Tribute to Tai Solarin
Theophilius Adekunle

At times like this when there is palpable hunger in the land, when the standard of living of Nigerians has fallen drastically, when the nation's political landscape has been dominated by cheerleaders, palace courtiers, praisesingers and spindoctors, when there are few men of honor, of repute , valour and integrity, when there is grandiose imperceptiveness ,callousness, selfishness in the land, when society has lost it's conscience and heart.At times like this when nothing at all seems to be working and the nation is saddled by totally inept, rudderless and insensate leadership at all tiers and arms, at times like this,we remember the great Tai Solarin !

A man of unbelievable candour, demeanor and passion for common good who loathed minimalism, indolence, mediocrity and nepotism with a fervor. He displayed an unparalleled belief in hard work,critical thinking,pragmatism and doggedness. A friend of the indigent, voice of the oppressed ,scourge of injustice,thorn of corruption,enthusiast of diligence, paragon of selfless service, embodiment of principles, never in the history of this nation has one man stood for and symbolized zeal for uprightness, honor, candor and principles like the late great uncle Tai. Although,an atheist ,but he was far more humane, noble, sincere and considerate than the array of wolves in sheep clothing and impostors masquerading as religious leaders

Uncle Tai derived immense pleasure in selflessly and fearlessly advocating for a better Nigeria ,an action borne out of genuine ,unfettered, earnest and heartfelt feeling about the state and future of the nation and the future generation,he was dissatisfied with the mindboggling erosion of values, misrule and total collapse of all facets of life and sectors in the country and expressed shock at the unfathomable silence and culpability of the leadership and people. He was never known to capitulate to ephemeral inducements, paradisal accountrements and corporeal appurtenances which most highly placed Nigerians can sell their mothers for without the slightest hesitance now without honor, dignity and shame. He was unequivocal and explicit on the side of justice, truth and fairplay, was always ready to suffer for the sake of others, share in their misery and stand by the weak.

It has been fourteen years, since this uncommonly honest man died and the situation of the country has degenerated to an unimplausably unimaginable, inconceivable and macabre level. An adherent of noble ideals, he never craved for any honor from anybody and judging from the caliber of names on the spurious hollow " national dishonors" award list,dead or alive, the vintage tai would never want to be lumped with an agglomeration of strange bedfellows and acervation of minimalists. It is in this season of anomie, that one remembers this worthy man and in his honour, Christina Georgina Rosetti's "remember me" is poignant! 

Remember me when I am gone away gone far away into the silent land, when you can no more hold me by the hand,nor I half turn to go, yet turning to stay.Remember me when no more, day by day,you tell me of our future that you planned( which is in great shambles in the case of naija):Only remember me; you understand It will be late to counsel then or weep( yes, we rejected the man's ideals and advise).Yet if you should forget me for a while and afterwards remember, do not grieve:For if the darkness and corruption leave a vestige of the thoughts that I once had,better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be said he may be gone, but his memory lives on.

The erection of his stature at Yaba and the naming of the only university of education in the country after him is a monument to his selflessness, altruism and dedication for common good nationwide.The only way out of our current quagmire is to imbibe and live by the precepts,ideals and legacies of this exceptionally rare Nigerian. Iam not a prophet of doom, but as the nation slides irredeemably into a cul de sac, it seems this country cannot see the likes of Tai Solarin again.

THEOPHILIUS ADEKUNLE

Robot  # 1 | 31.10.2008 05:42

Tribute to Tai Solarin Theophilius Adekunle At times like this when there is palpable hunger in the land, when the standard of living of Nigerians has fallen drastically, when the nation's political landscape has been dominated by cheerleaders, palace courtiers, praisesingers and spindoctors, when there are few men of honor, of repute , valour and integrity, when there is grandiose imperceptiveness ,callousness, selfishness in the land, when society has lost it's conscience and heart.At times like this when nothing at all seems to be workingand the nation is saddled by totally inept, rudderless and insensate leadership at all tiers and arms, at times like this,we remember the great Tai Solarin ! A man of unbelievable candour, demeanor and passion for common good who loathed minimalism, indolence, mediocrity and nepotism with a fervor. He displayed an unparalleled belief in hard work,critical thinking,pragmatism and doggedness. A friend of the indig...Read the full article.

keem  # 2 | 31.10.2008 07:02

Thanks Theophilius for this article on Tai Solarin Tai Solarin is one of the three Nigerians I admire so much even before I knew my right from my left. The man and its way just have a place in me. He transcends tribalism and hypocrisy. People like Tai Solarin live forever. Ibrahim Babangida could have destroyed the man when he robed him in attire he had sworn never to wear. But for his honesty he survived.

allaccess  # 3 | 31.10.2008 09:01

Amazing Nigerian and Human: Did not believe in God and the merchants of fake gospel business. He used his brain to potential. I will admire him forever.

Danmeka  # 4 | 31.10.2008 10:17

My Brother Hakeem, I agree with you, Dr Tai Solarin was a special breed, these days we have magots who go around as leaders and those know as special jokers(IBB et al) who like to appear on television(Channels like AIT who give such platforms to people like him).Shame

lateesha  # 5 | 31.10.2008 10:29

When did he die?

Ewuro  # 6 | 31.10.2008 13:22

=lateesha;284689>When did he die? June 27, 1994

lateesha  # 7 | 31.10.2008 19:59

Chinekeee!! That long? See waht happens when one runs away I remember hearing he died many years ago didn't know it was that long I liked the things I read about him,how he stood up for good and against our corrupt govt. Nigeria did and does have some few people that have refused to be tainted by that soured moi moi called Nigeria. The other person my oga adores is Gani fawehimi.

katampe  # 8 | 31.10.2008 20:02

I was his student, and a little too young to understand the power of his ideas. But still, I remember the mundane things – his worldly and physical possessions: both simple and well kept, he had plants and a one-storey building; his sinewy muscles showed when he wore his clothes - a uniform of checked shirt and khaki shorts. He also had a well cultivated accent, something he must have acquired from a thorough education. Some years ago, and on display in an African art gallery section of a Canadian university ,I saw a copy of the prospectus of my primary school, something I was familiar with growing up. I saw only the cover, but I knew the pages and the contents by heart. The black and white picture of Papa Mellor (I am no longer sure if it is the right spelling), the boat regalia that was part of the advertisement of the school, and the black and white pictures of Dr Tai and Sheila Solarin were on different pages next to each other. In it, there was the story on the founding of my school, Mayflower Junior School, Ikenne, and other details like fees and holidays. I remember now that it was through this little pamphlet that I first came across words like prospectus and proprietress (Madam Sheila founded my primary school). Many years after the memories keep blurring, but in a comforting way, I have managed to retain the essentials, the mundane things. For a time, both Madam Sheila and Dr Tai Solarin were a part of my young life and there memories linger on many years after. Thank you Theophilius for this piece on a late and selfless Nigerian, he cared very little for hedonistic appurtenances , and more for the grooming of our little minds.

Dapxin  # 9 | 02.11.2008 18:57

I read one of his little written 'gems, cant rememnber the name but surely still remember a few lines that's stuck with me ever since. May your road be rough (on success) ..my allegiance is to man...locally to the Nigerian...and Universally to humanity (not sure if I Didnt mess this one up....) I adore this man!

ajede  # 10 | 23.11.2008 08:58

Tai Solarin is one of a few Nigerians whose ways of life impressed upon me very deeply while still a teenager and in school. I remember his khaki uniform, and still has in memory, a vague remnant of a phrase from his numerous writings: "May your way be rough, I do not curse you; I only wish you what I wish myself...", or something along that line. I felt shock and disbelief, when I read that Babangida made him chairman of (a) People's Bank, and even robed him in one of the (aso ebi) attires; that must have contributed to his early death.