The Olugbe of Igbosin Quarters, Idogun, Ose local government area of Ondo State, High Chief Babatunde Samson Makun spoke with The Hope on his centenary journey and experiences. His father lived for 140 years. Excerpt:

Can we meet you ?
My name is Makun Babatunde Samson. The Olugbe of Igbosin Quarters, Idogun
Can you tell us about your childhood?
When I was a boy in those days, before I started school, I was 24 years old in 1945. I had lot of sicknesses; such as prheumatism and many others at that time, so many troubles came up that my people could not know.
Certain strange events occurred that time. Do you know elete (grasshoppers)? They covered the sky, covered the moon, and darkened the earth. These grasshoppers were so dangerous that when they came down to the bush, they destroyed many crops. It was about two times it happened in 1941 and 1943. That time food would be scarce. We have to go to the bush to pick palm-kernels to eat. We then used salt to eat those kernels. We only survived then by the mercy of God.
How did you manage to survive?
My survival was magical. European doctors did attend to us at Ibilo, church division, now Edo state and Ikare, Idoani and Idogun. During that time, it was terrible. When the doctors gave me injections, I would be happy and they called me good boy. When I started school, I will tell people I am Makun goodboy and my seniors would laugh at me. It made me develop interest in English language after which I bought dictionaries to back me up. I still have them with me and I started learning nouns, verbs and so on.
Sometimes, people ask me which university I went to. It surprises them when I tell them I did not go to any University ; God has given me talent. That’s why I don’t really speak Yoruba or my dialect. When I talk in the public, people will laugh at me and ask where I have been to.
What about your educational life?
I finished my primary school from L.A Afunbiowo in Akure, after which I went to Agric school. When I was to finish, there was an invitation from the Headmaster that the Board of Governors of LA primary school in Akure has appointed me a teacher because of my performances in the school and my interest in teaching. Then, the teachers were like the Governors. When the teachers came, all school-boys would run away as if a police has come. So, I picked up that appointment for one year. When we vacated, I went home.
I told my parents I am a teacher. My father was old and my mother too. My father asked about my salary and I said 1 pound 10 which is now N13 a month. My father cried that I was suffering. You have the knowledge of agriculture. He took me to his farm so I can feed them if I come back because there was nobody. My only brother, Ojo was a good boy and he was powerful but suddenly he became powerless. So I was the only one remaining for my parents. He said I should not go to Akure again, so I employed labourers about 22 of them to work on my farm.
I usually climb palm trees till my father died. I started climbing palm tree since 1948. So, all these areas covered me up. I never bought any farm produce. I was a hunter too and I cannot eat any food without meat. That was how I fed my parents and they relied on me.
In other words, your parents stopped you from being a teacher to being a farmer.
Yes when I became a farmer, I went to Owo to see one agric teacher there, he hailed from Benin cit. I told him my experience as a farmer and he said he would help me by bringing cocoa Nursery to Irekari, Afo. There was a cocoa nursery in Ido and Afo but because of my experience, they loved me. After a year, they sold cocoa seedlings to people for two kobo per seedlings. I told them my farm is far, could they give me a nursery in my farm area?. They said I should get more people to join me so they gave me a cocoa Nursery of 3000, which was split, by people of my community. I got 1000 nursery so I became a very good cocoa farmer.
From your words now, can we say your parents were very strict?
Whatever my father says is final. People feared him a lot because he was a Muslim-Prophet. Whatever he says came to pass. His name was Ayineyin Makun. I was named Musa according to Islamic rite. My name then was Musa but during my baptism, I forgot Musa means Moses and I became Samson. Otherwise, I would have been Moses instead of Samson. It was late when I realized that.
Would it be right to say, you are strict because your father was?
I think so.I am strict to everybody.Nobody has trouble in my town that I do not assist.For that,I am loved and free to move everywhere.
Can you compare your school days and now?
No, in our school days, we had many books and dictionaries that guided us. Nowadays dictionaries and books are fake. We had many teachers, who taught us the best of their knowledge but nowadays it is just the fight for money. That is why things are getting bad these days. In those days, it was not about money like now then teachers received little and were satisfied, unlike now that they earn big amount of money but are not yet satisfied. That is why we have many problems in Nigeria.
What is the secret of your long life?
It is not well understandable because no one can definitely prove it. I never knew I would be old like this. It is in the hands of God. But I know my father was the oldest in the community. According to him, he was 140 years. So, I thank God for my life today. Everyday changes. We pray that out change will be good instead of bad.
Anybody who says he believes in medicine that can make somebody to be old is a liar.
Tell us about your marital life?
I married only three wives. The second and third are dead. It is only I and my first wife that are alive. Sometimes ago I told her I never knew it would be only you that will remain with me. I married others thinking they would be the best but only God understands.
Do you have any regret at 100?
I have a lot. The time I was able to train my children , I failed to train them.
Are you a fulfilled at 100?
Very well.
What is the secret of your longevity?
Well, do not be over anxious over your talent. The talent God gave you, use it, over anxiousness kills, pride ruins. Do not be pompous or proud. Whatever position you are, be humble, be merciful, do not cheat people. Do not think where you are, you are the greatest. All these can cut one’s life short.
When growing up, who were your role models?
I never patterned my life to be like anyone. I did not pattern my life to be anybody. All I wanted was to become somebody who can be able to feed myself and also be comfortable.
When you were young who were your friends?
They were very many. Only one, Jaiyeola is alive now. Others are dead.
How do you relax now at your age?
I will not lie, I go to farm to supervise my labourers to avoid being cheated. I pray God give me that strength. The only thing I cannot do now is climb palm tree. I believe it is God’s strength. All glory to God.
What is your comment on the way Nigeria was while you were growing up and now?
While I was growing up, if you have 50kobo, you will be satisfied. With that amount, you can do whatever you want and we were not even praying for more. The Nigeria of now, because of the eagerness to have much money, selfishness and covetousness set in. We are no longer satisfied with what we have which is why things are getting worse every day. When I was growing up, I was once a motorcyclist and I could move to anywhere . There was no fear as at that time but today the citizens are afraid because of security issues today so as not to fall victim of armed robbers, kidnappers and so on.
Would you say the problem we have in Nigeria is leadership problem?
We may not be very correct if we say that. It is the problem of we the citizens. The citizens want money by force. The leaders want money by all means. We are the cause of the problem and not the leaders alone.
As a Councillor in 1955, when and why did you quit politics?
It was when the council was dissolved. Another local government created at Ifon, Irekari and Ikamarun were merged because of financial problem. They were not able to cope with the payment of their workers. The council became dissolved.
When I was a councilor, the district council sponsored me to become a community leader under self-help. I went to Ijebu-Ode where I was trained and appointed as the Secretary who will be able to record the daily events.
Our Director’s name was Ibrahim, a Jamaican at that time. When I was done with the course, Ayetoro and Badagry were 12miles away from each other and we constructed a road 12miles on a sandy land in which vehicle can’t go to Badagry unless by sea when we want to come to Lagos.
The construction was completed with the co-operation of the two communities (communal labour). The day we got to Badagry, we went on 12 land rovers because it was very sandy and there is no other vehicle that could move. At the end of the course, we had to go to the Falolu of Lagos who was the Oba then and the Oba of Badagry was Akran in 1956. We told the Falolu of Lagos that this is what we have done and that it is the government own so, he should let the road be thoroughly done .
I came back home and went to the Onidogun of Idogun and discussed with him on how the Ose bridge between Idogun and Imeri could be constructed. I also went to Imeri to share the same idea on how they can make use of wooden planks to construct the bridge. Both of them doubted me, I went to one Chief Oye, from Imeri who was then the supervisor of schools about my idea on constructing the bridge. I told Chief Oye that when they start it, government would assist them at the end.
We organized how it would be constructed. There was a European contractor at Igara then who had about 12boys which the contractor taught how to build house, how to do carpentry and bricklaying works. I consulted the European contractor who was a native of Kent in London.
The construction of the bridge started in which all the taxable adults of Imeri and Idogun contributed. As the councillor of the council, he went to report that there was not enough money to further the construction of the bridge, so, they printed a receipt for Idoani and Afo to join them in the donation to assist the construction of the bridge.
The bridge is done now. Before then, when Agagu took it over which is why they have a bridge across Ose bridge between Idogun and Imeri. Formerly, Idogun community used to face a road to Imeri together by communal labour but, when quarters at Idogun Ishara, now think their co-operation to face one way, they felt they would be neglected and that their own road leads to Benin through Ope to Gara, they stopped joining them by starting their own bridge construction on the same river Ose.
What are the memorable days in your life?
It was when my father wanted to die. While my father was dying , he told me his condition was critical and he said when he stopped talking, I should put my hand on his head that I will feel something installed at the centre of his head moving. My father gave me a story and I was very happy my father gave me the story and that my father loved me very much.
How did you meet your wife?
I saw a very fine girl and I told my father. He sent to her father to come and see him and he came. When my father told him my intention, he said there was nothing my father would demand for that he would not give. That very day, he surrendered that I could approach her.
What do you think about the agitation to stand alone as Yoruba nation?
Many people think it is the correct thing to do but this will bring war and it will destroy people. People’s will be ruined. Just like during the Biafran war. It may be worse than the time of the Biafran war. If there is a way of correction, it will be better.