HRM OBA DR. TAIWO OLÚFÚNMINÍYÌ AYENI, Agbégbáajé 1, Owálójà of Kájolà Àjàbà LIVES ON!
Have you ever had one of those moments where the sky seems less bright, the hill gets suddenly steeper and energy appears to decline as if there is less oxygen to breathe? I felt that way when I got a phone call on Friday, October 30, 2020 telling me that Oba Taiwo Ayeni, Ph.D, had joined his ancestors.
I know I was not alone in that feeling of loss. At 68, he had given so much and he had so much more to give. But it was not to be.
As his family, friends, colleagues, chiefs, townspeople and church mourn his loss, we as a community and region are lessened by his absence.
His death does lead me to reflect on what makes someone an exceptional leader because to me, that is what he was.
As with any exceptional leader, Oba Taiwo Ayeni first put mission above self. His public mission was to make this area a better place for everyone. As one Chief said upon hearing of his death, “Igbomina Kingdom has lost one of its leading lights and ambassadors.”
Oba Ayeni was a man of peace, a prayer warrior, a Bible Scholar and an erudite academic.
His recent visit to the United Kingdom was a blessing to the entire Yoruba race in the diaspora.
As the founding President of Osun Network of Obas, he became one of the first to lead real collaborative change in our State. In addition to his leadership on many critical regional efforts, he played important leadership roles in the state and national organizations that brought positive recognition to our traditional institution — such as the Chairman, Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun aka College Intervention Committee, member Boundary Adjustment Committee, member, Ila Traditional Council. A former Dean of Faculty at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree. This list could go on and on.
And contrary to what it may seem, he did not say yes to everything. When asked to take on a new responsibility, he would say, “Give me a few days to think about it.” He would ponder how the new activity would affect his other responsibilities. But if he said yes, you could count on him to get it done.
Thirdly, exceptional leaders pay attention to the future, as well as to current opportunities and Oba Dr. Taiwo Ayeni did that better than anyone else in his town. Since his death, Facebook and group WhatsApp have been filled with tributes of people he mentored. I have been privileged to be in numerous conversations in the past few days where I heard stories of how he reached out to people at critical moments.
Oba Taiwo Ayeni rarely told you what to do, but he helped you discover the right way forward through questions and funny stories. He helped you to have the perseverance and courage to do the right thing. He did not share his judgment, he advised. But if you asked him to judge, he would.
The loss of “HRM Oba Dr. Taiwo Ayeni the Mentor” is the greatest loss I fear for our community in the near term. If Oba Ayeni could give us advice right now, he would probably tell us that this is the time for us to step up, even as we grieve. Oba Ayeni would tell us to fill the hole and do our best work. Don’t wait for someone to tell us what to do but step forward and do the work that needs to be done.
This is how I want to remember my Friend and King, OBA DR. TAIWO OLÚFÚNMINÍYÌ AYENI. As the person who pushed the entire Igbomina Kingdom forward in doing good and important work that is transforming our community.
Kájolà Àjàbà in particular and Ila-Orangun at large are better places because Oba Taiwo Ayeni lived here and led here. While we grieve this loss of an exceptional leader, let us not give up. Oba Taiwo Ayeni would be disappointed if we did not continue onward and become the place that he always envisioned us to be — a place of prosperity, opportunity and community.
Good night our Legendary Leader and King, Oba Dr. Taiwo Ayeni, Agbégbáajé 1, Owálójà of Kájolà Àjàbà.
Sun re o
Omo Ekùn,
Omo Ebóso,
Omo eni a rin honho ko l’ona.
Omo Igbonnibi,
Omo Adegbiji Lado,
Omo Orangun Ile Ila
