I first met Dr Florence Ajimobi in November 2010. There was a Harvest Thanksgiving service at a church in Opebi, Lagos. We were introduced and politely said hello to one another. During the March 2011 elections, I was delighted to hear that her husband Senator Abiola Ajimobi had won the election as Governor of Oyo State. I did not see her again till their inauguration day on May 29th 2011 in Ibadan. My husband and I had planned to attend the inauguration ceremonies of the new Governors of Oyo State and Ogun State, so we went to Ibadan for Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s inauguration, Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s in Abeokuta, and ended up in Lagos at the inauguration dinner of Governor Babatunde Fashola. When I saw Mrs Ajimobi in Ibadan that morning, looking as beautiful and resplendent as ever, she asked me how I was getting on in Ekiti State and I told her I was doing okay. I then told her that I was planning a launch of the Ekiti Development Foundation two weeks from that time, but I would understand if she could not make it. She smiled and said, ‘Of course I will come’. I assumed she was just being polite. Not only did she make it, she arrived before the program began and stayed till the end.
That was the beginning of a firm friendship that has weathered several storms. We have celebrated together, danced together, travelled together, cried together and been there for one another. It is hard to define who a true friend is when you are in a leadership position. Everyone claims to be your friend. Everyone tells you how wonderful you are. Many will tell you what they think you want to hear. There was a time when I truly needed a friend and a safe space. Mrs Ajimobi provided solid shoulders for me to lean on. Her warmth, generosity, perseverance and diligence are such a delight to experience. My husband and I have a home in Ibadan, so this helped strengthen my relationship with Mrs Ajimobi. We would spend many hours together talking, drinking tea (or whatever!) and eating way too many biscuits or savoury things for our own good. It never ceased to amaze me how she managed to juggle her large family and all their respective demands, but she always took everything in her stride. Like many women her age with children, grandchildren and busy professional lives, she made it all look so easy, but of course it wasn’t.
In May 2012, I was expecting Mrs Ajimobi at my Mother in-law’s funeral in Ekiti. I called her to find out what time she would be arriving, only for her to tell me that she was on her way to London, she had just received a call that her youngest daughter had fallen ill. Just as I was telling her not to worry that everything would be okay, to my horror, she burst into tears. I could just imagine her worry and frustration at not being where she wanted to be, which was at her daughter’s side. When people look at First Ladies, what they see is all the glitz and glamour. The expensive clothes, jewelry, perfect head-ties and smooth make-up. What is hidden is the toll that these positions take on families, the sacrifices and the trade-offs. When you are friends with someone like Florence Ajimobi, you learn that material things mean very little to her. The things that concern her are her faith and her family. Next thing on Mrs Ajimobi’s priority list is industry and entrepreneurship. She has been an accomplished businesswoman for many years, an embodiment of the industriousness of women from Ibadan where she has spent many years of her life. Mrs Ajimobi is a great philanthropist. Beyond the giving that is customarily required of political spouses, she genuinely cares about giving back and using whatever resources she has to support others around her. She also has a keen willingness to invest in herself and acquire as much knowledge as she can. She is always learning, observing, listening and figuring out ways to do things better. I usually tell her that the reason why I don’t have too many friends is because I can’t handle high maintenance people who always need to have their egos massaged or who perpetually have a real or imaginary grievance that has to be dissected, draining you of all energy. I value my friendship with Mrs Ajimobi because she is ‘low maintenance’, does not take herself too seriously, has a keen sense of humour and takes delight in the simple things of life. Mrs Ajimobi was an outstanding First Lady when her husband was in office. She initiated several impactful programs that addressed the needs of marginalised citizens in the State, and her ABC Foundation continues to provide excellent healthcare and diagnostic services in Oyo State.
I was deeply saddened when HE Senator Abiola Ajimobi, her beloved husband, transitioned to the great beyond on June 25 2020. Apart from being a mature, astute and fearless politician, he was warm and generous and always had kind words for me whenever we met. Unlike many male political leaders, the late Governor Ajimobi never missed an opportunity to tell people how much he loved and respected his wife. In the course of this he came up with his famous words for her, ‘She is my masterpiece of nature’. The loss of her soulmate made my friend a shadow of herself, considering their deep love for one another and the amazing family they built together. With the special grace of God Almighty and the support of family and friends she continues to serve her community with a keen sense of duty and commitment.
As Her Excellency, Dr Florence Ajimobi celebrates her 65th birthday, I know she will be feted by many and called a lot of things. She will be described as beautiful, elegant, caring, generous, hardworking, innovative, brave and God-fearing. All this and more would be true. She will also be called a loving mother, a dutiful wife, a hands-on Grandmother, a loyal friend and a dependable leader. That would be accurate too. I take all the above as givens, as far as Florence Ajimobi is concerned. To me, Florence Ajimobi is a diamond that has been polished to such brilliance, even the most hardened of cynics cannot ignore its dazzling internal and external beauty. I am proud to call her my friend. I give God all the Glory for her life, and I wish her many more years lived in good health and peace of mind, with her children’s children continuing to surround her table as they do now.
Grandma Ibeji, my darling sister, I love you. Happy Birthday!
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Policy Advocate and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She can be reached at BAF@abovewhispers.com