“A life not examined is a life not worth living” – Plato
This write up is to examine the life of Barrister Ahmed Sheu Moyosore to commemorate his birthday, October 31. Moyo had booked a pride of place as one of the role models among men of excellence who distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and in rendering selfless service to our cherished Ilorin community in Kwara state.
The Icons of Ilorin who rendered selfless services to its growth and development that readily come to mind are inexhaustible. However, mention must be made of few of them, in no particular order, who inspired the senior Esq. They included Alhaji Yakubu Amori Gobiri, Ade Yusuf, Justice Mustapha Akanbi, Justice Saidu Kawu and Alhaji Sani Adebayo Lawal, all of blessed memory.
Few other legends of Ilorin Moyosore is emulating and building on their legacies include, Justice Saliu Modibbo Alfa Belgore, AGF AbdulRazak, Alh Saka Sa’adu, the late linguist, an orator and university don, Professor Shehu Jimoh and President of the IEDPU, Justice Saka Yusuf and L.A.K Jimoh, all late.
In the roll call of vice chancellors, Professors Oba Abdulraheem and Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah of the University of Abuja are our pride.
His enviable pedigree in career practice just like the earlier mentioned Icons of Ilorin is highly commendable. Also, Moyo’s roles as a respected community leader will stand the test of time. In specific terms, his unquantifiable value addition to the growth of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) at the local, zonal and national levels can’t be forgotten in many years to come.
To acknowledge the strides of heroism by our leaders including the workaholic and versatile Peoples Lawyer who is the current chairman, IEDPU Northern Zone, will, in a way, snowball into sowing the seeds of heroic conducts that will promote values of resilience , excellence and hardwork.
The story of Barrister Moyosore is, therefore, that of an exemplar, who, against all odds, attained prominence and greatness through a dint of hardwork, perseverance and prayer, right from his formative years till date. I celebrate a life worth examining and worth living of our urbane and public-spirited lawyer Moyosore. One thing that cannot be taken away from this larger than life personality is that he can’t be ignored and underestimated on account of his physical stature on any intellectual discourse.
In fact, whoever does so by error of omission or ignorance, does so at his or her own peril. After all, ignorance is no excuse in law. Great men in history, like Moyosore, move with a stamp of authority and carry with them portfolios of dignified presence, dexterity, decency, integrity, sagacity, tenacity, uncommon capacity, humility and simplicity anywhere they go.
Men who are often described as movers and shakers of the national and global socio-economic and political landscapes are not defined by their diminutive stature. Are you convinced or still in doubt? Why not look at Moyo’s height by mirroring the heights of the richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, the physical size of the former Governor of Edo state, now Senator Adams Oshiomhole and that of the former Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, yet they moved mountains.
What about the famous nationally and globally renowned labour leader, now, the Director General, Michael Imodu Institute for Labour Studies, Comrade Isa Aremu. He is a great man of might and clouts not by his height but by intellectual propriety.
Let me at this juncture crave the indulgence of your reading delight to flashback to the growing up years of the Agbaji-born legal luminary. This is with a view to illuminating his past, present and future. Reminiscing my path with the celebrant, my thoughts went on an excursion to momentous years of our academic odyssey in post primary school, precisely, Jebba Teachers’ College.
It was our formative years when men were boys as students, studying and struggling to lay solid academic foundation for the attainment of higher educational qualifications, capable of catapulting us into better, brighter and blessed future. Unknown to us then, providence had different plans in stock for us away from teaching line.
The celebrant is by fate accompli, an accomplished lawyer waiting to be enlisted soon into the hall of fame of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, inshallau. Therefore, if you call Moyosore a qualified teacher by training with outstanding Grade Two Teachers’ Certificate, you will be correct. On the other hand, he is today, a consummate cosmopolitan lawyer with decades of meritorious practice.
No doubt, dual identities of a teacher/lawyer can’t capture the vintage personality of Moyosore, who, through, thick and thin has become a wearer of many caps of honour. These include, being a revered community leader, sheikh, philanthropist and an acknowledged mentor of numerous mentees.
The joy of being co-student and classmates in the pacesetter class of 1976-1981, brought back refreshing and memories of the good old days of our growing up. My ever blossoming years of friendship and relationship with the celebrant has grown in leaps and bounds to becoming sibling-like and to the extent of sharing confidentiality on personal and family issues.
The gregarious mien and friendly dispositions of Moyosore attracted willing school fathers, mothers, brothers and friends to him. His school father was Rasheed Alaya and his volunteered school mother was Bioye Gambari who were head-over-heel caring for the smart and sound little boy.
Just as “morning shows the day”, the young Sheu Moyosore, currently undergoing his PhD in law at the University of Jos, showed proofs of what he would become later in life. In often display of well nurtured academic capacity and proficiency, as well as excellent oratory, it was not surprising that he is today a learned gentleman and a big force to be reckoned with as indomitable 21st Century and beyond man of the bench.
What is perhaps unknown to many of his friends and admirers is that Moyosore has been a man of many firsts in all spheres of human endeavours, to be referred to as a silent achiever of all times yet very humble and humane. For instance, Moyo became the first among equals to gain admission to the university. This was at a period when some of us had interlude of teaching before gaining admission into colleges of education, Ilorin and Oro.
He was also the first to graduate from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Arowolo University, in 1987 and proceeded to do his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Jos Plateau state. He was called to the Bar in 1988.
Moyosore who did his L.L.M at the University of Jos from 1996/97 became the first chief executive of his chamber.
He was the first to join the working class, first in earning pays in Jos and first to build a house early ahead of his mates.
In commemorating the quintessential Moyo’s birthday, i can’t exhaust all that I have to write about his achievements. He is disciplined, dedicated, resourceful, respectful and a legal icon. Happy belated birthday and best wishes to a man of many parts, Barrister Ahmed Moyosore, my amiable chairman, publicity secretary Ilorin Like Minds Foundation.
As a firebrand, tested and trusted lawyer, I’m proud to put it on record that Ahmed has carved a niche for himself as a phenomenal defender of the defenceless, the voice for the voiceless and the hope of the hopeless as well as for the have-not clients, who cannot afford to pick their bills in pursuance of justice.
Let me say for the umpteenth time that Moyo’s love for his ancestral roots (Ilorin) is deeply rooted in the fact that both parents shared commonality of origins, traceable to the father’s abode in Saura Quarters of Agbaji while his mother belonged to the Imam’s Family Compound also of Agbaji in Ilorin West local government, Kwara state. This genealogical family tree of Moyo’s parents further confirms his unhidden identity as a great ambassador of Ilorin whose name has become synonymous with the town.
At this juncture, I say a big congratulations to our soon to be SAN, inshallau. Accept my very best wishes my dearest confidant and friend of over four decades. I pray for a more assured future, laced with brighter hopes for many more grand breaking achievements and accomplishments in sound health and long life.
Abdulkadri writes from Abuja.