Late Chief Olayemi: Tributes, Encomiums Pour In As Dignitaries Pay Last Respect

By Babatunde Kaka

Moving encomium and heartfelt tributes have continued to pour in for late quintessential Epe politician and administrator, chief GA Olayemi.

Chief Olayemi, a political gladiator of Epe stock, died on January 9th at the age of 89.

Dignitaries, influential persons and illustrious sons and daughters of Epe converged at his residence located at at Odo-Shiwola residence in Eredo LCDA, for his 8th day Fidau prayer.

Chief Olayemi was the pioneer Chairman of Eredo LCDA, Director General of Lagos State Teaching Service Commission TESCOM, Vice Chairman of Epe Local Government, amongst many other leadership positions.

Ekohotblog spoke with some of the creme de la creme of society at the gathering who took turns to eulogise the exemplary legacies Chief Olayemi left behind.

According to the Provost, Michael Otedola College of Education, Noforija, Epe, Prof. Nosiru Onibon, Chief Olayemi was described to be a thoroughbred personality who has left behind legacies of humility, simplicity and honesty having gotten close to the Octogenarian in a few years.

” I got closer to him a few years ago but what I can say is that I’ve found in him an amiable person, a thorough breed elderly unassuming person, gentleman for that matter, and a father of all. He was a person that would recognize everybody no matter your status. He has left for us humility, simplicity and honesty. My message to the family is that they continue to pray for Baba and take a lot from what he has left behind in terms of moral standards “, he said.

In the same vein, Otunba Omolaja Adelaja, the immediate past Chairman of Eredo LCDA has this to say about Chief Olayemi:

” He is my immediate predecessor in the office and I really thank him for what he has done, we only built on his legacy because of what h has done. Baba relates with everybody as one either male or female, old or young. We are going to miss him deeply. Like I said, he is the pioneer Chairman of Eredo LCDA. That Secretariat has been in existence for over 25 years or more than that, they are the people that laid the foundation of the LCDA, we only built on it. I pray God will give his family fortitude to bear his loss “, he said.

Also, Hon Lanre Odubote, a former member of House of Representatives, Epe Federal Constituency, revealed that Chief Olayemi harnessed his resources for the growth and development of grassroots politics in the last decade. He also stated that his altruism facilitated the recruitment of many into the Lagos State Public Service while he was Director General at TESCOM.

” He is an Icon in any political arena in Lagos State and In fact, our leader here in Eredo LCDA. We even hold our meetings here in his house in the last 10 years. His house is the house of APC in this ward. Apart from being a politician, he is a community man per excellence. When he was in the public service, so many people were recruited into the public service. He was a DG in the Public Service of Lagos State under Sir Michael Agbolade Otedola. He is an eminent personality and that is why you can see people coming to pay their last respect to him. As a member of the Olayemi family from my maternal lineage, we can not replace him in terms of education, exposure, family life. He is a big loss to the family but we have no choice, that is the will of Allah “, he said.

Apesin Ibrahim Adebola Gbabijo, former member House of Representatives, Epe Federal Constituency, wrapped it up with his personal memories with the late illustrious Ibonwon son, having described him as an irreplaceable gem with humane attributes.

” We are celebrating a great personality in the person of Chief Ganiyu Olayemi, there is no doubt about the fact that he is great and you can attest to it by the assemblage of people that are gathered here today. You can see the comportment with which they assemble. You can see their contributions in terms of cash and kind, that shows that we have lost a gem. We should emulate this good person, sincerely, he is so great that I can’t mention his achievements here. I pray God gives his family the grace to bear his loss. Personally, one of the fond memories I have with him was when he was Epe Local Government Vice Chairman, I had a one on one conversation with him and I was so impressed since that time that this is a father that one should tow his line “, he said.

From the foregoing, it is crystal clear that Late Chief GA Olayemi lived a selfless life to the service of humanity irrespective of race, tribe or ethnicity. It is our prayers from all of us at Ekohotblog that Almighty God reposes his soul and grant him an eternal abode in paradise.

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