By Dr Nurudeen Oshinlaja
I honour our dearest father, leader, his eminence, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun on his 86th birthday celebration. His special day today is an opportunity to praise God for the incredible life Baba leads and for being divinely blessed. God’s blessing on Baba is not only to him but to all who have benefitted from baba’s blessing. Baba’s fountain of love and grace lift many a ‘hicthhiker’. Baba is the topmost leader that I know, bar none. I therefore join millions of well-wishers to celebrate Baba’s exemplary life, inimitable achievements and enduring legacy of virtuousness.
I consider myself privileged to be nurtured, sponsored and trained by Baba. Baba is an extraordinary human and it is not excessive to revere him. To many of us, male and female, old and young, at home and in diaspora, Baba’s influence on our lives transcends mentoring, his influence on us, particularly as fledgling individuals, represents profound grace. We benefit from his lamppost of receptive and dependable support. Even when he senses a need for one to hold back, he encourages the exploration of possibilities. He encourages a confident but guided motion.
Baba’s unstinting positive actions for the development of Igbogbo kingdom, Ikorodu Division, Lagos State and Nigeria remain pivotal. The outpouring of felicitation and the wave of deserved recognition coming through for Baba is only a tip of the iceberg – his legacy endures and he will continue to be venerated.
I toast to a progressive of the highest standard; a smart and immaculate professional; a community development leader, a quintessential trailblazer; a special brand for deep insights and unconstrained perspectives; a politician par excellence, a selfless philanthropist; a prominent and erudite personality; the patriarch of many families; and our Baba Aladura.
Asiwaju, sir, I wish you a wonderful birthday. I pray our good Lord continue to strengthen you. God’s love for you and His grace on your life shall not evaporate. God will bless you much more. Thank you so much for all you do for us, sir.
Cheers, sir
Nurudeen Oshinlaja, a researcher writes from Cardiff University, UK
