Tribute: Oye Akintola Arikawe (1964-2024): A liberalist left with the mark of Kindness

He was a kind person, a liberalist and a gentleman who was focused on every issue of life. He will not be ready to satisfy everyone because He is not the Lord Jesus Christ. But he proved he knew what to do with many issues in the life dashboard. He was a liberalist and undotted in whatever he believed in, and for a long time, as if he knew he would soon depart the sinful world, He was to himself in righteousness such that we knew He would make heaven. A super achievement beyond the colossus He was on earth. Egbon mi, Oye Akintola Arikawe good night. The liberalists argued the exigence and the compelling collaboration and corporations in the ordering for international peace and security arising from the challenges of food and hunger; this is so because of the liberal belief that global politics is about more than the maximisation of power and wealth or security.

The issues of food insecurity and hunger must be approached, and liberals are convinced that individuals and states are capable of cooperating even though the international system is anarchic.

Oye Arikawe, like Grotius and Kent, the acclaimed father of international law, explained the causes of war (jus ad bellum) and conduct in war (jus in bello). They explained that most states have a deeply rooted obligation to create and respect rules. The collective interest of the international society. This is so for man’s nature as a rational and social creature. It gives rise to a commitment to reciprocity in international dealings. They posited that states, despite the anarchic nature of the global system, could bring about a sense of perpetual peace.

States can create percentual peace, and the need for the maximum corporation to avert the danger of food insecurity and hunger is imperative as Kent further listed three essential conditions for engagement: ‘a republican constitution’, ‘conditions of universal hospitality’, a ‘federation of free states. In Kent’s argument, the most critical aspect of food security is the ‘conditions of universal hospitality’, which is the basis for states to protect against food insecurity and hunger.

Oye Arikawe, who studied Government, Economics and Geography at an advanced level at the Ondo State College of Art and Science Ikare alongside Akintola Aliu Jimoh (of blessed memory) and Gbenga Oresanjo, advanced the arguments in support of Thomas Hobbes or the Hobbesian theory of man aggressiveness in the state of nature they agreed with Thomas Hobbes that a world without government, forces humanity into a constant state of war because there is no way to trust in the excellent peaceful intention of others.

enacted by the Leviathan to be respected otherwise, and according to him, the state of nature is bellum omnium contra omnes (‘war of all against all). This argument raises the bar of sovereignty and the imperative power of the hegemon.

If you want to understand Egbon Oye, read the life and times of the liberalists. He wanted cooperation and collaboration in all issues of life. He tried to support or provide support; he wanted democratic peace. He planned to return to Igbotako for the rest of his life, perhaps to teach occasionally at the University of Fortune. On the two plots of land he bought from another librarist family, Otunba Oyin Famodun (of blessed memory).

He built his house in one and gave the other one to the Mountain of Fire and Miracle, his church. On one occasion, when I was running for the senatorial election, He came looking for me, and we met at the University of Fortune site in Igbotako. He asked me how He could help. I told him, Sir, all was going well and that you had come looking for me, which was sufficient. Egbon Oye, give me one million Naira to support my election. He knows I am rich, but it matters not to him a liberalist; he did what he had to do in human kindness. I know he will be greatly missed by the Arikawe family home and abroad. Still, I took symmetry in that we exchanged notes in Dubai on the family’s progress. I must thank God he has a very supportive wife who will carry on the excellent work. Egbon Oye, my senior in secondary school (Igbotako Community Grammar School), was a gentleman of excellence, a leader, and a supporter of the Bible. adieu esun re o egbon mi!

Ibrahim is a Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-parliamentary Worldwide.

He holds PhD in Management Science from the University of Cambridge and another PhD in Modern War. The Federal Government of Nigeria has honoured him twice with OFR and CFR.