By Kola Adepoju
I wonder if any soul has ever
touched my life the way Mr.Kayode Akinmade did.This is the more reason why my morale was initially low for three (3) days until yesterday morning when I consoled myself and braced up with the fact that i supposed to be happy that I'm alive to witness the birthday of a man that means a lot to me instead of being sad because of my inability to roll out drums and red carpet for the celebration of my mentor at 56
Honestly, I felt like footing a page or half page advertorial in the newspapers to mark his birthday or host and treated some of his close friends and associates in Government to an exclusive birthday bash in one of the highbrow relaxation centres as a surprise package but I'm cash crunched.No thanks to the spiral and reverberating effect of non-payment of salaries for four months to non-teaching staff of public universities during the last strike and parental responsibilities.
Honestly, for me nothing is too much to spare celebrating Mr.Akinmade, a man with golden heart.
He came into my life at a time that circumstances beyond my control plunged my pocket into the abyss of dryness.
He was then the Commissioner of Information in the Government of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.
Before his Commissionership, the last time I was quite a distance close to him was when he was the Lagos State Governor's Office Correspondent for The Diet Newspapers while I was Ogun State Bureau Chief but he was by every standard far successful, professional, connected and older than me,unknown to him that I was and still looking up to him as an exemplary and highly emulatable big brother in the industry.
Fast forward back to his Commissionership, despite losing contact that was not really there as such during our days in Mr.Niran Malaolu edited the Diet Newspapers, I will call Mr.Akinmade and he often retorted with cordial pleasantries and as usual extend his kind gestures to me.More importantly, he took special interest in my progress in life such that he became my special adviser
And now that he is a bit close,he has even draw me closer and give me sense of belonging like never before.
This is a man, an unsong hero, who silently has been working underground to fix and cover up the lapses of an old time friend in public service using his scarce and very lean resources to smoothen rough edges.
Very humble, unassuming, a lover of God and humanity.Mr.Akinmade you have impacted my life and touch the life of many with your sterling qualities.Ive never seen you without the holy book, the Bible on your table.You are not just a reader but a doer, no wonder your life is a reflection of the gospel truth according to Jesus Christ message of " Love your neighbour like yourself"
Egbon, as I used to call you,I celebrate you now (1.28 a.m that I'm typing this tribute on my phone) on your birthday today January 9,2023.
Egbon mi, the Bible say I will decree a thing on earth and it shall be established in heaven,I decree
YOU WILL CONTINUE TO MOUNT AND SOAR LIKE THE EAGLE FROM GLORY TO GLORY IN JESUS NAME.MAY THE GOOD LORD CONTINUE TO LIFT YOUR HEAD AND YOURS LIKE THE HORN OF THE UNICORN IN JESUS NAME.
MAY YOUR OFFSPRINGS BE FAR FAR GREATER THAN YOU AND YOUR WIFE COMBINED IN JESUS NAME.
MR.KAYODE AKINMADE MAY THR GLORY OF YOUR LATTER BE FAR GREATER THAN YOUR FORMER IN JESUS NAME.
FROM THE DEPTH OF MY HEART EGBON, I WISH YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY RETURNS OF THE DAY.
Kola Adepoju, Director of Public Relations, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) writes from Abeokuta.
No comments:
Post a Comment