By Banji Ayoola
Tributes have continued to rain on the departed celebrated writer and wordsmith, Mr Taoheed Ajao.
Ajao, a columnist with the Ondo State Government-owned The Hope newspaper, and former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs & Communications to the immediate past Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, passed on on Saturday in his Ondo City home at 69.
A former Chief Press Secretary to Mimiko, Mr Eni Akinsola, wrote in a tribute titled: “A fine gentleman goes home.” : “Taoheed Ajao, chemical engineer, wordsmith, humane, debonair gentle man just bowed out. He signed out in the early hours of Saturday, 30th January 2021, after a very brief illness.
“He left in the thick of the confusing affliction called Covid 19. He was a man who is fine in all ways imaginable. Fine in his person, fine in his character, fine in his carriage, fine in his composure, fine in his words, fine in his dressing, Taoheed Ajao was also fine in his written words.
“Knowledgeable in most things, inquisitive and probing for more knowledge, he was an ardent reader and a prolific writer.
“We are not composed enough to compose a worthy obituary of this great son of Ondo land. We are still lost in this loss. We pray that the Almighty will find us all, family, friends and acolytes, deserving of consolation and grant him deserved peace.”
Following are some of the other tributes:
Debo Akinbami : He was all as worded. He was even more. Yes, “lost in this loss”- costly. May God bless his soul and memory.”
Soji Tinubu: Taoheed Ajao was one of the 5 men cohort that I lead into Tri-State University, Angola IN in 1973. The above tribute definitely captures the true essence of the fine man Taoheed. I thank God I was able to reconnect with him recently. I pray that God Almighty comfort his family. A truely FINE man.
Ayo Fadaka: Big loss indeed!
Wale Akinlosotu:Bros Taoheed was indeed an all-round FINE MAN…he will be sorely missed! May Allah comfort his family and grant us all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Ibrahim Yusuf:May the Lord bless his soul and grant his immediate family the fortitude to bear the loss. Amen.
Akinwale Damilola: An embodiment of humility, handsome gentleman, highly cerebral, cultured and reserved. May your gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace. Oh death, where is thy sting?
Henry Akinriboya:tThis is unbelievable. I’m shocked beyond words. We spoke a few days ago. You promised to assist with the admission of my daughter’s friend into the University of Medical sciences, Ondo . Adieu a man of uncommon civility.
Chief Rotimi Williams Fadoju: Yes, shock beyond belief. May God grant his soul eternity.
Seyi Omoyeni Henry: Wasn’t this man the same Ajao who used to string for The Hope newspaper as a columnist? What a sad loss this is! He was such a profound and unique intellectual columnist whose page I used to follow religiously.I’m sad! We lost a great intellectual!
Ademola Adegoke:Uncle Taoheed Ajao. You were an embodiment of loyalty and I admired you greatly from afar..
Debo Akinbami: We lost the worth of words in Taoheed Ajao! I feel diminished.
Joseph Adegboyega:1The loss a schoolmate from St Joseph’s College Ondo Nigeria is a big and sad one. May Allah ( Al Rahmani, Al Raheem) grant him eternal Rest, Amin. Rest In Peace my friend Taoheed Ajao! We were once young and good-looking!
Shile Ayoola:Taoheed Ajao EGIN TAOHEED…AN ICON IS GONE…I don’t know if I can ever come to terms with this or ever get over it. I have been crying since 4am of day before yesterday but the tears can never bring you back egin. I never knew this sickness will result to this. Four days ago, you spoke with audible and healthy voice depicting a sound state.. I pray your wife and children are given quick recovery from this IJN.
Kayode Ojomo: Egbon mi Taoheed Ajao , YOUR DEPARTURE TO THE GREAT BEYOND , CONSEQUENT UPON YOUR SUDDEN DEATH & BURIAL TODAY CAME TO ME WITH THE RUDEST SHOCK THIS AFTERNOON…. YOU WERE TOO WARM, LOVING , SUPPORTIVELY KIND , INTELLECTUALLY SOLID & LINGUISTICALLY ARTICULATED TO BE SORELY MISSED BY ALL OF US WHOSE LIVES YOU IMPACTED WITH YOUR AWESOMELY INTIMIDATING LITERARY PROWESS AND ASTONISHINGLY CONFOUNDING AND AXIOMATICALLY EXPOSITORY LITERARY GENIUS! The LITERARY PILLAR is gone! “LITERARY GIANT” Kayode Ojomo is with Kehinde Omoniyi and 47 others. …..DEPARTURE OF AN ICONIC MEDIA GURU , VIVACIOUSLY CEREBRAL LINGUISTIC & POLITICAL COMPASS !!!
Olamide Ark’bishop Akinmolayan: Uncle Taoheed Ajao, Earlier today, I posted about your demise but I deleted the post telling myself you can’t be dead, there must have been a mix up. Confirming your death now left me sad. What a world. I saw you last at an event two weeks ago. We greeted, you gave me some cash for a job well done (which you often do). I made eye contact with you when you were leaving and you waved me “goodbye”. I didn’t know that was the last farewell sir. This is disheartening Enire lo! I never knew that was the last time I’d see you. What a shock! Who writes better than Uncle Taoheed Ajao? A gentle man A custodian of language and culture. A lover of the Ondo dialect. Sir, you lived a fulfilled life and you shall be missed dearly. It is so sad to say goodbye.
Jumoke Akindele: His brilliant writing and eloquent submissions were unmatched.
The Griot of Ondo Kingdom is gone. A reliable encyclopedia Ekimogun is lost. Adieu uncle Taoheed Ajao.
No! Say this is not true! I can’t believe that Taoheed Ajao is gone! I am now feeling old because so many people (classmates and schoolmates) are dying!
HIGHLY CEREBRAL, AND QUINTESSENTIAL GENTLEMAN.LIKE A CANDLE IN THE WIND…..TAOHEED AJAO.
