Culture
Yoruba Nation Loses a Titan — Dr. Kunle Olajide Mourns Awolowo Disciple
By Joseph Sunday
Veteran politician and former Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr. Kunle Olajide, has described the death of a revered elder statesman and staunch disciple of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as a monumental loss to the Yoruba nation and Nigeria.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Treasure Newspaper on Wednesday morning, shortly after news of the passing broke, Dr. Olajide said the deceased, who lived to 100, was a calm and level-headed intellectual who stood for peaceful politics and detested violence.
“That was a very, very sad event in Nigerian history, especially in Yorubaland. He was a great titan and a great follower of Chief Obafemi Awolowo,” he said.
“Those of us who were active in politics in the old Ondo State, comprising present-day Ekiti and Ondo States, remember him well as an intellectual who was very calm. He never wanted violence. He stood for peaceful electioneering.”
Dr. Olajide, a prominent figure in the Liberal Convention, said their closeness was built on mutual respect despite different political affiliations.
“That was why he admired me so much. In spite of the fact that I was challenging the Afenifere group, they loved me because of my politics without bitterness and my respect for elders,” he recalled.
He noted that the elder statesman died peacefully in his sleep, without illness or accident, describing his transition as honourable.
“My first comment when I heard the news this morning was that nobody who is alive will not one day pass away. The last of the titans of the Yoruba nation has gone,” he said.
Dr. Olajide urged younger politicians to emulate the late leader’s virtues by placing public interest above selfish ambition and shunning politics of violence.
He added that what he would cherish most was how the Afenifere leadership continued to accommodate him even though he openly disagreed with them.
“I was not in the Afenifere group. I was in the Liberal Convention because I felt Afenifere was too dogmatic. Time and tide change, and what was right 40 years ago might not be right now. What gladdens my heart is that the leadership of Afenifere admired me. Even though they could not support me openly because I was opposing their candidate, they were wishing me well and inviting me to meetings,” he said.
Describing the deceased as a fantastic, elegant and peace-loving gentleman who lived a fulfilled life, Dr. Olajide prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul.
“It is indeed a great loss to the Yoruba Nation, not only to the state, but to the Yoruba Nation and to Nigeria in general,” he added.
