Encomium
WEDNESDAY, November 11, 2015, was just not another day in the life of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, the Speaker of Lagos House of Assembly.
It was the day he turned 43. Even if he planned to just allow the day to go like any other day, his friends and colleagues in the Assembly would not let it be.
They kept trooping into his office with greeting cards of different shapes and sizes, cakes too, of different shapes and sizes were coming into his office.
He was kept busy receiving people in his office and was forced to organize drinks for his impromptu guests.
He was still receiving well wishers up till 7 p.m on that day. As a matter of fact, we were still in his office trying to get an interview when he came out to tell ENCOMIUM Weekly he was going out with the Leader (Hon. Bayo Osinowo).
As he was going to the car park, he told us it was not in his character to celebrate his birthday. He apologized profusely that he would not give us an interview on that day because of where he was going.
It was later we gathered that he was going to Jade Restaurant, Isaac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, where an impromptu party was organized for him by his friends among whom are members of the Lagos House of Assembly.
We gathered that as soon as he made his way into the venue of the party with Hon. Bayo Osinowo, the lights went off and Kool and the Gang’s Celebrate Good Time rent the air.
When the lights came back, the Speaker was surprised to see the crowd that came to celebrate his birthday with him. He took time to exchange pleasantries with virtually all of them.
The crowd now rendered Happy Birthday song for the Speaker.
Hon. Adedamola Kasunmu took the mic from the compere Hon Tunde Buraimoh and gave a special rendition of happy birthday song. That got him a standing ovation from all present.
Next was tributes and speech time. Hon. Bayo Osinowo, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu, Mr. Abiru, the Clerk of the House and Ms. Modupe Adeola were among the people that spoke about the birthday boy.
Hon. Bayo Osinowo’s speech certainly got many people thinking. He said the Speaker was certainly aware of the slippery nature of his position.
He said he became the Speaker not because he was the most intelligent or the most hard working but because he was loyal and the fact that God wanted it so.
He, therefore, implored him to do his best in taking care of all interests. He warned him to be careful of people particularly his friends.
The Clerk, Mr. Abiru said the Speaker has the interest of all the members and staff of the Lagos House of Assembly at heart.
Chief Idowu Obasa, the former chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA said he was happy that the political rise of the Speaker happened in his lifetime.
Ms. Modupe Adeola, a Senior Legislative Officer, who spoke on behalf of the staff said the Speaker is easily accessible. When she said whether you are a man or woman his door is open to everybody, there were side comments by most members.
It was certainly a nice party that had all the trappings of a high society soiree.
- TOLANI ABATTI
