In life, we are here on a different mission and purpose but there is one thing that is common to every man who strives for a life of purpose, it is bettering the lots of humanity.
The name Rauf Olaniyan means different things to different people depending on the lense through which he is viewed, however in all, one constant philosophy in his life that is clear and bold, is his principle of giving without noise. Olaniyan has symbolized the idea of philanthropy without show-off.
Away from his gubernatorial ambition and long before now, Olaniyan has used his God-given resources to impact lives, to bring succor and to ignite hope in the heart of many, to the best of his capacity.
Olaniyan has been providing scholarships to students since about 25 years ago, up to PhD level and under different situations and circumstances. He has singlehandedly paid PTA teachers salaries in some selected schools during financial crisis and this was not when he was in government. On medicare, his records and efforts are countless. He gave supports in multiple times to our hospitals, he had his empowerment project for eye care and he also deployed medical officers to our hospital times past. Olaniyan’s endowment for widows and orphans is still active and same is his support for farmers and SME operators, as well as numerous humanitarian support and philanthropic gestures for our people all across the state in different clusters.
One thing that characterized his philanthropy is his detaste for noise, show off and entitlement. Olaniyan, in principle, frowns at a beneficiary of his support thanking him, he simply says ‘Oloun ni ka dupe fun’. He will never give an assistance to someone in need then make it available in the public space for political gain or any other reason whatsoever. Buildup to the 2019 general election, when the PDP campaign met with some heat and hitch, reaching crescendo, Olaniyan in his quite style intervened by providing university scholarship to the family in question and it he never involved the mic or camera. Just impact, raw empathy. No noise.
His most treasured quote is “I learned to give not because I have plenty but because I know how it feels to have nothing”. He is a unique leader who is of high moral values, with an unparalleled native intelligence, holds strongly to faith and divine authority. Reason why he believes strongly in equity, fairness and justice in all his dealings, political negotiations and ambitions, inclusive. The most fundamental reason for sacrificing him, was his insistence for equity, that Oke-Ogun be given a place of pride in an administration that he was part of, that is why he remains a model and icon to numerous people across the state. We can only pray that God grants his desire come 2027.
Adesola YaqubState (TÁSOÓLÒ), a graduate of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) is a former caretaker chairman of Oorelope Local Government of Oyo State
