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Late Hon Ebun Ogunyimika; 30 years after

Passing through the road to Owena at the ancient town of Atosin, lies the mini cenotaph where the family vault of the late Ogunyimika remains are interned at the burial site of the Anglican Church, Atosin. An erected statue of a man holding microphone with his trademark beards while he was alive symbolizes the erudite and charismatic ebullient Ebun Ogunyimika.

Were he to be alive today, in the next seventeen days, his eighty seventh birthday would have been celebrated with pomp and pageantry but he left too early at age of fifty-seven (57) which was exactly 30 years ago!

Late Ebun Ogunyimika was born into the family of Pa David and Madam Ruth Ogunyimika on June 20, 1933 at Atosin and was raised in the same milieu, had his Primary Education at Alade/Atosin United Primary School (now L A Primary School, Atosin), he attended secondary schools at both Ibadan and Benin between 1951 and 1955 After his secondary education, he worked for a decade in few Governmental Departments and Offices before he began his successful entrepreneurial journey.

The mother of Late Ebun, madam Ruth Ogunyimika was a politician and that genes became dominant in her son, the political juggernaut, Ebun Ogunyimika. He was an active member of the defunct Action

Group (AG ), a tactical political cicero who won a Federal seat to represent Idanre/Oke-Igbo in the Federal House of Representatives in 1964. When the first Republic was truncated, he rejigged his businesses for optimum successes. During the second Republic, he with other politicians of likes mind formed Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), he was so actively involved and held many sensitive positions like Local Government Party chairman, pioneer State Treasurer and commissioner when UPN won the then Old Ondo state in 1979 gubernatorial election, he served as a commissioner in the following ministries;

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Home Affairs, Youths, Sports and social Welfare; Works and Transport; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Economy planning and statistics. He later joined the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) along with many colleagues of his. He had a robust relationship with likes of Chief Gabriel Akindeko, Late Osoore Akintoba and host of others.

He replicated himself today via his disciples as his mentees are still fond of his political ideology and belief, one of such mentees is a veteran journalist, Hon Sola Akinuli with Pastor Marcus Adeuti, a former DG in Ondo State.

Late Hon. Ebun Ogunyimika knew that Olofin Anglican Grammar couldn’t take care of the teeming students that were seeking enrolment for their secondary education, he therefore proffered a solution by founding Ebun Ogunyimika Comprehensive College, Atosin, the multiplier of that move changed the face of Atosin with influx of non natives that came to study and that legacy outlive the founder and had produced former Local Government Chairman, a General in Nigerian Army, Professors in academics amongst other doyens in many diverse fields.

He was a social person and major promoter of his kinsman, Woro maestro late Adebayo Kuroloja and other musicians as at then. A Christian and family man blessed with children whose in-laws were from major communities that formed Idanre/Ifedore Local Government, a shrewd political strategy that bolstered his influences across the clime.

As doyen of business, he was so successful in agro produce products and got an export licence to export his cocoa and other produce but unfortunately, death came calling before he could use the license. His love for his Atosin was pure and total as demonstrated in siting his milling cottage industry as well as other ventures.

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Hon Ebun Ogunyimika was a recipient of many awards and honours. He had twice been given two posthumous awards in recognition of his services to humanity in many endeavours.

It was thirty years ago that he bided the world goodbye, nevertheless, this generation is still drinking from his visionary pool likened to a planted seedling that grow big with many branches for birds to perch, so clue to the weakened that need rest under the tree canopy and a balance to the ecosystem too. Continue to rest well Baba, you had lived well and paid your dues in totality!

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Late Hon Ebun Ogunyimika; 30 years after

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