready to assist in washing the floors and restoring whatever could be restored. A carpenter friend of mine would later come to fix the windows and doors. And if you thought that was a mark of compassion, Mr. Dina, along with another neighbor, Mr. Kola Sotade, were to demonstrate the meaning of true brotherhood.
Now, you cannot talk about Dina without mentioning Sotade. Even their wives could not separate these two. Dina, Ijebu;Sotade, Egba. And this is where the story of Dina becomes more interesting because, save sleeping on the same bed with their wives and going to their separate offices, the two were always together.
As a young man coping with the challenges of building a family with meager, very meager means, Dina, it was, who would remember to buy loaves of bread on his way from the office for my family. Dina, it was, who would come in on a Friday evening to ask whether I would be comfortable for the weekend. Dina it was who would wake his children up as early as 5am in those heady, difficult days, to come and assist push my Volkswagen Kombi bus, for the difficult task of jump-starting the bus. Dina, it was, who would call you to a corner (along with Sotade) and whisper, ‘Aburo, ma fi gbo-gbo owo mewa jeun o’ – ‘save for the rainy days’.
Like every mortal, Dina was not a saint.
But Dina was one good man.
Even at great pains and discomfort to him, Dina would take up causes on people’s behalf in-so-far-as it was a worthy cause.
Also popularly known as Baba’Jebu, Dina’s sense of humour knew no limits.
His humourous disposition is best complemented by the one he used to call BESTED – Sotade.
At parties, Community Development Association, CDA, meetings, family get-together, this duo of Dina and Sotade would regale you with stories, songs and derisive versions, sometimes twisted though, of church hymns, to the delight of whoever was around.
But beyond all these, Dina was a man who loved his family and friends.
He also loved himself and worked hard to ensure that he made a name.
Born on April 2, 1954 (he always made a joke of not being born on Fools’ Day), he attended Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Italupe, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, from 1960 to 1966. He later proceeded to Ijebu Ode Grammar School. He joined the services of Nigerian Ports Authority, Apapa, in 1974, from where he retired.
In February 1983, he got married to his wife, Theresa Dina, and the marriage is blessed with four children, Titilayo, Temitayo, Tolulope and Tolani.
He obtained a diploma in printing from Yaba College of Technology in 1983, and a diploma in transport from the Olabisi Onabanjo University in 1996. He obtained L.L.B from Lagos State University in 2007, and B.L from Nigeria Law School, Abuja in 2009.
This good man was called to glory on the 9th September, 2014.
You may never have met him; but those who had dealings with him would easily relate to this piece.
He couldn’t have been the best man around. But he was a good man.
He was also not a saint because his volubility sometimes verges on the indiscreet.
But a chance meeting with him would change your life. He was wise, full of life. When the news of his death broke, many kept wondering why? Yes, why?
But that question is now very familiar when condolence visits are paid to the bereaved.
We may never know. He had friends and was loved by many.
Dina loved Nigeria so much; always harassing me about current issues and about why government needs to do the little things that Nigerians want.
Nigeria is bad; things are not working; life is brutish in this country.
If the opportunity were to arise for Dina to answer, he would still want to be around his bested friend, Sotade. And he would have loved to be around his many friends and beloved children. And, above all, he would still have loved to be around his wife, Iya’Jebu.
He would be committed to mother earth this week. Adieu.
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