Around 1993/ early 1994, I was on my way to see a friend who lives adjacent Sonariwo market in Aiyegbami, Sagamu.

Just when I got to the house beside my destination, a car pulled over in front of the house. Nobody initially paid attention to it and the occupants.

Three elderly men including Baba Owolewa (Owner of a popular bookshop in Ijoku Sagamu) and a boy of about 15 years came down from the car. The frail looking poor boys arrival created a great attention from everyone who knew him in that area.

Immediately, the boy came down and sighted by lady at the balcony , she shouted his name and practically everybody in the building and neighbors ran out surprised and joyous. The joy and dancing on everybody's face was so much that I had to stop to know what actually happened.

Apparently, the young boy had been missing for about 3 months. He left home one fateful day for school and never returned putting the family and the community in confusion. They have been in emotional, psychological pain since then in an all out effort attempt to find him or know what happened to their son.

HIS DISAPPEARANCE.
While walking back from school during those days after the 1993 election and annulment, there were "JUNE 12" riots going on all over major cities in Nigeria including Sagamu.

Unfortunately, he was caught up in the battle the ensued between the police and the rioters. Sadly and as his fate will have it that bad day,he was among the people arrested by the police for the rioting and was taken straight to Elewe Eran (Police HQ) in Abeokuta.He was unable to communicate with any of his family members.

That was the beginning of another phase in the poor boy's life. Locked up with his dirty school uniform among criminals without telephone and another other effective means of communication. Yes it can only happen in places like Nigeria. Banged up abroad.

According to the boy, he has made numerous attempts to get across to people at home through the police men at the station without success simply because they cannot volunteer to come to Sagamu from Abeokuta to come and give the family the information on his behalf.(It has to be cash and carry)

Surprisingly, other inmates who gained freedom while he was in prison also failed him. They always promise to help him while they are about to leave the jail but forget about him immediately they step out of the station.

Imagine the physical and emotional pain a young boy of that age will suffer in the mist of criminals in a Nigeria cell.

HIS FREEDOM
Chief Owolewa as popularly known in Sagamu and other men that followed were leaders of SDP (The winning political party in the country).

After numerous riots that engrossed the country around that period, they took it upon themselves to go to police stations within their vicinity to help in getting legal service and freedom for rioters who were arrested during the heated periods.
This becomes necessary due to understanding that the rioters were actually fighting for their main candidate (MKO) and their stolen mandate.

In fact, they had concluded the exercise in Sagamu stations before news got to them that some people were actually transported and detained in the state HQ at Elewe Eran Abeokuta and this prompted their immediate action.

THE MOMENT
In his address to jubilant crowd on that day, the SDP official explained that they went to Elewe Eran and had concluded the bailing of all the people whose name was on the register and records.

They were about leaving when they heard a PERSISTENT VOICE from the inner cell of a young boy shouting:

" Daddy ejo, e ranmi lowo, Sagamu ni emi na ti wa" meaning Daddy please help me, I also came from sagamu.

The boy was shouting at the top of his voice while other inmates also help to add their voice to it to the surprise of everyone.

Apparently the poor boys name did not appear in the police register and records because he is a MINOR. Yet they left him to rot in detention.

And that was the boys saving grace. The rest is history

CONCLUSION:
People like this are the true hero of June 12. They are the unknown symbol of Nigeria Democracy that have sacrificed so much in their life for this great country.

We may not be able to give all of them national awards but wherever you may be today "Ade" you are the true legacy of June 12.

We apologize and thank you as a nation.
You are the greatest GCON.

We also posthumously thank the great politician, Late Alhaji Owolewa for his great contribution to humanity.

Thank you.