By Babs-Oluribigbe Adeoye
There is a saying that you know a man in the time of opportunity and crisis. Those two situation will clearly define one’s character and will distinguish a true leader.
Chief Kayode Afolabi, a traditional chieftaincy title holder, a community leader and an industrialist exhibits a sort of disntinct character for young and old ones to emulate.
Chief Afolabi, is the head of Kadelu Compound, Oje, Ibadan, who also holds the title of Gbonka Olubadan of Ibadan land.
Despite his noble background, Chief Afolabi, who returned from United Kingdom to become the Mogaji of Kadelu Compound, chose to live among his people in Oje, one of the ancient local areas of Ibadan, where less privilege, urchins, are predominantly domiciled. This is in contrast with his contemporaries who chose to live in a serene highbrow estate where they can be able to display their affluence without any disturbance.
This has however produced a positve and satisfactory result. The area noted for serious disturbance and violence in the 90s is now having relative peace. This is no doubt, accountable to Chief Afolabi examplary leadership
In a recent chat with Westernlifenews, he disclosed that he preferred to build his house among his people to enable him fraternising with them, study their needs. As a man that possess empathy, he therefore chose to relate well with members of Kadelu compound and the whole Oje community, for him to inspire, and solve their challenges within his capability.
Effective leaders are known to be problem solvers. Afolabi is no exception in this regard. Through his consistent intervention, the community has experienced good development and ambience peace needed for sustainable commerce.
According to him, “living here in a local area among my people gives me an opportunity to get people to work together toward a common goal. My main focus is to encourage our youths to be more productive in their chosen career and discourage hooliganism which is common among them in the past.
Chief Afolabi’s influence however should not be considered on the basis of any official position of authority, but rather because he possesses certain traits that enable him to represent his locality and drive progressive social change.
Here is a man, with immense qualities of great community leader such as desire, competency and intangibles.
Another great lesson to learnt from a man like Chief Kayode Afolabi is his open mindedness, which has consistently enables him to play a father figure role among his people.
In the course of discharging his responsibility in his jurisdiction, Oloye Gbonka Olubadan listens, learn and change course of matter to the satisfactory of his subjects.
•Mr Adeoye, a media consultant and on-line publisher writes from Ibadan, Oyo state.
