Deacon Olajide Stephen Ogunbiyi died shortly after a brief illness at LUTH, Idiaraba.

Beri Magana, as he was fondly called in the political arena, had an unrelenting passion for politics. He was once a councillorship aspirant at the old National Republican Convention (NRC), Age ge Local Government Area. He served as Agege Local Government secretary at the disbanded PFN. In addition, he served as the Ward Secretary in DPN at Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area.

He was also an executive member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Moreso, he was appointed as the Chairman of Justice Forum (J.F) and a Party Leader of the Action Congress (AC). He was a delegate for the Lagos West Senatorial District. Till his last breath, he was outrightly involved in politics and stayed committed, loyal, and relevant to his political group without wavering.

Late Deacon Olajide Stephen Ogunbiyi was born into the family of late of Mrs Ebunola Felicia Ogunbiyi on 3rd of March, 1947, as the first born of his father in Oloje Ekiti, Oye local government area of Ekiti State. His father later had two other wives and gave birth to Olajide's brothers and sisters.

He attended Emmanuel Primary School, Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State, where he graduated from in 1960 and then proceeded to Ayede Grammar School, Ayede-Ekiti, Ekiti State, between 1961 and 1965. He then went further to Lincoln's Commercial School, Surulere, Lagos, where he obtained his Land Surveying certificate in 1966.

Deacon Ogunbiyi worked at the Nigerian Army Central Command, first at the Pay Office (1968-1971) and later at the Accounts Inspectorate Division (1971- 1977). In the year 1979, he worked as the 'Work Manager' at Salbaco Land Surveyors. From 1985 till his demise, he was self-employed as a land survey technician. He got married to Mrs Victoria Olufunke Ogunbiyi in the year 1980, and the marriage was blessed with four lovely children.

He served as the Secretary for many years in the National Association of Survey Technicians (N.A.S.T), Lagos chapter, and then as the Association's National Secretary. After his tenure as the National Secretary, he remained a full-time and committed member of the body until his demise.


Deacon Olajide Ogunbiyi was also a devoted member of Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C), Mount of Salvation, Ifako, where he served wholeheartedly in God's vineyard as the church secretary for over thirty-five years. Also, at the district headquarters level, he served as the Scribe for the church and the Christ Apostolic Church Men Association (CACMA), Agoro-Mushin, Lagos State.

"Baba Winners" was an easygoing person, highly respectful, full of empathy, committed, and ecstatically lively. Worthy of mention is the fact that Daddy was also an eloquent speaker who enjoyed spicing up his speeches with Latin and Latin- derived English words. One of his favourite quotes goes thus: 'Vox populi, vox dei' meaning: the voice of the people is the voice of God. Another is: “Dash reduces hostility to the barest minimum”.

Also in his word banks are words/phrases like “persona non grata”, “pandemonium”, “lackadaisical attitude" and others. Speaking and writing were his hobbies asides from politics.

He was briefly ill from March 2023 and was admitted to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, where he eventually surrendered his life at the feet of the Lord Jesus on Friday 28th April, 2023.

We pray that the Lord Almighty will comfort the family, friends, and associates he left behind. Amen

When they tell you people that politics is not for small children una no hear

Eeyah...sorry ooo... Wetin kill am

Ultimately, irrespective of your importance and position, everybody has an exit time and date that will leave the position vacant. RIP to the dead.