MY BIRTHDAY NOTE: MY STORY I will start this piece by first appreciating God Almighty for giving me the grace and special privilege of adding another year to my years on earth today, I pray he continues to direct my path, guide and gaurd me forever and ever. On this date some twenty something years ago, an handsome and very innocent looking baby was ushered into this world, I could remember my mum told me that when I was given birth to, the Nurses and Midwives present all exclaimed, what a Precious baby! Hence, that earned the name Precious, I hope I have answered those who continue to ask me how come a guy is named Precious. My growing up was quite different from the way other kids grew up, i was brought up the hard way by my parent especially my mum who never gave me a chance to grow up as a spoilt child baring in mind some of the circumstances that surrounded my birth. My mother is a very strict disciplinarian, a character that is quite common among Teachers. I grew up with my maternal grandmother, my grandma is also a very strict woman unlike other grandmas who are always very relaxed with their grandchildren. My grandma will keep a detail record of all the offences I committed during the week which she will patiently relay to my mum during the weekends when the latter comes visiting, my mum will in-turn ditch out appropriate punishment to me. This is always done with the door closed so as to prevent people from coming to plead on my behalf. This continued well into my very early teenage years. That is the kind of environment I grew up and today, I look back to how I was trained, and I fully understand my parent made me grow up the hard way to get me prepared for the challenges of an ever dynamic world. The training they gave me made me strong in character; this I will forever appreciate. I graduated from St. Micheals Nur/Pry School, Ijebu-Owo as one of the students with the best results in Owo Local Government having placed 3rd position in the overall Common Entrance Examination for my set in the Local Government. I proceeded to the prestigious Federal Government College, Ido-ani, the 5-years I spent in this school shaped my life, it was full of so many events that I will never forget, time and space will not allow me mention these events in this piece. As a result of peer influence, the good boy turned unserious, it was in this school that I really developed the spirit of courage, endurance and a very strong will. I started noticing I cant keep quiet where oppression, injustice and what is not right persist, i still remember vividly a particular incident in my JSS.3, after we went for our junior NECO first paper in the morning, we went to the Dining Hall for breakfast. On getting there, we were told there was no food without any convincing explanation. We were all gathered around the Dining Hall, with frustration and anger brewing, I looked up and I saw the Vice Principal (Administrative) blue Volvo 740GL going towards the Tuck-shop from the staff-quarters, I ran toward the car, stopped the Vice-Principal and before you know it, all the students were gathered around him demanding explanations. After that, the JSS.3 students were given some money to go and get something to eat. One of the most painful decisions I took in my life was leaving F.G.C Ido-ani in my SS.2, but at that time I was convinced it was the best step to take and I remain convinced about that till today. I later finished my Secondary Education in Owo High School, another school with a very rich antecedent, this school was established in 1963 by a great Politician with extra-ordinary virtues, an Administrator par excellence and one of the most honest leaders in the history of Nigeria politics, Late Pa Micheal Adekunle Ajasin. I proceeded to the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) where I obtained a Bachelor of Technology degree in the field of Animal Production and Health in 2011, my experience in this great Institution of higher learning changed and remoulded my life politically, I was actively involved in Students Unionism. In my 200level, I had the opportunity to be elected as the Welfare Officer of the FUTA Students Union (FUTASU) and in the course of my 5-years in the University, I was opportuned to serve the student community in different capacities and at different levels. I also served as the National Public Relations Officer of Owo Local Government Area Students Union (OLGASU). I have also had the opportunities of serving and working with different Youth Groups and Association both in the political and social spheres. Today, am on an expedition to seek further studies in a bid to acquiring more knowledge and exposure which will be very useful for me in my sojourns in the nearest future. This piece will not be complete if I fail to appreciate some people who have positively contributed to my development, My profound appreciation goes to my Parent who have stood staunchly by me in all I do, I thank you so much meinen Vatter und meine Mutter for your care and support. My next round of appreciations goes to my Uncles and Aunts who have contributed in no small means to my development and are still contributing; Big Daddy, Small Daddy, Aunt Biodun and Uncle Akinwumi Akinmade. I say a very big thank you to cousins especially Barrister Abiola Olawole for his intellectual and moral suport, and Bro. Akinrinbola Tosin for his words of advise and encourangement. My immense gratitude goes to my beloved brother from another mother, Mr Frederick Adetiba of Premium Times News for the special interest he had in me, you have done more than what a brother can do for his younger one for me in the last three years of knowing you. I say a very big thank you, I pray the Almighty God continue to strongly uphold and strengthen you. Next i will like to specially thank Mr Falana Olanrewaju for the support, advice and encouragement he has continued to offer me since i got to know him, you are no doubt a very special Big Uncle to me sir. My special appreciation goes to my very good friend Mr Akinbodunse Victor, words will not be enough to demonstrate how much I am indebted to you, all I can say is Dankeschön man, er hat einen großartigen Job gemacht. I dont know how to appreciate Pastor Stanley Chukwu of Christ Embassy Bremen for the immensurable assistance he had rendered and continue to render for me, I say Viele Danks Man of God. I thank my second family which I have found in Bremen, Schwestern Chrisabelle und Glamour auf Gott, Herr Austin Ezejiofor, Frau Angel Ezejiofor, Splendor, Brüder Christian und Kaminus auf Gott, Elliot und Treasure auf Gott. I thank all my friends, whom space will not allow me mention all their names, Festus Asolo, Tobi Figbayemi, Fajana Abiodun, Samson Adejukanmbi, Owalaye Rafiu, Kunle Olupona, Prince Dayo Elemure, my two new jolly friends, Emrullah and Julian from Turkey and Argentina respectively, Charlotte and Carmen from France and Spain respectively. My next round of very sincere gratitude goes to my Facebook and Twitter family, I appreciate all your supports, encouragement and goodwill messages, I never knew my posts and tweets have far-reaching effects until I begin to read your feedbacks through messages, calls and e-mails. I thank you all for the very lovely and beautiful birthday wishes you sent me. The journey to a new and better Nigeria begins with all of us, hence, it is quite imperative we continue to orientate ourselves in the aqua of the political cross-currents of our Nation, it is our duty to bestow on our beloved Nation a deserving leadership, a visionary leadership that will captain the ship of the Nigerian Nation from her present state of precarity, despair and quagmire to her Canaanland. The year 2015 offers us another opportunity to roll in machineries to right the wrongs our fathers have done this Nation, this will start with our conscious efforts at awakening the political consciousness of our people towards the need to change how governance in Aso Rock and all the States is being run. I see and I continue to see a new Nigeria, it begins with us, this has become my foremost pre-occupation, my dominating theme and an haunting obsession. Buy into the Nigeria dream today. Happy Birthday to me, I say a vey big thanks to you all. God bless Nigeria! by Olarewaju Olaniyi Precious
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 18:19:01 +0000