By Kola Odepeju
Birthdays are a special day in the life of each and every individual. From time immemorial people attach so much importance to it. This is because a person can only be born once. No matter what form its celebration takes; whether big or low key, birthdays don’t ever go uncelebrated or unremembered. Depending on individual’s pocket, state of wealth, social or political standing in the society birthday boys and girls are always in a joyful and celebratory mood on their born days.
No matter the negative condition they might find themselves on this day – whether they’re poor, on sick bed or in prison – they still see reason/s for which they should thank the Creator. This is because as the saying goes “when there’s life, there’s hope”. It’s only a dead person that has no hope again. Thus in the light of this reality birthday celebrators are often inclined to forget the past, look forward to the future with the belief that the best is yet to come to them.
For poor people, their birthdays are hardly known to others outside their immediate families since they lack the means to engage in elaborate celebrations. So for them it’s usually “se bi o ti mo” (cut your coat according to your cloth) like the Yoruba do say. Much as many of them might love to celebrate their days in a grandiose way, they lack the financial wherewithal to do so.
For the wealthy ones and wielders of power in the society, however, their birthdays are usually a noisy day; a day to roll out the drums and get the heaven and earth informed. It needs mentioning that even if they are not interested in any elaborate celebration, their friends and associates and beneficiaries of their kind gestures in the past, who have now become big boys and girls in the society do take it upon themselves to foot the bills of big celebrations for the celebrant. They expand it and make enough noise on behalf of the celebrater.
It’s instructive to mention it that there are some certain numbers that people who have the means attach so much importance to; such that even if they don’t celebrate other years in big form, they cannot afford not to celebrate in grand style on certain numbers they consider more important than others in life journey. These are age 25 (Silver), age 40 (ruby), age 50 (Golden), age 60 (Diamond), age 70 (platinum) etcetera. But it’s also worth mentioning that some wealthy and powerful individuals with a simple outlook to life still prefer to engage in mild celebrations on their days irrespective of the pressure on them by their friends and associates. Some also prefer to use the occasion of their days to reach out to the underprivileged in the society.
This set of people do shun wasting money on throwing parties and engaging in frivolous spending in the name of doing birthday. They prefer to touch lives in more positive and impactful ways through putting smiles on the faces of the vulnerable individuals in their societies. They identify with the downtrodden by showing compassion on them and by this, they engrain their names in the minds of these vulnerable people.
This writer is a staunch admirer of this category of people due to their kindness. For, making other people happy; especially the less privileged in the society is the only thing that’s worth living for. When you make others happy, happiness gravitates towards you too and uses your mind and abode as its habitats. Thus in the words of Dalai Lama (1935); “When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace”.
For this writer, the afforementioned category of wealthy people who use the occasions of their birthdays to embark on humanitarian deeds rather than following the multitude to engage in business as usual deserve not only to be commended but to be emulated. *It’s therefore in the light of this that this writer like to give kudos to the immediate past governor of Osun state and current minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Isiaq Adegboyega Oyetola* who recently celebrated his 70th birthday in an impactful way by remembering the less privileged in Osun state through provision of free medical treatment and gifting food items to them.
Of course Oyetola’s simple life style and gravitas are the main reasons why he’s highly revered by many. To state here that he’s a principled man and a man of integrity to the core is a statement of fact that even his arch-detractors cannot dispute; except one who wants to live in denial. It’s on record that his four years as the governor in Osun was characterised by untainted integrity and credible performance. Never would Oyetola compromise his integrity for anything. This singles him out as a leader that’s worth following and emulating. *For Oyetola “the dignity of a man is an ideal that’s worth pursuing and worth dying for” as late Chief Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory once quipped*.
As this cerebral, compassionate and unassuming leader and brother climbs the septuagenarian ladder, it’s the pleasure of this writer to identify with him on his platinum birthday as l wish him more productive, impactful and peaceful years on the shore of earth. May Almighty Allah spare your life and with good health and more upliftment so as to be able to serve humanity better than ever-Aameen.
Long Live Adegboyega Oyetola!
Long Live IleriOluwa!!
Forward ever, backward never
