+Her Unfulfilled Dreams
Condolence messages have continued pouring in since last week that news of the sudden passage of the mother of Oyo State House of Assembly’s Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Chief (Mrs) Tina Ogundoyin was announced. Her death has remained shocking, not only to her immediate family but also Ibadan business and social circles. The deep grieving, of course, should be expected. Nobody would have thought the beautiful, strong, warm and cheerful Tina Ogundoyin would have died at the young age of 63.
Tina Ogundoyin in her lifetime meant different things to different people. To her family and children, she was an angel, a good wife and an excellent mother. To the society, especially the business and social circles, she was an amazon of the two establishments.
Untill her death on Sunday 26 March, 2023, Tina Ogundoyin was married to the late Eruwa-born business mogul and philanthropist, Chief Adeseun Ayisa Ogundoyin, who died in 1991. She had four children for the late foremost industrialist. Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin, Alhaji Abdulazees Arisekola Alao, Chief Akanni Aluko, all of blessed memory, and others in their circle dominated the social scene like kings in the 70s-80s. Ogundoyin wasn’t only sociable, he was hope of the masses. Testimonies abound of the limitless number of people who benefited from his benevolent gestures.
Tina Ogundoyin must have learnt the act of giving from her late husband as well. She was a cheerful giver, nothing was too much for her to give. Her social circle cut across old, young, rich and the poor. She never discriminated against any of her friends. It was Tina Ogundoyin that would buy expensive Aso-Ebi for friends’ functions and also buy for few of her friends and still distribute fine souvenirs at such parties.
She was just too down-to-earth, and always smiling with her charming beauty. That is why she was called the ‘Queen of Sheba’ in the social circle. Like her husband, Tina Ogundoyin also dominated the social scene too. She worked very hard and lived her life to the fullest. She was a roll model to the younger generation of aspiring female celebrities. Tina Ogundoyin also carried herself with so much respect and dignity among her friends. She was well loved and respected in Ibadan social establishment and beyond. So much that you won’t know she was a Deltan woman. She lived Ibadan, she ate and drank the city. And by extension Eruwa, her husband’s home town from where she got the title of Iyaloja-General of Ibarapaland. She was able to register her name in politics too.
Apart from being a socialite and a businesswoman of note, Tina Ogundoyin was also a good mother; a strong woman at that. Having lost her husband at a very young age, she became a widow at the age of 32. In fact, his son, the current Speaker of Oyo Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin was just four years old when the father died. But despite all that, late Tina Ogundoyin went ahead and singlehandedly trained her children, the four of them, successfully. She didn’t only train the children but also carried on with the legacies of her husband and upheld the name without any blemish whatsoever till she breathed her last.
“It was just like yesterday. How time flies? 30years ago, the man of the people, the true son of Ibarapaland, a loving and caring husband and father passed away. I still miss my husband greatly. Though, I take solace in the fact that late Chief Adeseun Adetona Ayisa Ogundoyin lived a fulfilled life and he is resting in the bosom of our Lord.
“We have not deviated from his idea and principle of “my people first”. We will always follow his footsteps of service to the people. This is why I decided to present gifts to over five hundred women and widows in Ibarapa East Local Government. My late husband was an easy going and accessible person who was ever ready to extend hands of love and fellowship to the people. This, we will continue to do to keep his memory alive and to uphold his legacy.” Late Tina Ogundoyin said during 30th Remembrance of her husband in 2021.
What else? At 63, Tina Ogundoyin’s life was, indeed, a fulfilled one. All of her children are doing well in their various chosing careers. The son, Adebo Ogundoyin was elected into the Oyo Assembly in 2019 and later became Speaker of the House. He has also won his re-election.
He is also happily married and had given his later mother a grandson. But there is only one thing Tina Ogundoyin would have wished to witness. As a mother, she would have loved to see all her children get married before her very eyes and play with their children. Particularly, the last born and her only female child, who is her carbon copy. In a very touching tribute on his Facebook page, the Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin wrote about how his late mother would be greatly missed.
He writes: “I can hardly express myself, your absence is immensely felt even barely 24 hours since you left us, I can only imagine how the rest of our lives will be without you.
We put all our faith, hope and aspirations in God almighty to guide and protect us through our lives, and we also pray for more wisdom, knowledge, strength and understanding all the days of our lives in Jesus name.
My prayer is that you rest in perfect peace and that God Almighty will grant you the Grace to live out eternity in His Kingdom through His Mercy in Jesus name.
Your impact on earth was felt and will continue to be felt even years from now.
We love you but I know God loves you more and we consent that GOD’S WILL BE DONE always. Goodbye Mother until we meet to part no more.”
-Dare Adeniran
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