Waheed Ayilara, left. As he was being decorated by Governor Sanwo-Olu, top right and with Johnson Babalola
Johnson Babalola
I have too many fond memories of Waheed Ayilara as a police officer and a gentleman. As an officer, Waheed never forgot his roots as someone who struggled through life too. I once sat with him in his vehicle while we drove through Lagos when he was the Acting Commissioner of Police. His phone never stopped ringing, and most of the calls, he said, were from ordinary Nigerians wrongly arrested. He never once raised his voice. He calmly attended to each person, finding solutions appropriate for each situation. I asked him if he enjoyed his job, and his response was simple: “Topsy, anytime you are in a position to right the wrongs meted out to people, you must be thankful for the opportunity and ensure you don’t betray the trust entrusted to you, especially if your beginning is humble.”
Another time, I had posted a write-up on Work-Life Balance, and he messaged me asking when I would be in Nigeria next. I asked why, and he responded that he wanted me to train his officers on how to balance their lives with their work. When I attended the SCIID office in Yaba for the training, he spent the first hour at the entrance, attending to all kinds of issues, putting smiles on the faces of many worried ordinary Nigerians with humor. As I watched him, I felt very proud. One of his officers told me, “Your friend has demystified this office and has taught many of us how to truly be a servant-leader.”
He would drive through Lagos without sirens, security details, or noise. He remained the same as the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State. He was truly a gentleman, and I am proud to have known him. May his soul rest in peace.
But Waheed, Kilode? You were supposed to join me in Canada soon for a vacation. Ha! I still vividly recall the distress I felt when we had to attend law school in Lagos, and I had no place to stay. You welcomed me into your family home in Oshodi, and I became a part of your household. When I had no place to complete my law school attachment, you introduced me to Chief Toye Coker, and we both finished the program there. You have always been there for me, not just as a friend, but as a brother.
But I must not be selfish; you have been there for so many others too. Your gentle nature, your readiness to help, your unwavering commitment to making Nigeria a better place, your genuine care for others, and your profound love for your family and mankind will be deeply missed. I will miss our regular conversations about everything, including our plans for a joint retirement to Abeokuta. Your friends, classmates, colleagues, and family will feel your absence profoundly.
May God console everyone you have left behind, especially your wife and children. Rest well, my dear friend and brother. Sun re o, Olopadudu!
*Johnson Babalola writes from Canada