PLAUDITS FOR A BORDERLESS ICON.
I have had opportunities to write tributes for a good number of people who have impacted my life. But writing one for My One and Only Asiwaju, an 18-year-old, because he always remains young at heart - with an exciting 52 years of impactful adult experience culminating in his seventieth birthday is a great honour and privilege.
My paths crossed with this great man about thirty-two years ago, when as a young office I was part of a team comprising some expatriates whom he convinced that Nigerians can deliver on any intellectual exercise as well as, if not better than expatriates. In conducting that assignment, Asiwaju gathered so strong an intellectual team comprising only Nigerians with practical experiences and at the commanding heights in their field of study that the excellent delivery endeared him to the expatriate supervisor of the programme.
The resilience and commitment to excellence displayed as far back as 1993 became the hallmarks I associated with My One and Only Asiwaju as we interacted over the years.
Through the decades, I have seen you touch many lives, stood by friends with a deep display of loyalty, supported many philanthropic activities, made strong cases for support to your community – both anywhere you live and your ancestral home of ijesaland- and bringing development to them. You have also brought joy and laughter to my family and I.
The ease with which you made friends across the Nigerian landscape and how my wife and I were brought into your circle of friends, in spite of our differences in age is an indication of how detribalized a Nigerian you are.
You remain an Icon to me.
As you celebrate your seventieth birthday, my wife and I wish you more years of peace, laughter, joy and God's Grace with our big sister Yeye Asiwaju always by your side.
I look forward to celebrating many more years of your impact on humanity.
Congratulations sir.
Signed:
David Adejo Andrew OON, FFAN
Permanent Secretary (Rtd)
.jpeg)
No comments:
Post a Comment