…Recalls 5 decades of friendship

Former Minister of Aviation and Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has paid glowing tribute to the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, describing him as a loyal friend, courageous politician and dedicated public servant whose decades of service have earned him widespread respect.

In a lengthy birthday message released on Friday, Fani-Kayode reflected on more than five decades of friendship with the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, recounting shared childhood memories, political experiences and personal milestones.

According to him, their friendship dates back to the 1970s and 1980s when they both grew up in Lagos and later spent time together in London.

“We grew up together with the likes of Folabie Caxton Martins, Wole Atunrase, Deremie Ajidahun and so many others in those heady yet great days of the 1970s and 1980s in Lagos and London and have been closer than brothers for at least 50 years,” he said.

Fani-Kayode said throughout their long friendship, Gbajabiamila had consistently demonstrated loyalty, sincerity and dependability.

“In all that time you have never let me or any of us down and you have always displayed nothing but loyalty and sincerity to those you grew up with and your childhood friends,” he wrote.

The former minister recalled several defining moments in Gbajabiamila’s political journey, beginning with what he described as the latter’s early involvement in politics in 1990.

He said he remembered Gbajabiamila’s criticism of the late former Governor of Oyo State and former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, over comments regarding the concept of “new breed politicians,” which was promoted by the military administration at the time.

Fani-Kayode also reflected on Gbajabiamila’s return to Nigeria from the United States in 2004 alongside his wife, Salamatu, popularly known as Saa.

According to him, the couple visited then President Olusegun Obasanjo after their return to inform him that they had relocated permanently to Abuja.

He further recalled the establishment of a restaurant and bar by the Gbajabiamilas in Abuja, which he said became a popular meeting point for prominent personalities in the Federal Capital Territory.

Fani-Kayode said he was among the friends who celebrated Gbajabiamila’s election into the House of Representatives, despite the fact that both men belonged to different political parties at the time.

“I remember when you were first elected into the House of Representatives and, even though we belonged to different political parties at the time, how elated I and all your other old friends and brothers were that you had won,” he stated.

The ambassador-designate also praised Gbajabiamila’s unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu over several decades, saying his loyalty remained steadfast from the days of the June 12 struggle through Tinubu’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State and eventually to his emergence as President.

“I remember watching the great loyalty and commitment you displayed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from 1993, through the NADECO days, through the time he was Governor of Lagos State and up until the time he was elected President and how you stuck with him through thick and thin,” he said.

Fani-Kayode equally spoke of Gbajabiamila’s devotion to his family, particularly his late mother, whom he described as a respected politician and friend of his own late mother.

He said those who knew the presidential aide closely would attest that behind his sometimes stern appearance was “a very soft, kind and caring heart.”

The former minister also reminisced about speeches they delivered at each other’s birthday celebrations.

He recalled that Gbajabiamila, while speaking at his 47th birthday celebration in Lagos in 2007, praised him but also openly criticised the administration in which he served as Minister of Aviation.

According to him, he later returned the gesture during Gbajabiamila’s birthday celebration in Abuja in 2011 shortly after the election of Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Fani-Kayode said he had predicted on that occasion that Gbajabiamila would one day become Speaker of the House and attain even greater heights in public service.

“I remember saying on that day that your time would come to be Speaker and to go to even greater heights in our nation and my words proved to be prophetic,” he said.

Describing the presidential Chief of Staff as a man of courage and conviction, Fani-Kayode said Gbajabiamila was never afraid to speak the truth, even to his closest associates.

“Most important of all I remember your sheer humanity and your extraordinary courage when it comes to speaking your mind and the bitter truth even to your closest friends,” he added.

The ambassador-designate further commended Gbajabiamila’s record in public office, saying he had served Nigeria with distinction over the years.

“You have done a great job in public office and in service to our country over the years and I marvel about how far we have come together and how far you have gone,” he wrote.

Reflecting on how both men had progressed in life, Fani-Kayode noted that they had grown up together in Lagos but now lived as neighbours in Abuja’s Maitama District.

“We both grew up in Lagos and today we are neighbours in Maitama, Abuja. Whoever thought that this would be? God has been good to us all,” he stated.

He expressed confidence that Gbajabiamila still had greater accomplishments ahead of him and prayed for continued good health, wisdom, prosperity and divine protection.

“May God grant you many more years of peace, joy, good health, prosperity and service to our fatherland and may He continue to lead, guide and protect you and yours.

“You have done us proud and by God’s grace you shall continue to go from strength to strength.”