The Buffalo That I Know

YEYE FUNKE AKINWALE 

The parable of the blind men and an elephant originated in the ancient Indian subcontinent, from where it has been widely diffused. It is a story of a group of blind men who have never come across an elephant before and who learn and imagine what the elephant is like by touching it.

Each blind man feels a different part of the elephant’s body, but only one part, such as the side or the tusk. They then describe the elephant based on their limited experience and their descriptions of the elephant are different from each other. In some versions, they come to suspect that the other person is dishonest and they come to blows.

I will comfortably juxtapose the message passed by the parable with the story of an exceptional easy going man, Hon Tayo Akinmade Ayinde. Humans have a tendency to claim absolute truth based on their limited, subjective experience as they ignore other people’s limited, subjective experiences which may be equally true. 

Having known and related closely with Tayo Ayinde, many years after his service of fatherland and under the political tutelage of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I can confidently say some things, which the average person does not know about this unique personality. 

For a large number of people, they first noticed Tayo Ayinde when he was appointed as the Director General of the Independent Campaign Group, ICG, for the electioneering campaign activities of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu in 2018. For others, they heard about him for the first time when he was made the Chief of Staff to the eventual winner of the 2019 Governorship election in Lagos State in 2019.

So, only a few individuals can rightly claim that they have known him as a certified accountant from his days with the respected News outlet, The TELL Magazine, as a seasoned technocrat, who had remarkable professional track records and influence. Some eagle-eyed persons may have also spotted him between 1999 to 2007 when he meritoriously served as the Chief Security Detail to the then Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

For another class of people, they noticed the presence of the easy going and soft speaking Tayo Ayinde many years after his resignation from the DSS at the formative stage of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Then for some in the political class, they took note of him in 2014, when he expressed his interest in running for the office of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, which he lost eventually at the gubernatorial primaries. 

The Tayo Ayinde, Buffalo, that I know is a seasoned hospitality and security guru, who is committed to the support of universal human values and an advocate of support for the less privileged. Buffalo strongly believes in the empowerment of others and has remained committed to many charities and initiatives targeted to help the poor and the sick. He is also strongly dedicated to helping young people, for whom he strives to be a model.

The Buffalo I know is an information and knowledge acquisition enthusiast. And had been to different parts of the world as a result of the quest to be better. The very Buffalo that I know is not meddlesome but a peacemaker.

Like the alias depicts, the Buffalo that I know is a fighter, especially while trying to defend and protect the vulnerable. Buffalo is a very resourceful personality, a tireless giver, a dynamic and strategic leader with great depth of knowledge… that’s the Buffalo I that know!