Ogun Govt immortalises Olaniwun Ajayi

The Ogun State Government has named one of its model schools located at Isara-Remo after the late legal luminary and Afenifere leader, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun disclosed this at the farewell and commendation programme organised for the deceased at the Abeokuta/Sagamu Interchange along the Lagos –Ibadan Expressway where the remains of the late Ajayi was officially received by the state government.
The model school is situated at Isara Remo, the country home of the deceased.
Amosun in his tribute, described the late Ajayi as a great leader who lived an eventful and exemplary life worthy of emulation.
He added that the deceased had left an enduring legacy which every Nigerian must build on.
“This honour is a lesson for all of us to do well. If you’ve worked diligently, you’ll surely be recognised.
“He fully espoused the ideals of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, which we have all strove to build on.
“We are celebrating him not because of age but because of what he had done. You have only succeeded if you have served your root. This is what Pa Ajayi had done.
“Death has, once again, robbed Ogun State and, indeed Nigeria, of a knowledgeable mind and it’s a huge and irreparable loss for Nigeria,’’ Amosun said.
The Secretary of the Afenifere Group, Yinka Odumakin, disclosed that late Ajayi worked for the unity of the Yoruba race.
He urged all the people at the event to build on the legacy of the deceased, saying “we are not here to mourn but to celebrate a great man who lived a worthy life.
“What Baba laboured for, is coming to fruition and we must strive to sustain it,” Odumakin said.
A bosom friend of the deceased and an elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, noted that Ajayi had always lived by the dictates of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
He added that the deceased was a great family man, who was fully dedicated to his nuclear and extended families.
According to Sen. Banji Akintoye, the late Ajayi was one of the greatest men who had led the Yoruba race in recent times.
Akintoye, an emeritus Professor of History said, “Our father deserves this honour. He has served meritoriously. We always cherished him. He will live on amongst us”.
Mrs Tola Oyediran speaking on behalf of the Awolowo family, said the deceased had left a strong legacy as a Christian for all to build on for the progress of the Yoruba race, pleading for all to keep the legacy.
Oyediran, one of the late sage’ daughters, said she had learned a lot from the deceased.
One of the sons of the late Adekunle Ajasin, Mr Tokunbo Ajasin, said the deceased devoted his life to the loyal cause of Afenifere.
“He was very knowledgeable looking at all the books he wrote, and he was a very hardworking person.
“We need to emulate his integrity, which is what we need in Nigeria today,” he said.
The eldest son of the deceased, Dr Ola Ajayi, in his response, thanked all those present at the occasion to honour his father.
He commended the state government for organising the event to celebrate his father.
Some of the dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Adekunbi and Prof. Theophilus Ogunlesi.
Also present were Prof. Biyi Afonja, Jimi Agbaje, Amb. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, state commissioners, House of Assembly members and clerics.
Most of them were dressed in white and yellow attires while the children and family members of the deceased were dressed in white and blue “asoebi” to celebrate the lying-in-state.