Ayodeji Tinubu was the true definition of HUMILITY. Occupying the exalted position of Special Adviser to the Lagos state Governor on Sports and later Commerce & Industry didn’t change him as he remained down to earth. Simplicity personified.
Our last conversation was Thursday January 18, 2018. I wanted to pay him a visit in his new office at the Lagos state government secretariat, Alausa and I asked for an invite. His response was “Haba, Godwin, invite ke! Please, you can come in at anytime”. Sadly, I couldn’t keep the appointment with him on Thursday, January 25, 2018 because of other engagements. I called his phone many times same day but he didn’t pick and as usual, I expected him to call back as he normally does with apology but lo and behold, I got the shock of my life when someone close to the seat of government in Lagos sent me a text message same evening that read “We’ve just lost Deji Tinubu’. Everything around me went blank.
I tried reaching out to his very close friends like Bode Oguntuyi, Sola Aiyepekun and Deji Omotoyinbo but non of them picked their calls. I however got in touch with Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, the Lagos state Football Association chairman. I wanted him to tell me the reported story of my friend and brother’s death was not true. But he was just hearing it from me. He couldn’t comprehend the news and asked me to give him time to find out the truth. He got back to me a few minutes later and he did confirm my worse fears-Deji Tinubu was indeed no more.
How did I survive Thursday night? Special thanks to my wife, Efe who sat by my aside and comforted me all through, she ensured I took paracetamol because I had developed serious headache and running temperature. I barely could sleep. I woke up next morning with reality starring me in the face that Deji is actually dead.
DT as I fondly called him ensured that the Lagos state Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode approved the reconstruction of Agege stadium to meet Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) requirement to host continental games; this was in addition to monetary reward to players and officials of Mountain Of Fire & Miracles Ministries Football Club, the team that will be representing Lagos and Nigeria in the CAF Champions League. MFMFC plays at Agege stadium.
As we mourn the glorious home call of Deji, I am consoled with the fact that I am yet to come across anyone who has nothing good to say about him. RIP, DT.
Please, for those who never met him, permit me to reproduce my recent interview with him.
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