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December comes with a rush, just like your creation whilst being a student of the theatre department on the Campus of the greater by far University – the University of Ilorin, where you created the play “Octo Rush”, a play for new students of the citadel of learning. Today, that play by Tunji Bamishigbin (now, Barrister Olatunji Sallabiu Alao Bamishigbin; he later bagged a Law degree from the best State University in Nigeria, the University of Excellence – Lagos State University, LASU) continued to be staged year-in, year-out in UniIlorin despite the fact that this irrepressible Thespian has left the four walls of University of Ilorin many decades back. Talk of engraving yourself in the mountains of time with enduring legacies.
The ephemeral struggle to end a new year with a worthwhile accomplishment makes December, the last month of the Gregorian Calendar a big deal for many. Many eagerly cross the Ts and dot the I’s of their yearly desires. The success or failure of these ‘New Year Resolutions’ put so much burden and pressure on people because they don’t want to be tagged as failures for not completing or accomplishing a dream or target while some are so desperate to, by force or by fire have the medal of finishing well hung on their necks! But at the end, except the LORD build the house, the builders labour in vain, Psalm 127:1.
Even though today, December 19, 2022, is your natal day, we can say that your born date celebration was fast-tracked yesterday, when in the midst of friends, professional colleagues, associates, family members, mentors and mentees you watched your darling footballer – Lionel Messi raised the diadem as a winner and captain of Argentina’s national team in a pulsating, scintillating and worth the while Qatar 2022 World Cup final. Despite many Africans supporting France because of the Francophone attachment and the ‘black colour’ dominance in the team, you, and convincingly so, supported Argentina, majorly because of your long-standing support for the mercurial talent – Lionel Messi, who you have been attached to because of his great strides in the colours of FC Barcelona of Spain before moving to Paris Saint-Germain of France. Your love for FC Barcelona, free-hearted persona, humility and love to be with the young ones at football viewing centres watching football brought about the sobriquet – Baba Barca!
This is to wish you a joyful and fulfilling birthday celebration. May today and all you have achieved in your over six decades on earth be the beginning of the greatness ahead because you have watered many talents to greatness therefore goodness and success shall be your payback currency. Happy birthday Sir!
Ibrahim Mojeed-Sanni
