Learning life’s lessons from ex-governor’s wife, Florence Ajimobi

WIFE of the immediate past governor of Oyo State, Dr (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi, can be described as someone who has seen it all. Apart from the fact that she’s been married for 39 years, at 60 years of age, she has encountered many challenges in life, which she now wants to share with the coming generation so as to guide them in forging their own parts.

On Tuesday, literary lovers listened to Mrs Ajimobi when she spoke on her book, ‘Reflections and Life Lessons at 60: My Life Like A Rainbow, at the American Corner, in Ibadan.

Mrs Ajimobi had earlier presented the book during her 60th birthday earlier this year, but the book reading brought together secondary school students, literary lovers and those who admire the former governor’s wife.

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The event also offered a glimpse into the next assignment Mrs Ajimobi would be embarking upon after the end of tenure of her husband, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, as Oyo State governor.

Going by how the event went, it is now certain that Mrs Ajimobi is set on a new journey entirely, which is using her wealth of experience during her childhood, marriage and what she saw while her husband held sway as the governor in Oyo State, to benefit the younger generation.

In her welcome address, the Executive Director of the Initiative for Information Arts and Culture Development in Nigeria (IACD), Mrs Adefemi Bucknor-Arigbede, commended the author, Mrs Ajimobi, for sharing her life experiences, as well as her life in public view.

“Mrs Ajimobi is telling her story as a service to motherhood for others who are just starting their marital journey.

“She also connects with the young, as she lays bare her childhood, and all the challenges she faced as a love child and how she was able to surmount those childhood challenges.

“However, after overcoming, her life is now like a rainbow, and that is how she came about the title of the book,” Bucknor-Arigbede said.

The chairman on the occasion, Mrs Funmi Roberts, in her remarks, testified to the positive traits of the author, while saying, “there are very few role models in the society today, but I am happy that Mrs Ajimobi has stepped up to guide the upcoming generation using her experience.

“The book will, therefore, bring out the best in us, as it is filled with a story of courage and authenticity,” Mrs Roberts, a lawyer, said.

Invited secondary school students read from parts of the book.

One of the book’s discussants, Dr Omolara Smith of Molly Specialist Hospital, described the book as a true life experience of a woman who didn’t have the potential for success, but went on to surmount all her challenges, while working her way to relevance through the support of God.

“With her background, many would simply accept their lot, but Mrs Ajimobi didn’t. Her courage then propelled her in her business and marriage.

“We should not judge anyone by what we hear from third parties because we don’t know what such people went through in life.

“This book, therefore, transcends barriers and everybody should endeavour to read it, as the experiences were garnered over a period of six decades,” Dr Smith said.

The second discussant, Mrs Dolapo Oyedipe, described the book as a historic memoir, while saying its lessons apply to everyone, irrespective of status.

“Every page in the book has a lesson to be learnt, and one of the most important lessons is that life will always be challenging, but it is one’s determination that will take one to the top.

“A lot of people don’t know about the humanitarian gestures of Mrs Ajimobi; I worked with her and I can say part of what she is doing to assist people is that she has 11 clinics where people are treated free of charge. There is also a home where she takes care of motherless children, and the list is endless,”  Mrs Oyedipe said.

While speaking on how the book came to be, the author said when she was turning 60, she realised she had a lot of experience to share with the younger generation, and with her husband’s tenure over, she would now dedicate her life to building young people.

Mrs Ajimobi went down memory lane from her childhood as a love child, to her years in school, especially how meeting the then governor of the old Western Region, Brigadier Adeyinka Adebayo, changed her orientation, to when she started working in Lagos and how she finally met her husband.

While many might be thinking Mrs Ajimobi had it rosy as the wife of the governor, she said in her husband’s first year as governor, she cried every night, not understanding that he was no longer only living for her and her children, but for the whole Oyo State.

She also spoke about her challenges in marriage, but stated that her father-in-law welcomed her with open arms.

With Mrs Ajimobi no longer being the wife of a governor, she now has enough time to do what she loves best, that is, using her wealth of experience to guide today’s young generation so that they can take hold of their lives, irrespective of their backgrounds.

The book is, therefore, a must-read for anyone who wants to know the former Oyo State first lady better, and who wants to tap from her experiences of 60 years.