Tai Solarin

THE CONSUMMATE ENEMY OF CANT AND CHICANERY: DR TAI SOLARIN (1920-1994)

By

Seye Adetunmbi

The original article was first written when Dr. Tai Solarin wore a donated complete agbada of Ankara made to launch "Better Life for Rural Women" programme as the Chairman of People’s Bank and his action gave rise to criticism. The article was not published then, I have edited it for publication here as a tribute to the great Educationist, Teacher, Philosopher, Scholar, Humanist, Social Crusader, Human Rights Activist and atheist who voluntarily led an unequaled spartan life among his peers and excelled exceedingly

I was a fervent admirer of Dr. Tai Solarin in his lifetime right from the time I started reading about him, or could lay my hands on his writings and teachings in the newspapers. He was among the few "role model" I ever had apart from my most venerable father in whom I believed so much in and found very tough to fault. I hardly missed his regular articles in the “State of Nation” column of every Sunday Tribune between 1983 and 1994. As a matter of fact, my week was not complete if I have not read his weekly message and views. Therefore at the risk of sounding immodest, I can claim to be a student of his school of thought and have followed his works and activities sufficiently enough to defend him or take position on his behalf on certain issues. I must also say that I always felt offended and found it unbearable to keep quiet over any aspersions cast on his character and unparalleled honour.

Social critics in the Nigerian Society can be categorized into three groups. The first group is the seasonal critics who criticize probably because they see some people doing so. They could be described as opportunists who turned social critics as a function of their selfish end. The second category is the regular or vocational social critics who hardly see anything good in what any government does as long as they do not like the form and composition of the government in question. Most of the critics in this group have feelings for the masses yet their target may be personal recognition or fame and in most cases they have political ambition. Primarily, they want their voice to be heard all the time. Apparently, their intention is to project themselves and they are in the majority in our clime. While those in the last category are very few, they are sincere functional social critics who challenge unpopular government policies when necessary and at an appropriate time. In most cases they propose and recommend alternatives to the government to facilitate effective decision and the desired result.  Interestingly, social critics that fall within this category would not hesitate to commend the government or the appropriate authority when good decisions are taken and laudable policies are promulgated.

Tai Solarin to the best of my knowledge fell within this last or 3^rd category of the Nigerian social critics.  The man whose attitude to life and social criticism was actuated by his love for the common man, the masses and the underprivileged, coupled with the desire to truly serve humanity and certainly not for the love of position or power. Those who aspersed his good name and criticized him because he took an appointment with People’s Bank and for wearing a donated outfit during the Better Life for Rural Women fare in Lagos in 1990 fall in the first category and second category of Nigerian social critics.  In fact they can best be described as “fault finders”.  Tai made himself very clear a long time ago that he would do anything for the benefit of the mankind that he claimed to be living for and this he demonstrated on several occasions in his lifetime.

He actually said that he was ready to "rob" the Central Bank and use the loot to fund free education scheme if he had the opportunity.  He was that original and down to earth. For accepting the appointment of People’s Bank as the Chairman backed up his statement that he was ready to serve his people under any situation since it will amount to denouncing the people he had professed to serve, of their general well-being.  Most of his followers agreed with him as long as the real Tai would not be compromised.  The fact that he took an appointment from the government did not stop him from crying out when he saw evidences of any fraud or mismanagement at any quarter. Somebody like Tai could not be depraved.  He chose his style and disposition long time ago and lived by it till he died.  All efforts to change him failed.

If there was any regret I have on one of my most revered personalities, it was the fact that I never met him in person. I have always thought that one day I was going to travel to Ikenne and ask for his permission to take photograph together with him. I did cherish the painting of his photograph which was taken by a Tribune photo journalist when they broke the sad news of the closure of 18 Nigerian universities by the then deceptive government of General Babangida. It was really painful for me to learn about his transition after about a month when he had since died. I was in the company with Abi Adigun, Gorge Ogbemi and another Nigerian expatriate inside Mobil Guest House in Ndola, Zambia sometime in August 1994 when Gorge who had just arrived from Lagos mentioned it in the course of discussing the general situation back home. I mourned the great teacher, philosopher, iconoclast and an exemplary humanist.

Tai never made a virtue of necessity. His desire to do good and serve mankind was innate to him. Whatever he did  or every step he took was his natural way of life.  All his actions were done out of free will.  He was never out to get the nod of everybody, neither was he really out to please anyone.  To God be the glory, he pleased a lot of people by his deeds.  It was not by design. It was indeed his personal unique way and disposition to life. A self-confessed atheist yet all his life activities and professions were more godly than most of the new generation born again shepherds and their flock! Certainly, virtue is its own reward.

Dr. Taiwo Solarin was born on an assumed date of August 22, 1922 in Ikenne, Ogun State. He attended St. Jame's School, Iperu, Wesley School, Ogere, Otapete Wesley School, Ilesha and Wesley College, Ibadan. Tai graduated from University of London and Manchester University, England. He was a member of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, 1942–1945. He resigned from Molusi College, Ijebu-Igbo and in 1956 founded Mayflower School, Ikenne which signaled his trait as an activist. As the Public Complaints Commissioner in the old Western Region, he resigned his appointment when the police accosted him driving without his driving license. A very principled character who led by example. He had several brushes with various governments and law enforcement agencies which resulted to detentions many times e.g. was earlier Jailed 10 years and 18 months in 1984 by Buhari/Idiagbon junta.

Dr. Solarin typified his modesty even in death. After breakfast at about 8.30 am on July 27, 1994, he lost his steps on the staircase while ascending and fell. The 78 years old asthmatic patient passed on shortly after to draw curtains on an epoch of an integrated progressive social activism. In line with his wish, the body of Tai was committed to mother earth same day at 1.15 pm in a corner piece of the potato farm of his Mayflower School, Ikenne. He was dressed in his trade mark brown khaki shorts, shirt and cap with the inscription “Knowledge is Light”. According to Chief Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory, that I admired so much too; Dr. Tai Solarin was indeed “the conscience of the nation, leader of the struggle for a just society, soul of the polity, a consummate enemy of cant and chicanery”