Farewell to a patriot

ELDER Olatinwo Olugbodi was wonderfully created. ‘Latinwo and I dialogued a day before he passed away. My wife was in Florida at the time he talked with me. He had his last talk with her too. This is too untrue to be believed and too true to be believed. ‘Tinwo will be sorely missed by his family, friends, his community at large and the church where he had been a wonderful leader for decades. I met ‘Tinwo for the first time on 5:5:55. It was a very unique day. A day of hope and great expectations. Ibadan City Council, Ibadan, opened a training college to train 64 teachers. ‘Tinwo and I were two of the lucky 64 teachers to be trained. We became friends at the earliest contacts. We later discovered that our voting ward and constituency are the same. Latinwo was a man of stern qualities. Discipline, the foundation of success, was ‘Tinwo’s watchword. He was very articulate. He is eminently qualified to discuss successfully any topic from A to Z.  At Ibadan Division Teacher Training College, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, 1955 through ‘56, ‘Tinwo was the Secretary of the Literary and Debating Committee. Oke-Ado Teacher Training College was able to compete competently and favourably with Oke Are E.T.C., St. Luke’s College, Molete, G.T.T.C. Oke-Ado, Ibadan and Wesley College, Elekuro, Ibadan due in excess because of Elder ‘Tinwo Olugbodi’s leadership and literary genius.

‘Tinwo was a role model. He was a clean mirror any decent person can look to dress his/herself. He was a role model in the community, church, office and other places imaginable – schools and other institutions. He was a great educator. His education at Anglican Church School Akinayo, Baptist Church School, Idi-Ikan, Ibadan, Oke-Ado Teacher Training College and London School of Administration and Accountancy well prepared ‘Tinwo for the busy, competent, transparent and honest life he lived as a successful civil servant. Latinwo was indeed a family man. His wife, Lalonpe and himself denied themselves to give sound education to their wonderful and well-culturally behaved biological children.

‘Tinwo was humble to the last letter. His children are carbon copy of humility. This picture of God came to the level of all people and respect the dignity of others. Our friend, brother and schoolmate was commited to the spirit of college of 5:5:55. He led other classmates to Eruwa during the birthday of Elder Adedayo Adeola. ‘Tinwo was the person bonding ladies and gentlemen at home and abroad together. I hope that God will choose a person to step into 05/05/55 place. Latinwo extensively travelled globally. Times without number during a year, ‘Tinwo surfaced at Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York, offices of Nigeria Consulates in Atlanta Georgia, San Francisco, Nigeria Embassy in Washington, their counterparts in Britain, Amsterdam, France, Italy and Singapore to mention a few.

‘Tinwo was leading the team 95 per cent of the time. This team looked into the accounts of Nigeria government abroad. As a wonderfully and fearfully created ‘Tinwo Olugbodi, he worked cooperatively and respectfully to bring sanity to their books. He worked 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. when he audited accounts in foreign countries.

He retired from Federal Republic of Nigeria meritoriously. He was consulted times without number on issues pertaining to Nigeria government in foreign countries. Some of ‘Tinwo’s favourite quotations include: “let our enemies know that we’ll fight them on the land, sea and water.” Bishop Alexander Babatunde Akinyele says “A little thing is a little thing but faithfulness in a single thing is a great thing.” Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther says “one before two, two before three, occupation before pleasure,”  Other quotations he likes are “the heights reached and kept by great men were not attained by a sudden flight but they, while their companions slept, were busy toiling throughout the night”; ‘an education without that of education of 3Hs is not complete. Education of the head, heart and hand.” – President Kwame Nkruma of Ghana; “it takes a whole village to educate a child” – Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State, United States of America; “Don’t ask for what your government can do for you, ask for what you can do for your government” – President Kennedy; “Everyday that I wake up, I’ll sing Amazing Grace,” – President Barack Obama, first Black President of the United States and “the parent’s work is difficult. It is full of toil and care. It is of wisdom and of love.” – First Lady Michelle Obama, first Black First Lady of the United States. Olugbodi loved life and life was positively kind to him. His life positively impacted on other people’s lives. He woke up early so that others could sleep well. He fasted so that other people could eat. ‘Tinwo’s children will borrow leaves from his progressive books. They will unite, I trust them, to hold the banner high. God will hold the children. It is difficult to get an excellent friend, ‘Tinwo you are; it is difficult to keep good friends… but you kept them. It is difficult to forget a kind friend… We’ll never forget you. So long

• Ajao writes in from New York, United States