Late Ajanaku Persuaded Me to Run for President, Says Obasanjo

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was on Thursday full of eulogies for his former Presidential Adviser on Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs.) Titilayo Ajanaku, who died at the age of 78 yesterday after a brief illness in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Ajanaka, a former Chairman of Abeokuta Local Government Area of the state, was the first local council chairman in Nigeria.

Her death was confirmed by her son in a telephone chat with President Obasanjo early hours of yesterday.

Reacting to her transition, Obasanjo, in whose administration she served, said her loyalty and commitment to women affairs development was exemplary and worthy of emulation.

The former president also recalled how the late nursing professional joined other Nigerians to visit him in 1998 to persuade him to contest in the presidential election.

Obasanjo described her as a woman who would do everything in her capacity to uplift, improve and advance the cause of women, saying this largely formed  reasons for her being appointment as his Women Adviser, the position she served creditably well.

In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the former president, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo further described Ajanaku as a woman of great substance in her own right.

The former president, who wrote a personal condolence letter to the head of the Ajanaku family, stated that she played a prominent role in his decision to contest for the post of president in 1998.

"I remember vividly one of my memorable encounters with Chief Ajanaku, when she accompanied a group of politicians led by Chief S. M. Afolabi of blessed memory to my Abeokuta residence to persuade me to contest as president of Nigeria.

"It was partly their persuasion and that of other groups alike that later yielded my final submission to contest for the office of the president of Nigeria.

"In her lifetime, Ajanaku had a genuine desire to contribute her quota to building a better society through advocacy for fundamental human rights and service to humanity. She was an activist dedicated to the cause of protecting the rights of women within the context of culture, policy and law.

“An advocate of gender balance, she remained mindful of those fundamental responsibilities of women which remain critical to family life and family stability.

"All of these culminated in my appointing her as my Special Adviser on Women Affairs during my administration, and she creditably acquitted herself in every assignment given to her.

"Indeed, shortly after her appointment, it was easy to recognise her notable qualities of work ethic and commitment to public service.  She bore the responsibility of proving her mettle with the consciousness that her success would create opportunities for other women.

"As an exemplary patriot, her rare courage and contributions laid a solid foundation for Ogun State and for Nigerian women to take their rightful position in our polity. To women, she occupied a special place as a mother, role model and source of inspiration, a redoubtable champion and defender of women’s rights," he stated.

Obasanjo added: "We, therefore, join you in thanking God for such a life spent in touching so many other lives positively.  Her memory will remain evergreen in Ogun State, Nigeria and beyond for performing her duties with integrity and quite efficiency.”

In his reaction, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, expressed shock over the sudden death of Ajanaku.

Abiodun described the late Otun Iyalode of Egbaland as a foremost political activist, woman leader and an astute administrator who served the state meritoriously as the chairman of the old Abeokuta Local Government Area and the country at large at the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

“I received the news of the demise of this great woman with shock and unbelief.

Mama Ajanaku was a woman of many parts. A trained nurse, an activist fighting the course of women, a politician of high esteem and a great philanthropist,” he mourned.

While praying God to give the soul of the late Otun Iyalode of Egbaland eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, Abiodun urged them to imbibe her exemplary life of service to God and humanity.