There are many things we humans take for granted. Some we come to realize when we find ourselves in a situation which makes us appreciate those little things we have taken for granted. Some people never get the opportunity to realize how important these little unappreciated things are.
Once a while God shows us love and beat us back to line by taking us through challenging experiences. It is during such a period like that we appreciate His awesomeness and kindness towards the universe.
There is a common saying among Yoruba speaking people that “Ogbon odun’ni Omugo emi” which literarily means “Today’s wisdom may become tomorrow’s foolishness”
We learn everyday of our lives and couple of experiences I passed through in the last 2years has made me wiser in my journey of life. While I look forward to celebrating my 50th birthday in few years time, it has never dawn me so much as it is at the moment why it is very important to celebrate life with meaning and heart filled with gratitude.
Why the fuse about Golden Jubilee? I was asked this by a friend. I would not have been able to articulate my response to him as much as I did if I had not learnt afar from a friend, brother and benefactor, Chief Adebayo Adelabu who recently celebrated his 50th birthday.
“Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” This is exactly what Chief Bayo Adelabu’s Golden Jubilee celebration achieved. Wisdom!
He recounted during a media parley organized to celebrate his birthday how his grandfather and his father only lived for 43years and 33years respectively. He must have been a man who fears and totally given to the will of God to be able to come to this realization that clocking 50years is a gift only from God.
Before 2019, I knew him from afar. First as a senior at Lagelu Grammar School, Agugu, Ibadan and later at Oke-Adu area in Ibadan where I used to visit my aunt and her surveyor husband (Uncle Remi). The best of former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Bayo Adelabu was revealed fully to me when I eventually met him through a friend on the 15th July, 2018 during my political outreaches. He received us generously into his private living room and not only was he attentive to me but also offered very sincere and brotherly advice to guide my political ambition. I left his house encouraged and fired up for the challenges ahead.
Chief Adelabu I know is a generous giver. A builder of men and resources, a true lover of his people, such was demostrated when Chief Adelabu treated my driver, Mr. Ben who was from Southern Kaduna, he has been my driver since 2017. He drove me to Chief Adelabu’s house that Sunday morning and up till now; he has not forgotten his encounter with this generous and illustrious son of Ibadan. Adelabu in his usual Omoluabi character didn’t looked down on Mr. Ben being my driver but he was invited to Chief Adelabu’s dining table for a sumptuous breakfast. While I was thanking him for his hospitality, he generously gave my driver and other people who followed me to his house some gift of money individually. It was an unexpected gift especially to my driver and for that; he has remained in awe of Chief Adelabu. Taking lesson from this, Ben is not a Yoruba man and does not have a voter’s card to vote in Ibadan but was treated with utmost affection and respect. Chief Adelabu has not become a candidate as at then. This gesture must have come naturally from him.
While looking forward to my golden jubilee celebration, I take this time to reflect on lessons i’ve learnt from Agbaakin Parakoyi of Ibadanland, Chief Adebayo Abdulwaheed Adelabu. Meeting him has changed my perspective about his personality, Adelabu is valuable asset any state in Nigeria will crave to have. I thank God for sparing his life to celebrate golden jubilee and I pray that he celebrates many more years in good health with abundance of God’s blessings upon him. May his heart desires be fulfilled.
Hon. Abidemi Sanusi (Olaiya)
Ona-ara Local Government
Ibadan, Oyo State.
