By Prosper Mene
Chief (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi, widow of the late former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has opened up about the profound impact of her husband’s legacy more than five years after his passing, describing their over 40 years together as the foundation of enduring love, resilience, and public service.
In a poignant reflection marking what would have been another milestone in their shared life, Mrs. Ajimobi spoke of the late governor, affectionately known as the “Koseleri” of Oyo politics, as her greatest supporter, mentor, and strength. “He spoilt me with love and spoiled me with wisdom,” she recalled. “We married in 1980 after just six months of courtship, and those years were the best of my life. He was not just my husband; he was my friend, my father figure, my everything.”
The late Senator Ajimobi, who served as Oyo State’s first two-term governor from 2011 to 2019, is widely credited with transforming the state through infrastructure development, urban renewal, and educational initiatives, earning him the moniker “Architect of Modern Oyo.” His widow emphasized that his vision continues to thrive through ongoing projects like the Abiola Ajimobi Technical University and the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation.
“This achievement is a testament to the fact that the legacy of Senator Abiola Ajimobi is alive, well, and thriving,” Mrs. Ajimobi recently stated while celebrating a student’s international success from the university her husband founded. “It is built on an unshakable belief in the potential of our youth and purposeful leadership.”
Through the foundation’s initiatives, including the annual roundtable discussions, food banks, healthcare support for cancer and maternal care, and the ABC House for vulnerable children, Mrs. Ajimobi has steadfastly preserved her husband’s philanthropic spirit. “He came, saw, and conquered,” she said in earlier tributes. “His legacies in Oyo State and Nigeria will forever live on. I miss him deeply, but I know he would want me to be strong and uphold what he built.”
Despite personal challenges, including the tragic loss of their eldest daughter earlier this year, Mrs. Ajimobi has emerged as a pillar of quiet strength, continuing community programs via the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre and recently earning recognition with a presidential ambassadorial nomination.
As Oyo State reflects on the late governor’s contributions on his posthumous birthday today, his widow’s words resonate: “What profits a man if he lives to 90 but cannot make heaven? Abiola made heaven and is at peace with God. That is my greatest consolation.”
The Ajimobi family and political associates continue to honor his memory, affirming that through dedication and faith, his enduring legacy illuminates the path forward for generations.
