First son of a former Commissioner for Health in the defunct western region, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, who died on Thursday, speaks about the values his father holds dear in this interview with GBENGA ADENIJI

Can you briefly describe yourself?

My name is Ola Ajayi and I am a medical doctor. I am the first child of four children of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi. My immediate younger sister, Mrs. Dara Odubogun is also a medical doctor, the third child is a lawyer, Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN, who was recently ordained as a minister and the last child is Mrs. Olayimika Philips who is also a lawyer.

What memory of your growing years with your father can you recall?

My immediate younger sister, Dara, and I were raised in Yaba area of Lagos by our grandmother because our parents were abroad then. My brother and the last child were born abroad. While my parents were away, our grandmother was the one who took care of our initial upbringing. When the rest of the family returned from abroad in the 60s, we joined them and moved to a place in Palmgrove.

What was the reunion like when the rest of the family returned from abroad?

I cannot really recollect what the reunion was like then. I was a little boy. But I remember that my grandfather was very happy and he went to Apapa to welcome them. There was joy everywhere but we were too young to understand what was happening.

When all members of the family started living together, what impression of your father did you get?

I discovered that his family means a lot to him. He is a very strict father but loving too. He is a father that desired the best of education for his children and he did not compromise that. Our parents ensured we had the best of education. I remember when I was in high school, he just called me one day to say I would be going abroad to finish it. There was no prior discussion about it but the decision was taken because our parents wanted us to have quality education.

How did he support his children’s academic dreams?

As a matter of fact, I understand that my father had decided the course each of his children would study. So, he guided our education along that line. For instance, he wanted me to be a surgeon, my immediate younger sister, a paediatrician, Konyinsola, a lawyer and my other sister, incidentally had three degrees. She did Botany because she could not get Pharmacy which was what my father wanted. She later returned to the university to study Pharmacy and I think she got bored and Konyinsola called her to join him in his law practice. She joined him and later returned to the university to study law.

Why did your father influence your career choice?

Well, what made it easy was that we accepted his guidance. We all went in the direction he advised us to take. It was not an issue at all. It was not as if we were forced to do what he wanted us to do. For instance, before I went to the university to study medicine, my father bought me a dissecting set and I would cut lizards and toads as if I were a medical doctor. This was the kind of thing that my father exposed us to as children. It was as if things happened the way he wanted it and we just moved in the path he had charted for us to follow.

When he became commissioner for health in the defunct western region, what was his schedule like?

My father was in Ibadan with my mother when he became commissioner for health in the old western region. I was in the University of Ife then (now Obafemi Awolowo University). Each time the school was on vacation, I would go to Ibadan to see him because we have a home in Lagos and Ibadan. He was very busy at his station but he still created time to be with his family because he is a very loving father who does not joke with his family.

How much of him did you see when he joined politics?

He was always at home, around his family even as a politician.

Was he not attending the usual nocturnal meetings of politicians?

I do not recollect him attending nocturnal meetings as a politician. My father never stayed out late. He was always at home early even after attending one political event or the other. He had time for his family. My brother had some political affiliations so he usually travelled with him around the country. My brother was more with him during those days. Being a lawyer like my father, they both get along very well in that area. I am not really into politics so I did not really take much interest in it. But one thing is that my father had time for all of us when we were growing up.

Did he take the family out on picnics?

Yes he did. I recall that we used to go to Takwa Bay in those days when he was an assistant legal adviser in United African Company of Nigeria. There was a guest house opposite the place. I remember that we went in the company’s boat for a picnic from time to time. He likes water and he still likes it. He really likes the awesomeness of water.

When he was younger did he participate in any sports?

I know that he once played lawn tennis when he was much younger because his lawn tennis racket is in my custody. He gave the racket to me. Though I have never seen him play the game, he told me that he played it.

What is his favourite meal?

My father is a light eater. He likes fruits a lot. He also likes vegetables. I know that my late mother used to buy them a lot for him. He either eats the fruits grilled or ordinary. He loves eating more protein than carbohydrate. He eats very little eba with stew and very little rice with stew.

How did he correct any of his children who erred?

Whenever the need arose for him to use the whip, he did not hesitate to do so particularly on me because I was the one always getting into trouble in the house. I remember one incident at Ilupeju. He always told us that we should tell the truth always. I think it was my third day in school and I wrote numbers 1 to 50 on the wall. I started writing the numbers on the wall of the corridor, from its beginning to the end. Being a boy, I did not even bother to clean it. I just left it there and went to sleep. When he came back from work, he saw the writing on the wall. I think he knew I was the one who wrote it because he asked me if I was the one who wrote it and I said I was the one. He looked at me and said I was a good boy and that because I spoke the truth, he would only cane me twice and not the six strokes of the cane he earlier intended to give the culprit. He still caned me but the caning was reduced because I told the truth. He is strict but a very good father.

What values have you imbibed from him?

In terms of religion, my father is a very religious man. As a Methodist, he made us imbibe the culture of praying and being close to God. Like I said earlier, he disciplined us not to tell lies. He taught us to be kind to our neighbours and people around us. He made us not to take more than anything we need. Generally, I learnt from him to be God-fearing, loving, to speak the truth, stand for what one believes in and show integrity in whatever one does.

Why were you not influenced by your father’s many law books as a child to follow his career path as a lawyer?

I think the first reason why I did not develop interest in law is because I never liked the arts. Again, because he had opened channels for us to follow, I just walked in that line. I am a very hands-on person. I like using my hands rather than reading things like literature. I like sciences a lot. I like things that I can see and feel. They make more sense to me.

In what ways have you benefitted from your father’s name?

He is a respected man in the Christian circle, politics, in Isara, Ogun State, where he comes from. But we do not go seeking for favours or contacts in his name. He taught us to be self-standing and not to depend on anybody. When people identify us as his children, they often say ‘Oh, you come from a very good family.’ This is the kind of remarks we get from people whenever they know we are the children of Sir Olaniwun Ajayi. We always feel a sense of pride with such remark. The name is very important to us but we do not use the name to seek for favours as I stated.

How did he handle disagreements with his wife?

I do not think my siblings and I ever witnessed any disagreement between the two of them. I did not for one day hear them quarrel over anything. It never happened. My mother was a very gentle person and my father does not raise his voice over any matter. May be behind closed doors when they were alone but we never witnessed any argument in the open between them.

Your father has authored books on Nigerian history and politics. How many of the books have you read?

I have read only two of his books. The first is Nigeria: Africa’s Failed Asset? and Isara Afotamodi: My Jerusalem.

What opinion of him do you have after reading the two books?

A man who speaks out his mind, who is not afraid of anyone. He says things as they are. He believes in the Yoruba race and a lot of his texts are in this light.

How does he relax?

In those days he was not a television person and that is the way it is today. He listens to the news. Even till now, he tells me to tune the channel to Cable News Network. Now that he is older he sleeps more and he still writes books. He reads all the newspapers, starting with THE PUNCH.

Does he have any dressing style?

My father likes wearing traditional wears fitted with native caps. He often matches traditional attire with any of the good shoes specially-made for him from abroad.

Who are his friends?

Some of his friends are members of the Yoruba organisation, Afenifere. But his closest friend that I know is Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

What moments do you cherish with him?

I learn a lot from his counsel. He guides me a lot. If there is anything I am not sure about, I would call him and discuss with him. Sometimes, he could tell me to come over to the house. He would give me his time and once he advises me I listen to him because I believe so much in his counsel. I believe so much in my father.

This interview was first published in PUNCH on September 22, 2013