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Top Aide, OLU OGOGO Tells City People
One man that is very close to late actor, Ogogo is Olu Ayinde, popularly called Olu Ogogo. They were like 5 and 6. They are always together, even outside the country while alive.
Ogogo specifically described Olu as someone whose loyalty and support had remained consistent. Ogogo repeatedly referred to him as his brother, including saying that he was a brother from another mother. Ogogo said Olu’s love and dedication had been a blessing to him over the decades.
In this interview with City People Assistant Editor/Head of TV, SUNDAY ADIGUN, Olu Ogogo revealed how their relationship started 25 years ago and what he will about the late actor. Excerpt.
Mr Olu, pls accept our condolence once again. If I may ask, how do you feel about Ogogo’s death?
As you all known, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan Ogogo was a very good man to the core. I have been with him for over 25 years. One day something happened between us and he told me “Ayinde, if you want to get close to me you need to study me, you need to understand me” I remember when he was first sick then, one day he called me on phone “Ayinde where are you?” I said I’m in Ilaro. He said “you need to meet me in Lagos today” after 1hr 30mins I got to his place in Lagos. He was surprised because I got there very late. He said he needed to go to somewhere and he couldn’t drive because of his health challenges, so he said he needed his blood relative to be with him . I remember it was Corporate Picture that called his Imam Dad and told him about Ogogo’s health then and the man told us to bring him to Ilorin, they prayed for him and God answered. After he was okay, I told him I wanted to go back to Ilaro but he persuaded me to stay with him and he was ready to share whatever he’s making with me. I didn’t agree at first, then I was a fashion designer. On getting to Ilaro, I discussed with my brother and he also persuaded me to be with him, that was how I relocated to Lagos. And since then, we never had any misunderstanding. I suggested to get an apartment for myself he refused that I must live under the same roof with him. That was how we started. If you invite him for a job, you will see us together. If they lodge him in any expensive hotel he will get the same room for me and Shina. He would tell them “they are my blood, they are not my slave, we are working together and they must sleep wherever I sleep”. He always shared whatever they give him from that location with us. He always provides our daily meals. He made the journey so easy for us to be with him.
One day we went to Ilaro and he complained of pain in his chest, we went to his family hospital in Ilaro and he was treated. He was asked to rest and he did. The following morning he said the pain was still there, we drove from Ilaro to Apena Hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos. The Doctor observed him and conducted series of tests. He also gave some injections to reduce the pain. Later, he was even referred us to another hospital, there we met one of our sisters from Ilaro, Mutiat. They did all they could but we were later referred to LASUTH, that was where they later told us he had Cancer. We felt so bad. It was Aunty Mutiat that called the king immediately and the king informed Senator Yayi. The following day they all assembled and Senator Yayi suggested they take him to India but the visa application process delayed. By the time the visa was out, he was already weak. They said he wasn’t strong enough for the flight. Sen. Yayi flew in a Dr. from India. The Doctor suggested we moved him to another hospital, so that same night we moved him to St Nicholas Hospital in Lagos Island and they started the treatment immediately. They brought in several specialists and the treatment was going on fine, he was eating little by little until 5 days to his death that everything changed. We just thank God. Because I believe God made the death easy for him, he didn’t allow him go through much pains before taking him, probably because of his good deeds. Ogogo was a good man to the core. He was very nice to us. He had a free mind. My prayers always for him is to continue to rest in peace. His death still remains a big shock to me.
Let me take you back a bit sir! Everyone calls you, Olu Ogogo. What’s your full name sir?
My full names are Abdulazeez Ayinde Onifade. The first person that started calling me Olu is Alesh Onilegbale.
Why?
Because our king is always called Olu of Ilaro. So they always crack jokes anytime we arrived “Awon omo Olu ti de” that means the children of Olu of Ilaro are here. Later they changed it to Olu of Ogogo because I’m always with him.
Are you really related?
Ogogo is my first cousin. His Dad was my Mum elder brother, same mother same father. Ogogo’s father was the first born of their family and Mum was the 3rd born.
For a journey of 25 years that you have been with him, what are you going to miss about him?
The first thing I am missing already is his early morning calls. He must call me between 7am to 8am. “Ayinde, come upstair” He would tell me all our movements for the day. I’m missing him calling me Ayinde. Ogogo stood by me. The relationship was just too cordial. God forgive me, I don’t think I can quickly get over this experience. I’m deeply hurt.
There was a day I took Ogogo to my site in Ilaro, he was surprised and almost shed tears. He asked me 3 times “Ayinde, are you sure you are the owner of this house?” He was so happy. He asked what was delaying the roofing. I told him I still need 250k to balance for the roof and immediately he wrote a cheque of 250k and he said he gives me 1week to roof the house. He used his connection to secure a good job for my daughter. He secured a Canada visa for me, paid all the expenses from A-Z, bought several gifts for me and my children. How many will I count. May God rest his soul. And I want to use this opportunity to thank everyone who stood by us. Mrs Remi Tinubu played a motherly role. Senator Yayi did well. Kabiyesi did well. All his colleagues did well. I pray may his soul rest in peace. It’s only God who can console me.
