Asiwaju Tajudeen Abioye : Eyes of the History.

The best form of duty is the service to humanity, those who understand this are practically men who smile across the borders of life. Tajudeen Olabisi Yemintan Abioye is one of those men whose entire life and career is to advance the cause of humanity.

The silver spoon circumstance of birth notwithstanding, he took active interest in education with passion for human and community development. And since when he was in the schools, his leadership qualities have been in the public domain. While in the Primary School, he was always in company of colleagues and friends who always hoof around him for one support or the other. While in the college, his leadership qualities were beginning to manifest as he provided to many of his friends who were in need of one thing or the others, and he ended up as the Science Class Captain in his last two years in the college. When he entered tertiary institutions, he was also very active in unionism and political activism to help in repositioning the nature of his environment. It is on record that he attended Muslim Primary School Erin ile for primary school. He also attended Ansar Ud Deen College, Offa and Surajudeen Secondary School Erin ile for secondary education respectively.

For post Secondary education, he attended Kwara State College of Technology (now Kwara Polytechnics) for advanced level training qualifying him to proceed to the University. He proceeded to University of Ilorin, Ilorin to earn a Bachelor Degree of Science in Chemistry, he later returned to the same school for a postgraduate degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He will never relent in his quest for more knowledge and get adequate training for future use, he proceeded to International Institute of Journalism, Abuja for a postgraduate diploma (PGD) in Journalism.
This determination to be educated was however rare in his days, at least for a child who knows that his father is comfortable ( he was a Diamond merchant in the then Gold Coast, Ghana.) and even happened to be the first man to own a car in the entire community in as far back as 1952. Tajudeen Abioye is an example of a child worthy of all positive accolades.

His determination to be successful, independent and self reliance is very superb, having come from a family of many successful elder brothers and sisters.He set out early to make capital for himself, this took him to several working areas and environments maintaining dedication and clean record all through. He was a science Teacher in Lagos under the Teaching Service Commission. He left the teaching to join Churchgate Group as Laboratory Chemist and Quality Control Officer from where he rose to the enviable position of Quality Control and Technical Services Manager in the highly competitive conglomerate and multinational company. He later became Management and Financial Consultant to many individuals, organizations and companies both in private and public spheres. An administrator per excellence, he later floated and registered both Toyab Jogfoy Nigeria Limited and Labistic Construction Company Limited and held the positions of Principal partner / CEO and Chairman /CEO respectively in the companies till his appointment as Director General, DG of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) by the President and Commander in chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Asiwaju Tajudeen Abioye has never been a novice in management and leadership responsibility. He was known by his contemporaries as a barrier breaker and trail blazer even as a young chap in school. He was elected as the speaker of Science Students' Association in Kwara College of Technology in Ilorin in 1987,two years later he became Students' Union Government leader of the University of Ilorin in 1989/1990. Thereafter he aligned with some of his colleagues to found National Association of Kwara State Students 1989. He was elected the President of Students Chemical Society of Nigeria in 1990 and National President of Erin ile Students Association in 1991.

The quest for democratic development and good leadership would later propelled him to join the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in 1993 under the influence of late Chief Bola Ige and also co-founded National Conscience (NC) in 1994 as a good follower of Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. He later became the Assistant Secretary of National Conscience (NC) in 1995.

He joined partisan politics to fully served his people in 1997.He stood for election of Kwara State House of Assembly of Odo-Ogun Constituency under UNCP that year which he won with landslide margin against his formidable opponents. By 1998, he was offered ticket to contest election in Lagos State due to his role in fighting the Military Junta for the actualization of the June 12 election. But he declined and insisted to play politics in Kwara where his people are.

He subsequently held several political and community based appointments amongst them are: Member Kwara State Muslims Welfare Board 1999/2003, Council Member(TIC Member) and Supervisory Councilor for Health Oyun LGA -2002/2003, President, Kwara Success Movement -2001/2004, National President, Oduduwa Solidarity Forum-2005/2007 and Co-founder and Member of Ibolo Development Movement- 2004/2008.

He was at various times a contestant for the seat of House of Representatives of Offa/Oyun/ Ifelodun under different political parties: Action Congress (AC) 2007 and People Democratic Party 2011. He was also the candidate in 2015 under PDP.
He is currently a member of APC Kwara State Advisory Committee, headed by Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed. He was with few others joined hands with Honourable Minister to form a parallel APC Exco across the state early this year, in their bid to fight for kwara freedom from the hands of the dictator.

Asiwaju Mohammed Tajudeen Abioye is one of the few politicians in kwara who has never for once waivered in the quest to liberate the state from the syndrome of one man dynasty. He is perpetually consistent in fighting the misrule of Kwara state since 2002 and remain resolute even when fate brought him in the same party with the Kwaran despot and tyrant. He is known to be one of the finest politicians of this era that can beat his chest for never seeking political patronage from Bukola Saraki hegemony and remain relevant all through in his domain, and become the champion of the masses after suffering several political onslaught from the oppressor to silent him. He kept his integrity intact even at the pick of heavy enticement and frustration from the state government at various times. He was known with a saying that " there is nothing that has beginning without an end, and that every empire in history has it's Rise and Fall", hence, he has a clean testimonial in both politics and community services, this is one of the points that endear him to so many big gun in kwara politics, as he remain friends with many top politicians in the state till date. He mastered the best way to maintain his relationship with his political friends even when they are in different political camps. He shows total loyalty and commitment once he believes in any course, this was very visible in his appointment as a Special Assistant to the Special Adviser to President on National Assembly Matters in 2014, by one of his age long political friends Sen. M. S. Ajadi. He has been a key player all the times, in the developmental strides of his immediate community even when not directly in political office, one of such is the facilitation of Erin ile township drainage system by FERMA, assisting in human resources department and empowerment of the young generation, and attracting some other Federal government infrastructures to his area among others.

Aside from politics and community services, Asiwaju Moh'd Tajudeen Olabisi Yemintan Abioye is deeply religious like his forebearers. The activities of his early fathers toward advancing the Islamic religion in the community is well known and documented. The prominent of them are his father Alh. Chief Jimoh Idiju Abioye, who was for several years in his life time, the Chairman of Erin ile Islamic community, Co funder of Surajudeen Society in Erin ile that lead to the establishment of both the Surajudeen Primary and Secondary schools in Erin ile, was a prominent leader in Jamuat Nasir Islamiya in the whole state, was also the 1st Sheriki Adini of Erin ile and 1st Baba Adini of Oke-Imole, Erin ile. and Alfa Abubakar Oyebode Olohunniyoni who was one of the first set of people to propagate Islam in Erin ile and one of the few Alfas that started Oke-Imole mosque, their activities to promote Islam in Erinle and Oke-Imole axis has been the stepping stones for all their children to follow and emerge to the world.
It is thus on record that Asiwaju Mohammed Tajudeen Olabisi Abioye was the first child to be taken to Hajj at a very tender age in Erin ile in 1975. That singular step of his parents made Asiwaju Tajudeen to be very popular in Erin ile community and it's environs while growing up,. The premium his father placed on the Islamic religion also compelled him to completed Holy Quran and had his Walimat Quran in 1982 also at a very tender age. All these and other qualities endeared him to the then State Governor, Alh Mohammed Lawal who appointed him into the membership of his government Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in 1999. He later became one of the closest and strong pillar of late Gov. Mohammed Lawal, in Kwara South.

He's a strict disciplinarian, a gentleman, very humble, accommodating, tolerance, religious and very Godly, a personality with noble mind in the service to liberate mankind. He is generous and an holder of several awards and honorary titles in appreciation to his contributions to both Islam and larger society. He's married to equally a religious and well groomed wife: Hajia Jemila Abioye and they are blessed with beautiful children.

Asiwaju Mohammed Tajudeen Olabisi Yemintan Abioye is a blessing to humanity and one of the best products of Ibolo land. He is also a great gift to Kwara, Nigeria and the world at large.
Oye Amo ri O!

Compiled by Family and Friends TOY Abioye