Bayo Titilola-Sodo, special adviser to Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, on labour matters, has described late former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, has someone who had a forgiving spirit.
Alao-Akala, OYOINSIGHT.COM had reported, died in the early hours of Wednesday at 71.
Titilola-Sodo, a retired permanent secretly and former chairman of the Oyo chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, explained that “Chief Adebayo Alao Akala was a man with a large heart who forgave easily. His politics was devoid of bitterness.
“I recall the fatherly and mediating role he played in the Oyo State government-labour crisis of 2016 when he kept appealing to us to sheath our sword when we insisted on the clearing of our salary arrears before resumption in the aftermath of the strike which followed the victimization and jailing of labour leaders at Agodi. He did all in his power to ensure peace reigned notwithstanding that he was in the opposition.
“I recall also when some twenty one senior officers were queried and suspended indefinitely for over staying in the United Kingdom after a training program. I was one of those who stayed back for a few days to visit family and friends after the training ended on a Friday not knowing that some of our colleagues already misrepresented us to the government as opposition who were waiting for the appeal court to send his government packing post 2007 elections before returning.
“We eventually met Baba Saka Balogun who helped appeal to His Excellency. He met with us and jokingly asked if he did us a bad turn by sending us on Overseas training and why we should be wishing him evil with a rider that he was not in the UK with us, it was our colleagues who regaled him of our “escapades”! He there and then ordered us back to our duty posts.
“Labour also enjoyed his administration thoroughly even if we had some skirmishes.
He was a statesman worthy of emulation. May his gentle soul rest In perfect peace. May God be with his family. We shall miss the big man. Baba Oyato!,” he extolled.
