AN OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR ON THE DEMISE OF KEHINDE AYOOLA*
HE Engr. Seyi Makinde,
Governor of Oyo State,
Governor’s Office,
Ibadan.
Saturday, May 16th, 2020.
Your Excellency Sir,
Greetings to you, Mr Governor sir. May God continue to guide and guard as you discharge your duties to the good people of Oyo State.
With a heavy heart, I write, as a concerned citizen and friend/brother/mentee/protégé of the deceased Rt Hon Kehinde Ayoola, this letter to you.
Around November 24, 2011 or thereabouts, Hon. Ayoola told me about his impending trip to Lekki, Lagos in order to see you for a political discussion. He proceeded on that trip with Engr. Muyiwa “Muye” Laniyan, the Captain of the Tiger Golf Club, Odogbo Cantonment, Ibadan. Upon his return, he told me the purpose of the meeting was to broach the idea of a shot at the Oyo State Governorship in the 2015 General Elections to you.
Without any doubt whatsoever, the late Kehinde Ayoola spent the last nine years of his life largely serving you. He did that loyally, dutifully and fantastically. As you described him, he was indeed your “dependable friend”.
Mr. Governor Sir, the crux of my letter is to convey my displeasure with your non physical appearance at the home of the deceased. I had expected that you would be the first person to call at the home of the Ayoolas. Pls note that this is without prejudice to your gruelling schedules. I am only saying this in line with the Yoruba maxim of “eni to soju ko dabi eni to seyin”.
Your Excellency, I am aware of the decision of the state to fly the state’s flag at half mast and the visit of the Deputy Governor and other members of the State Executive Council but like Oliver Twist I feel Ayoola deserved more.
Accordingly, I urge Your Excellency to seize the initiative by paying the family a condolence visit. The wife of the deceased, Professor Olukemi Titilayo Ayoola, an erudite Professor of Agronomy at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and his young children, Folarin Ajagbe and BeeniOluwawi Adigun who are undergraduates need all the empathy they can get at this time.
I also pray Your Excellency to immortalize him in the best way possible. This could be done either by naming a monument after him or scholarship for his children or even professional empowerment for his wife or all of the above.
While expecting your favourable consideration, kindly accept the warm assurances of my highest regards.
Yours Sincerely,
Prince Adetayo Adekunle, MSC, MCPA.
For and on behalf of the protégés/lovers/friends of the late Kehinde Ayoola.
