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Oluwole Alabi: Even in death, he speaks

 

By  Demola Olarewaju

“Died in beauty, like a rose blown from its parent stem”’- CHARLES DOYNE SYLLERY.
This quote can best describe the sudden departure of my late Boss, Mr Micah Oluwole Alabi, who exited this mortal realm to immortality without any sign of illness-brief or protracted, to avail him bade us a bye for good. He was actually preparing for the week long activities at work, as well as his community day (Koro), in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, scheduled for weeks ahead, when all of a sudden the death messenger came calling, upon which the son of man departed as ordained. Precisely, it is a year day today Saturday 21st January, 2017 since Mr Alabi answered the supreme call which informed his journey to the celestial realm. The actor left the stage when the ovation was loudest and the curtain fell on the exemplary life of the project guru at a tender age of 55 but eventful years. Kwara State Community and Social Development Agency (KWCSDA), Federal Project Support Unit (FPSU) and indeed the World Bank as a whole have lost a rare gem.
Despite his demise, Mr Alabi has indeed become a rallying point of the project ideological discourse such that we wished he had served a bit longer, as he died two days to his confirmation as the substantive General Manager. The letter was already signed and sealed but was never delivered as a result of his demise. A day never passed without his name being mentioned at the Agency.
As far as Kwara State Community and Social Development Project (KWCSDP) is concerned, Oluwole was our Generalissimo, an all rounder project and a good authority on all the departments when it comes to project activities. Alabi was INCHARGE. At the same time, he believed in consultative leadership. He sought others’ opinion during management, staff and departmental meetings on project issues and made sure everything fell in place before, during and after events. He disseminated information effectively for schedule officers to be at alert to their responsibilities, as regards Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Sensitisation and Advocacy, Field Appraisal, Project Supervision, Trainings and Project Launch/Cheque Presentation among others. He would put every staff on his/her toes from pre to post events of such activities, moving from one department/unit to another to ensure any scheduled programme was successful, after which an appraisal meetings held to evaluate our performances, to ascertain areas of excellence and where to improve.
His sudden exit was no doubt a very sad phenomenon being such an inspiring figure and profound personality at that crucial period of the Additional Financing (AF) which is fundamental to the second coming of the project in the Kwara State. Alas! The legend’s departure at such a tender age was eternally painful, indeed the sun set at noon. Mr Alabi just rose to the pinnacle of his career and about to settle down with the aim of taking CSDP to greater heights in the State, but fate denied him the opportunity. Death removed his hand from dinning inside the golden plate; instead it sent him an errand Oluwole was unwilling to embark on. Alas! The iconic personality suddenly transformed into a thin air disappearing before our very eyes to the great beyond, leaving the rest of us in the middle of the storm to struggle with the hurly-burly of life and project activities. Alabi’s death is a monumental loss.
A day rarely passed in KWCSDA without feeling the impact of this enigma for his courage, determination, vision, resilience and zeal at which he undertook the leadership of the Agency. I salute the diplomacy he employed at tackling both official and personal matters; he was very much committed to staff welfare, dignity and happiness but distinguished between our rights and privileges at work. He once said he could bend the rules as much as possible for stakeholders but would avoid breaking it, as there could be dire consequences. Personally, I drew inspirations from his rhetorics, writings, reflections and dedication to duty, honesty and integrity as well as his commitment to build a virile and enviable CSDP in Kwara State and Nigeria at large. With his initiatives and efforts, KWCSDP is no doubt a shining example to others nationwide. Though a genius and elderly, he was humility personified but his anger knows no bound and thunder-like if pushed to the limit, at the same time vanishes within seconds as he abhor grudges. Indeed his death is quite a monumental loss to the entire State of Harmony.
Of a truth, Mr Oluwole Alabi was good both at work and home. He was a source of blessing to many-especially his community, as he impacted positively in people who came across him, rural communities as well as the institution he passed through. This was manifested on his way to his final resting home. The crowed was teaming and sea of heads was endless with people wailing inconsolably for the departure of their benefactor, mentor and an illustrious son, whom the cold hand of death snatched away abruptly unannounced. Though painful but Oga died a hero’s death. He died a noble and royally death even at such a tender age, which informed which makes Charles Doyne’s quotation above apt in this circumstance. Without any fear of controversy I make bold to say that it is doubtful whether there will be another Micah Oluwole Alabi the erudite speaker, a genius, the project administrator, computer, encyclopaedia and dictionary put together, he was a guru as far as CSDP is concerned. We miss him daily and will forever miss Micah.
I cannot conclude this tribute without mentioning those who stood by us during the trying period of my Boss’ demise. In a special way, I wish to commend the gesture of his Excellency, Alhaji (Dr.) Abdulfatah Ahmed the Executive Governor of Kwara State, towards Mr Oluwole Alabi’s family. Our dear Maigida n Kwara strongly stood by the family in no small measure. May God reward you abundantly Your Excellency, we shall forever be grateful to you sir. Our profound gratitude also go to the State Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Wasiu Odewale, the Project Task Team Leader in Nigeria, Professor Folusho Okunmadewa, the World Bank, FPSU, the forum of CSDP General Managers, the entire CSDP family in Nigeria and of course the President of Ibadan Business School, our Father and lover of CSDP Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi and the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) Tanke and others too numerous to mention, for your supports morally, financially and spiritually to Alabi’s family, during the transition of their benefactor. May the good Lord arise in your supports too and untimely death shall not be your portion.
Dear readers and CSDP family across the country, kindly join your faith with mine to pray for Mr M.O. Alabi’s immediate and extended family especially his wife, children and aged Mother that God in his infinite mercy should personally take care of them, make way for them where there seems no way and continually strengthen and empower them in all their endeavours.
We love you Mr Alabi, but your Creator loves you most. Continually rest on in the bosom of the Almighty God, till we meet to part no more at Jesus’ feet. Adieu, good night and not good bye sir.
*’Demola Olarewaju, P.O. (IEC&T) KWCSDP.

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