Though the former Governor Abiola Ajimobi is late, it would be very difficult for many to forget his pragmatism and heart of gratitude in a jiffy. I had two notable encounters with him and the first led to my immediate appointment as Special Assistant Broadcast Media a year to the end of his meritorious 8 years tenure.
The event took place in the office of his former Chief of Staff, Dr Gbade Ojo. I have been very close to Dr. Ojo for about 3 years prior to that time. So that fateful day, I was on a visit and suddenly His Excellency came inside the office without notice. He, then in his usual inquisitiveness asked what we could have been discussing early in the morning. But the COS explained to him that we were reviewing political activities in my Local Government, which is Egbeda LG. He then asked me not to go out but to gist him, which I did to his satisfaction. I then used the opportunity to intimate him about my contribution to his first election in 2011. I told him how we got to his house around 10am a day to election and left around 1am in company of some leaders. Also, the efforts I gave to his contest in the media.
After all these, he was so sorry that he has not compensated me for what I have done. He then queried where I have been and I explained that I have been around but chose not to trouble him. He said many of your colleagues do trouble me and I often do the little I can. Still impressed, he promptly asked his SSG, Alhaji Olalekan Alli to collect my name and data for immediate appointment. He then said I would have given you Senior Special Assistant but you will be too many in the Department I want to put you. 48 hours later I got a call from the office of the Secretary to the State Government to come for my appointment letter. To this I remain grateful to a man of gratitude.
Now the second encounter was at the Executive Council Chamber where he was already seated for a meeting with all his aides. I have closed in the office around 4pm and quickly returned home to attend an ongoing week of prayer in my church. A call came through that the Governor was already seated. In fact, the way I rushed back to the Secretariat was like flying an helicopter. I summed up courage and opened the door to the Executive Chamber. Of course, the man with the Eagle eye saw me from afar and said, are you for this meeting and I answered in the affirmative. He probed further while I was just coming and I told him that I got home just now and the information came. I told him I have programme in the church but have to abort it and rushed down. The next thing he said was, why do you have to leave church programme for the meeting he called, adding did you fear us more than God and I said no. He then in his usual way of admonishing said you shouldn’t have done that now. “God is bigger than any of us”. “Because you are coming from church, go and have your seat”. Thereafter, he spared me further drilling.
The one year I worked with him, I gained so much. I am smarter on my job, more conscious in dressing. More prepared for challenges and more eager to learn. May Almighty God accept Abiola Ajimobi’s return and grant him forgiveness. All that he left behind, may God protect 🙏🙏🙏
