ELENIYAN!

Whether it is Mangoro, Apogbon or Alausa, no matter who the messenger was, the message is always the same.

” Editor says he does not want to see ANYBODY!”
“MD does not want to see ANYBODY!”
” The Commissioner does not want to see ANYBODY!”
Translation: Steve Ayorinde is pissed at you!

(Please note that him not wanting to see anyone, is different from not seeing anybody, means that he is busy, and if he could not help it, he will promise to call back, even if it is during the small hours of night, which he would)

I have known Steve a long time, and during that period, I could count the number of times he raised his voice in anger, he would rather whip you with his caustic tongue than allow the third party to know what was amiss.

Or he would avoid you completely, until his anger is brought under control, and he could give a reprimand in his soft, even voice.

That is why he is never stressed, because he would not allow the agro to get to him.

So, when people ask me how come he is always so calm and collected, I shrug my shoulder and tell them I don’t know.

But I do know, and that is what is what, what?

Steve Oluwaseyi Ayorinde, ekun oko Temitope, the Hennesy loving, Culture promoting, multi lingual journalist, writer and administrator, loves to work hard and play hard, He is at home in the boardroom as well as in the club.

His internal clock does not distinguish between day or night. The day ends when the work is done. And woe betides you if you keep glancing at your watch or giving the discrete cough to call his attention to the fact that it is well past midnight.

Eleniyan’s strength lies not only in his work ethic, but also in his loyalty to his family, his work, his boss, his staff and his friends. He gives his all, and those he works for/with reciprocate in kind.

I remember a particular year when plans were already concluded to celebrate his birthday, and a call came in that he must meet with the board in London that very day, his birthday!.

He put aside all his plans, took the next available flight, and was in London on time for the meeting. It was later that the board learnt of his sacrifice, which was duly acknowledged.

And I cannot count the number of times he had stood by his convictions, his staff, his profession and his friends, even at the risk of his job!.

And all these would have been done with minimum fuss, without ceremony. Sometime not even the beneficiary would be aware of his role in the matter.

Happy birthday, Steve Ayorinde, Stevo Eleniyan, Omo odo Agba. Many happy returns of the day.

Igba odun, odun kan, Omo Iya.

My Ten Kobo.