Afenifere chiefs mourn Olaniwun Ajayi

By Funmi Akinbolu On Nov 4, 2016

The death of Chief Olaniwun Ajayi has been described as the end of an era in the quest to have a well-structured Yoruba nation.
Dr. Akin Onigbinde, one of the leading lights of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, while reacting to the death of the chieftain, described him as one of the aides of Chief Obafemi Awolowo who kept the faith till the end.
Ajayi, a lawyer, author, administrator and former Commissioner in the defunct Western State, died in Lagos on Thursday night in a Lagos hospital.
An indigene of Isara, Ogun State, he was 91.
One of his children, Kanyinsola, is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Onigbinde said: “Baba Olaniwun Ajayi was one of the aides of Awolowo who defended Awo’s pan-Yoruba legacy till the end. A great author, he had a great conviction that the Yoruba nation can be greater than what it is right now. May his soul rest in peace.”
Another Afenifere chieftain and former governorship candidate in Osun State, Akinrogun Tunde Odanye, said: “He lived a fulfilled life and left behind successful children and grandchildren. He was always fighting, through his books, for civil rights, democracy, justice and a better country. A politician of intellectual bent, his knowledge of the law was unrivalled.
“His communication skill was unequalled and at 91, I believe God gave him the grace of long life and prosperity. He has finished his race and kept the faith. It is for those left behind to continue the fight for a better Nigeria”.
Former Commissioner for Information in Ekiti State, Chief Niyi Afuye, described Ajayi as “a patriot”.
He said: “He was always clean in appearance, well organised and a family man. An Awoist, I will always miss my regular visit to him to draw from his pool of knowledge and wisdom.
“A great Yoruba man has departed. May his soul rest in peace”.
Before his death, Ajayi’s chamber is a leading law firm with a broad financial, corporate, energy and natural resources, and regulatory advisory practice.
With over 50 years’ experience in helping organisations, governments and individuals achieve their goals, the firm has developed particular expertise in sophisticated commercial transactions.
A fact illustrated by a track record of involvement in some of the largest and most complex transactions across many dynamic sectors of the Nigerian economy.
Olaniwun Ajayi LP is a pan-African practice with offices in key African cities and lawyers who are qualified in multiple jurisdictions, notably, Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States (U.S.).
Over the years, the firm has consistently provided legal services to some of the biggest corporations in Africa and across the globe, equipping the firm with a good mix of local knowledge and international expertise.
This enables the firm to provide its clients with the bespoke and highly personalised service expected of a top commercial law firm providing value for money while keeping abreast of the dynamic pace of the business world.
The fulcrum of the firm’s strategy is the assiduous protection of its clients’ interests, employing sound judgment and innovative tools for reducing, mitigating, and where possible, eliminating the risks involved in the various aspects of their businesses.