Ekiti State governor, Mr. Kayode Fayemi has revealed that he still finds it difficult to believe Abiola Ajimobi is late.
Fayemi, who stated this while delivering a keynote address at the 3rd annual roundtable and 71st posthumous birthday of the late Ajimobi in Ibadan, on Wednesday, noted that he had a deep admiration for him.
“I am very delighted to join you today to be part of this event held in remembrance of Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, who, as part of activities marking his birthday three years ago, instituted this Roundtable to discuss topical issues of national importance. I have always had a deep admiration for the late Sen. Ajimobi for his near perfect of character. He was witty, erudite, scholarly, brilliant, street-wise and aristocratic at the same.
“As I indicated in my letter to him this day last year when he celebrated his 70th birthday, I stated that … “there is something unique about him which has always kept me enamoured: the penetrating effect of his persona and the ingratiating charm of his charisma. In the single body of Ajimobi rests a duality of a stoic philosopher and a gregarious personality, an attribute which readily endears him to every stratum of the society. He is as sophisticated in taste, as he is simple in style”. It is difficult to accept that he is no longer here with us today.
“In life and in death, Sen. Ajimobi was an epitome of excellence and you see that trailing him in everything he did. I am therefore glad that his worthy estate has sustained this programme and has gone a little further to institutionalise it through an affiliation with the Institute for Peace & Strategic Studies of the University of Ibadan.
“As a former governor and the first governor to win a two term in Oyo State, there is no doubt that a topic that examines the place of States and the challenges they face in their quest for national development is a worth thing to honour the memory of a distinguished governor as Sen. Abiola Ajimobi.
“I therefore commend the organisers for keeping the faith, and particularly for the choice of the theme,”he said.
