User:S.A Ajayi OFR

The late Chief Samuel Aliu Ajayi, Balogun of Ogidi was born in 1910.

Chief Ajayi started school at St Cyprian’s School, Ovim and later proceeded to Obayi Central School also in Ovim. He attended Etinan Institute in today’s Akwa Ibom State and began his working life at the famous Hope Waddel Training Institute, Calabar. He was later transferred to Mamfe in the Cameroons and after a three year stint; he proceeded to Ibadan Grammar School from where he graduated in 1947, form there he proceeded to Cambridge university college of linguistic. His desire to run a civil service career was temporarily halted by a royal call to duty when his community requested him to come home and serve them. His first major achievement among his people was the mobilization of resources and personal supervision of the construction of the bridge linking Igbolayere with Ayere. The collapse of the bridge at that time had virtually paralyzed economic activities and communication between Ogidi and Ayere. That achievement endeared the young man to his people and earned him commendation from the colonial District Officer. He was widely seen as the all important Inspector of Works – Overseer (Obasia) which also earned him the sobriquet Sofiyo (Surveyor). Chief Ajayi served as the Technical Officer in the Public Works Department (PWD) in Lokoja in the then Kabba Province. He later went into private business as a trader and transporter.

In no time, his popularity with the local folks lured him into politics. He served his constituency with passion and sincerity and became an elected member representing Ogidi in the Ijumu Native Authority as well as the Supervisory Councilor in the Bunu-Ijumu-Kabba Joint Committee. His well deserved rise on the political landscape earned him a seat in the Northern House of Assembly on the platform of the defunct Northern People’s Congress. He was also a delegate to the Nigerian Constitutional Conference in London which culminated in the attainment of independence for the country. Chief Ajayi also served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the then Premier of the defunct Northern Region and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello and was appointed into the cabinet as a Minister of State, a post he held until the 1966 military intervention. Chief S. A Ajayi became one of the foremost Northern Nigeria Politician, He was the only christian in the First republic cabinet of Tafawa Balewa, he was one time the Parliamentaty secretary to Sadauna of Sokoto, a Legislator, minister of Interior, Minister of Forestry(state) Chief S.A Ajayi served Nigeria passionately, his participation and input as a delegate to the London Constitutional Conference in London also strengthened the process of Nigeria's Sovereignty.

On the return of the country to civil rule in 1979, Chief Ajayi resumed his political career and joined the defunct National Party of Nigeria in the former Kwara State. In recognition of his meritorious service to the nation, he was awarded the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).Chief Ajayi was passionate about Education, in his life time he sponsored over 300 people to school on schorlaship.He made sure that he facilitated to establishment of a saterlite campus of Ahmadu Bello University in his constituency: College of Agriculture, Kabba Kogi State.

He was in the forefront of the agitation for the creation of Ijumu Local Government. He was the National President, Ogidi Development Union and until his death, he gave scholarships to many indigent sons and daughters of Bunu, Ijumu and Kabba In recognition of his selfless service to his people, he was conferred with the chieftaincy titles of Oluwole of Ijumuland, Maiyegun of Okoro-Gbedde and Balogun of Ogidi. He was until his death the Patron of the Ijumu Students Union. Chief Samuel Aliu Ajayi died in 1994.