By Basheer Ashafa

I can say without hesitation, that Allah has profoundly blessed me, so that I may have the privilege of calling the finest man I have ever known ‘father’.

I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that whoever I am or may yet become, by way of leading a meaningful existence, I owe to my parents. First and foremost to my father, as the leader of our family, who has inspired me alongside so many others to be the best that I can be.

My Father has always led by example, and proved to be the most tenacious human being I have ever met. Upholding that, no matter how challenging things get, or how overwhelmed we may feel, we must persevere, as giving up is never an option.

There are many things I could say to pay tribute to him, he is sixty after all, which is a whole lot of life lived! It is enough to establish the character of a man, and to know who he truly is. I have had the honor to live over three decades of his life with him; therefore, I know my father. He is a man of many convictions, and he is not a mere philosopher or theorist on how to build a better tomorrow. He walks his talk, and he walks it tall. I could write a novel in a bid to describe the tremendously impactful life he has led, and still not write enough.

Fist and foremost, he is one of the most compassionate people I know. Compassion, alongside his astounding generosity has enabled him to create platforms for others to succeed.  Not only a few can attest to the fact that they have climbed on Gbenga Ashafa’s shoulders to greatness, or flown on his wings to prominence.

The most amazing thing of all, is that after  all these years, BOA is still marching on.  He is still building  bridges and still holding on. His  story  is  as old as  his beginning and as timeless as  the hopes for tomorrow.

Thank you for reminding us, your children, family, friends, and associates, that  ordinary citizens can  find the will and the strength within their hearts, to do extraordinary  things. Reminding us, that in the face of opposition, we must  be willing to stand up for what is right and condemn what is wrong.

As a student of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s political school, you helped us understand that change is never easy, but always possible. You always insisted that change  does not come from violence, militancy or the kind of politics that pits us against each other; but from great discipline and  strategic unification.

To us, you are a beacon of hope, and your birthday provides us the opportunity to celebrate you. Hats off to your commitment to 35 years of marriage, to raising successful children,  to your philanthropy, by way of the Gbenga Ashafa Trust Endowment (GATE) amongst others, and  to a life of impacting our community and the nation.

*Basheer Tosin Ashafa, the son of Senator Gbenga Ashafa, wrote  from Lagos