The people of Bayelsa State turned out en masse to demonstrate to retired Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade just how much they appreciated him, especially when he chose to celebrate his 70th birthday in Yenagoa on 30 November 2024. On his part, Olubolade was glad to sit in the front row as the celebrator of the occasion inside the colourful interior of the Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall.
Beside him sat his wife, Mrs. Mopelola Olubolade, dressed like a full-fledged Ijaw woman, her wrapper the same prestigious branded maroon top worn by her husband. All around the hall, smiles beamed from the gladsome faces of the audience. Every seat in the capacious hall was taken, each table festooned with colours chosen by the hall designer, and laid out in gold cutlery.
Drums of celebration resounded on the stage, and the state cultural troupe stepped out to entertain the audience, each step confirming why the troupe has won many accolades at home, and earned glorious trophies for dramatic performance abroad. The comedians were in attendance, too, each one trying their best to tickle the audience into laughter. Each performance gave Olubolade his full compliments, for a start, or else reflected a scenario from his days as helmsman, or a sketch from his journey with Bayelsa over the years, always with a salutary edge to the story.
At a corner of the hall, Kofi Black and his bandset played popular tunes that dictated the mood of the occasion. The band fell quiet only when speeches began to resound from the loudspeakers, each speaker commending Olubolade’s landmark achievements when he served as Military Administrator of Bayelsa State. Among the many sentiments expressed by various speakers, the commendations contained in the remarks of Governor Douye Diri could not be missed. As one who was a witness to the government of Olubolade, the Governor was speaking from personal experience.
Diri said: ‘Your tenure as the Military Administrator of Bayelsa left an enduring legacy that continues to shape our history and progress. Through your visionary leadership, you laid the foundation for key developmental strides, such as the construction of the Samson Siasia Stadium which has nurtured sporting excellence and created opportunities for our youth. The establishment of the Bayelsa State Council for Arts and Culture under your guidance enhanced the preservation of our cultural heritage and the promotion of the rich history of our people.
‘More importantly, your impactful service in Bayelsa State blossomed into a lasting and cherished relationship with the people. You built bridges of friendship and trust that have stood the test of time, leaving an indelible mark in the hearts of our people. Your genuine passion for our people, which reflected in your policies and actions, remains memorable and deeply appreciated.
‘Beyond your time in Bayelsa, your contributions while you served as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, showcased your dedication to national development and significantly influenced governance and the advancement of our nation. As we honour you on this special day, we celebrate not just your achievement but also the enduring bond you have fostered with our dear state. May this milestone bring you good health, immense joy and renewed fulfillment as you reflect on a life well lived and a legacy that transcends generations’.
The applause that followed the governor’s declaration was only to be expected. Olubolade felt truly honoured as he stood to his feet and shook hands with the Governor, his heart full of gratitude. Even the traditional rulers had qualitative opinions to give about the Olubolade administration. King Joshua Igbugburu, for one, had a long-standing relationship with Olubolade from the first day the young Military Administrator touched down at Port Harcourt International Airport on Friday 27 June 1997. In his capacity as pioneer Chairman of the state Traditional Rulers Council, the Ibenanaowei of Bomo Clan had led a retinue of royal fathers to receive the Military Administrator at Omagwa.
The King said to Olubolade on his birthday: ‘Your name is a household name in Bayelsa State because of the solid foundation you laid in the state and the traditional institution in particular. Your selfless service and the legacies you left behind will ever remain green in the hearts of Bayelsans. I remember vividly that you constructed the initial traditional rulers’ council secretariat and guest houses for the council members. That is an indication of the respect and honour you have for the traditional institution.
‘Successive governors still emulate your regular supervision of projects during your time as Military Administrator. You instilled discipline in virtually every sphere of the workforce. Bayelsans see you as an indigene because of the love you have demonstrated towards us. The celebration of your seventieth birthday in Bayelsa is a home-coming, and it will further cement the bond between us as a people’.
By the same token, Prof. Steve Azaiki was virtually at a loss for words when he began to speak about the man he calls his boss, mentor and friend. He said: ‘Navy Captain Olubolade was not born into greatness but rose through life’s many challenges to become the remarkable man he is today. Passing through numerous stages, he gave his all to shape his future. Celebrating his seventieth birthday is, therefore, a profound testament to a life well lived’.
Azaiki worked closely with Olubolade, first as a cabinet Commissioner from 1997 to 1998 during the captain’s tenure as Milad, and later as his Senior Special Adviser when he served as Minster of Special Duties, Minister of Police Affairs, and Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory under the Yar’Adua-Jonathan administration.
From 1997 onward, the two gentlemen kept in close touch. Understandably, Azaiki describes Olubolade in superlative terms, describing him as an honest, hardworking, humble, dedicated, loyal, efficient, meticulous and self-effacing officer and gentleman.
Azaiki recalled: ‘Over the years, I have seen him do so much to improve the lives of those around him. His love for country is extraordinary, and he has consistently given his best in service to Nigeria. I have come to consider him as a true Bayelsan, as he has shown deep love for our people and has always risen to the occasion on issues concerning the Ijaw ethnic nationality. In every professional and political role he held over more than three decades, he distinguished himself and accomplished a great deal for both the military and the nation. His achievements as Milad of Bayesa from 1997 to 1998 are still visible to all, having laid the foundation for the development of the newly created state’.
With apparent respect, Azaiki turned to Olubolade, and said: ‘My dear boss, I deeply appreciate every wonderful memory we have shared, especially your fatherly role in all aspects of our journey together. In and out of office, you have remained loyal to your friends and loved ones, strengthening the bonds of friendship and brotherhood. Your love for humanity and the extraordinary way you have lived your life are truly worthy of emulation’.
The sentiments in these goodwill messages were to be repeated at the next event on the agenda built for the sports complex. Olubolade was glad to walk into the Samson Siasia Stadium alongside his beloved wife, Mopelola, and take their seats on the grandstand. They had done that twenty-six years ago when the stadium was built. It was like marking the silver jubilee of an occasion that slipped the memory of government. Even so, it was all in order. Olubolade had turned 70 that day, 30 November 2024, and nothing would have made him happier than walking his wife through the rugged path he had taken in times past, and living to witness the glory of it.
The programme for the anniversary celebration was laid out before hand, and a great deal of preparation had gone into making the event happen. The people of Bayelsa State woke up to the fact that lOlubolade, one of their most beloved leaders, was 70 years old. How time flies. The man was forty-three going on forty-four at the time he was Military Administrator of Bayelsa State, and his legacies still tell a story of endurance.
For 26 years, the sports complex he built was the same recreational facility he conceived and constructed by direct labour in the interest of the Bayelsa State youth. Countless football matches had been played there. Numberless celebrations had broken out on the pitch, and countless feet, of children and adults alike, had trotted round the tartan tracks in the spirit of sports.
For three days, beginning 28 November 2024, members of the Committee of Friends were busy putting things together for a truly unique event. Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd.) readily accepted to serve as chairman of the host committee. Seated inside Azaiki’s spacious and glassy interior exclusive Yenagoa home, members were carefully selected to plan and celebrate this occasion.
As the Admiral put it, Olubolade deserved every good thing that was coming to him as he marked his seventieth birthday in Yenagoa, amongst people he had served as a younger man. Recalling their days in the Nigerian Navy, John Jonah gave a telling insight into the person and character of Olubolade in the course of their service to the nation. As sailors and engineers, they shared a lot in common the way a ship shares a lot in common with the ocean.
The Bayelsa Classic Choir was on hand to minister to guests. Like nightingales in season, they sang one popular number after another, their voices in unison, and earning the shower of claps that came with the last note of a song. The Word ministration for the day came from Apostle David Zilly Aggrey, General Overseer of Royal House of Grace International Church.
The respectable clergy underscored what he had already said about the person and legacy of Olubolade at many previous events. Without doubt, Olubolade was the first administrator to lay the foundation for other helmsmen to build upon. It was only proper to call on God, therefore, to bless Olubolade’s home, to enrich him with wisdom, and provide him with new access for service in the days to come.
Sons and daughters of the state dared the heat of the November sun, and came out in large numbers to receive Olubolade, the Military Administrator they had come to know even better after 26 years. Over time, the man’s achievements had become even more significant, and nothing was stronger proof than this open-air reception admitting of the high and the low. As may be expected, the crowd control officers had a task on their hands. Everyone seemed to want a handshake with Olubolade. The fact that his wife, the Family Support Programme First Lady, was beside him made it even more exciting.
Already, the next item on the programme was fully primed. The Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, invited Olubolade to kick-off the ball to start the novelty match staged in his honour between members of the state Executive Council versus honourable members of the House of Assembly.
There was plenty to cheer as the law makers ran about in their jerseys, contesting for the ball alongside the strong men from Diri’s cabinet. Azaiki, a former member of the House of Representatives, added spice to the game as he weaved in and out of tight tackles and exercised his limbs like a nimble footballer that had been out of practice for too long.
In all, Olubolade and his wife were treated to a great feast. They were also entertained by a variety of events ranging from wrestling and Ogele parade, to tug of war, and to relay race. When the wrestling drums sounded like a call to war at the sports complex, Olubolade felt the ripple of excitement in his bloodstream. Overwhelmed by it all, he joined in the dance, bending low, arms spread wide, his frame shaking to the beat of the drums and the war cry in the throat of the warrior wrestlers.
The Egbelegbele performance was no less spectacular. Many years ago, when he went on his maiden tour of the eight local government areas, he had been received by young Egbelegbele dancers across the creeks, and into the innermost reaches of Southern Ijaw local government area. It was always a marvel to watch the acrobatic displays of the young dancers, and here they were at the sports complex to celebrate him.
When the voice of Junior Barrister Smooth rebounded over the loud speakers at the sports complex, the response was obvious from the number of people who trooped to the complex, pressing through security barriers to share in the jubilant party of the day. Like every good piece of music, the message in the songs lay, not in the language of the song itself, but in the melody line and the danceable rhythm. All the celebration was for him, and Olubolade would hear his name from time to time in the voice of the songster.
More goodwill messages were to follow, but the rallying call from the Chairman, Committee of Friends, Jonah, who was Deputy Governor, and Chairman of the state Elders Council, was definite. This was a celebration laid out for one and all, and everyone was welcome to partake in the joy and merriment of the moment for a man whose pointed prayer was that he would be accepted and recognised as a son of Bayelsa.
Six months later, news of Olubolade’s death came like a shock wave when it broke on the morning of Sunday, 11 May 2025. The retired Navy Captain was said to have slumped while playing squash in Apapa, Lagos. He was reportedly rushed to the military hospital, and confirmed dead.
For many, who heard the news, memories of his birthday celebration in Yenagoa came rushing back.
