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By Don Peter Okoro
One can never get tired of speaking (and writing) of the good virtues and qualities of one of Nigeria’s best professional journalists, public figures and topmost government functionaries, the highly respected and respectable Chief Femi Adesina, Nwanne di Na Mba of Maku Kingdom, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, and a worthy patron of the SweetHome Africa Humanitarian Foundation. Adesina is an embodiment of love, compassion, empathy and humility.
When he speaks and writes, he evokes a kind of passion that is rare among mankind. The simplicity of his makeup, the lucidity of his expression and the sincerity of his logic make you understand why the holy gods have decided to make his heart their dwelling place. Adesina is a lover of the country called Nigeria. He is a completely detribalised Nigerian. While others are wont to play the ethnic, religious or political cards, Adesina is not the type to see you from those parochial prismatic lenses.
He loves Nigeria and Nigerians. He is a rare gem who has worked hard to keep Nigeria together. How? Now This! Let it be on record that, if not for the likes of Adesina, this country would have gone up in flames. It would have started with serial media attacks, which would have snowballed into all kinds of protests and demonstrations and the resultant effects would have been unpredictable. But a certain Adesina stands guard at the gate of public opinion and information dissemination. A lot of deadly writers would have gone on rampage in this country, but when they look at the man standing guard at the media gateway, they let down their guard. How can they move against the icon, the national symbol of their profession? Chapter what? Verse what? And they pipe down. Not everyone will understand this dynamic though, except those within the media space in Nigeria. Our conversation about Femi Adesina today has to do with his forthcoming conferment as an Officer of the Order of the Niger by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President/Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is a well-deserved honour, having served the fatherland for almost eight years without spots or wrinkles. He served his first term successfully as one of the earliest appointees of the President and is now concluding his second term in flying colours. Throughout his first and second terms, no issue of misdemeanor, scandal or wrongdoing ever came up. He went in sparkling clean and is coming out sparkling cleaner. Such a rare species. As Adesina steps forward to receive his National Award from the President, let all men of goodwill chant that, “He is a Jolly Good Fellow”!!!
