One of the reasons why I struggled to be a good student (not a brilliant one) in school is that I do not advert my mind to simple things. That reduces my capacity to appreciate details around me. How could I possibly tell anyone that I never knew I share the same month of December with Hon. Wale Akinterinwa until Hon Yemi Olowolabi told me? That made me an Olodo rabata…
More than the above, if I could turn the hands of the clock, I would have wished I met you earlier in my political or professional journey in life. I am sure my story which has been of pains and anguish, of use and dump (despite my best efforts), would have been truly different.
Since, I met you, you seemed a complex phenomenon but a simple puzzle to decode. Your definition of life and relationship is of mutuality and not servitude.
During the last political process I tried to process you and navigate your persona using various variables essentially based on previous personal experiences. Despite working very closely with you, I maintained a dose of sustained distance from you to reduce the incidence of another heart break or of ” stories that touch the heart”.
In our clime, leadership is seen from the prism of generational servitude by followers and of maniacal demand for loyalty by leaders. To many it is an offence to disagree or have contrary views, but to you, it is the virtue of strength in any group. On many occasions, you are fond of asking ” what’s the opposite view”. If we say none, you will tell us, we do not have a finished product yet. Let’s think further”. Your search for an alternative view strengthens group solidarity and comradeire.
Unlike you, many leaders see followership only from the myth of what they benefit from me as a leader. You are not like that.
For you, leadership and followership stems from a commonality of purpose, a duality of efforts and a joint synergy of each others pains and triumphs.
You are a leader with emparthy, you are a common man with so much uncommon virtues. You seem distanced yet you are closer to events than could be imagined. You are in a constant search for opportunities for people and you live a life of essence to those you know. You live a life of simple actions moulded in great monuments. Not many are that blessed to know the “Essential WA”.
Our leader, friend and brother, as you clock a year older this Thursday, I am happy to be part of your journey of life and will be for years to come.
Happy born day in advance our own Ajanga.
Sola Ajisafe, lawyer, journalist and Political Strategist, is the Programme Director of the WA Political Group.
