People are the clothes I wear, goes a Yoruba saying. This came into bold relief recently when friends, university classmates, and other people of goodwill gathered to celebrate Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President, Muhammadu Buhari, in Lagos.
The venue was Sun Heaven Hotel, Park View, Ikoyi, and the rallying force behind the dinner event was his special Egbon, Adebayo Olowo-Ake, fully supported by his course and classmate at the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Yinka Akande, whom we used to call Yinxie for Sports.
Other Great Ife friends and colleagues included Remi Adekola, Adewale Fashokun (Omoba), Wale Fasanya, Ola Awosemo, Tayo Oladapo, and others.
Friends and professional colleagues of over three decades included Lekan Ogunbanwo, Ayo Makinde, Yomi Opakunle, Muyiwa Akintunde, Funso Aina, Akinwunmi Oluwole, Remi Ogunpitan, Kunle Onojobi, Yemi Famakin, Yemi Agunbiade, and many others.
It was a night of fun, gaiety, going down the memory lane, good food and music.
Adesina said, “How do I appreciate these friends and classmates other than to say thank you, thank you, thank you. In the 8 years that I served President Muhammadu Buhari, they couldn’t have agreed with everything I said or did, but they were there with me all the way, maintaining camaraderie and goodwill. They even considered me worthy of a farewell dinner. One couldn’t have had it better”.
“A good number turned out with their wives, which I fully appreciated. May God bless them real good.
If only I would have opportunity to ‘retaliate’ in future.”