Ex-Minister Ajibola Afonja Dies At 82
An illustrious son of Oyo town, Sulaiman Ajibola Afonja, popularly known by his company’s name, IDS, is dead.
The former minister under the interim government of Ernest Shonekan who contested the 1999 senatorial election in Oyo central under the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, APP died at 82, same day his favourite football club, Arsenal, finished second in the English Premier League, making 20 years without the coveted prize.
The industrialist who is known in his Oyo community by his company’s name, Integrated Dimesional System – IDS, reportedly sustained injuries from a lone accident he was involved at Ilora, a few kilometres from his country home and was from there rushed to UCH in Ibadan.
The influential community leader whose love for his hometown was top of his priorities was chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria at a point.
A socio-political organization— Oyo Global Forum, OGF, has mourned the death of the unifier.
Adebayo Taiwo Hassan, its president, in a statement said that “On this dark day in Oyo, we mourn the loss of Prince Ajibola Afonja, former Labour Minister and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 82. Although a national figure with tremendous influence, he was particularly light for the Oyo community where he made pioneering efforts as an industrialist. His legacy of generosity and open-heartedness touched countless lives, and his presence will be profoundly missed.
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“Until his last month, Daddy IDS, as he was affectionately known, as a reference to his manufacturing company, remained hardworking, dedicated to realizing one of the most transformative business visions for the country’s economy. It was the E-Customs project.
“His absence leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but his spirit of generosity and leadership will continue to inspire us. For all of us that he inspired, we shall honor his memory by carrying forward the values he embodied and continuing his legacy of service and compassion, the values that guide OGF, which he supported during his lifetime.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, the entire Oyo community, and friends and associates throughout the world during this time of mourning.”
