ONIGBONGBO LCDA VICE CHAIRMAN, HASSAN: ‘ASIWAJU TINUBU HAS A SPIRITUALLY ORDAINED PATH’, TELLS YOUTHS TO IMITATE HIS TENACITY • Assures ‘Gov. Sanwo-Olu has 2nd term in the bag’
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
Vice Chairman, Onigbongbo LCDA, Barr. Olufunke Rekiya Hassan
The tenacity with which the President-elect of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu scaled all the hurdles he encountered to achieve his aim is worthy of emulation by Nigerian youths. This is the submission of the Vice Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Barr. Olufunke Rekiya Hassan having closely monitored the entire process. She observed: ‘If you tell yourself that there must be success or nothing you will push yourself over limits and boundaries and you will accomplish so much than you believe you could have accomplished. That is what happened to Asiwaju’.
In her exclusive chat with Trek Africa Newspaper, the cerebral Vice Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA noted about the sterling resilient nature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ‘We have read books, we have watched movies but have you ever seen where a man surmounts all the seemingly insurmountable obstacles like Asiwaju did during his presidential bid. The battles were too many so we should know that Asiwaju has an ordained purpose, a spiritually ordained path for him to follow through. It seemed as if there was no other candidate in this world and the blows were coming from left and right, within and outside his party, social media, everywhere, if I was the one I think I would have given up. Tenacity comes with age. Tenacity comes with courage. You just can’t give up. If you have plan B, you will be tempted to give up because you think if this doesn’t work I will go to that. If you tell yourself that there must be success or nothing you will push yourself over limits and boundaries and you will accomplish so much than you believe you could have accomplished. That is what happened to Asiwaju. He is the only one that went to all 36 states even with all the ‘he is old’ thing. I don’t think I can do that now, I ran for LGA chairman and I only toured six wards within Ikeja and I know how I was tired.’
On her expectations come 29th May 2023, Olufunke Rekiya Hassan told Trek Africa Newspaper: ‘I think everybody should be expecting good from him. He is a man that knows how to bring people together. He knows how to form a team. Look at Lagos, people have forgotten how Lagos was before his administration. If you compare him with all his peers, they amassed huge wealth but made zero changes in their states. Which governor, not even his era, that can surmount his achievement, none! They said he is old, he is frail, that is the same thing they said about Buhari in 2015 and he has outlived many of them, he is finishing strong.’
‘Asiwaju still has a wonderful brain, seeing him with Tony Elumelu, that is a man that has a plan. Asiwaju is up to something and he hasn’t assumed office yet. If I am to mention five names that will be in Asiwaju’s administration, I will mention myself because when you are on a plane, they will tell you to wear your seatbelt before you help another person. We have a lot of vibrant young minds, amazing gems, quality men and women in APC. I will mention Funmi Olotu, I am so proud to know her; Moyosore Onigbanjo; Adetona Adeola Omo-oba; and Hon. Tayo Ayinde, he has done wonderfully well for the party, he is very loyal. I have learned loyalty and the task of stewardship from him, I don’t think I can ask for a better leader.’
The upwardly-mobile Barr. Hassan also used the opportunity to address fellow youths. ‘You just can’t give up. You need the right support system. You need to listen to the right people. Most of the youths are listening to the wrong voices. They are getting carried away by images they see on social media, you can’t build something sustainable on that mentality. Youths need to learn how to stick to it come rain come shine. You need a good cheering team, iron sharpens iron, when you are down who picks you up?’
‘If you are among a team where all of you are mourning, crying, and complaining, you will never get anywhere. You have to give yourself that ‘I can do it’ spirit. Speak words of affirmation to yourself daily. Read books, listen to men of valour, be on social media but don’t spend too much time there because a lot of people just show you the good part and then you come out feeling sad about yourself because you are comparing yourself. Develop yourself, enjoy the little you have for today because you have tomorrow. Don’t compare your journey. Trust in your process’, she advised.
On the upcoming gubernatorial elections, Hassan tipped Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for a second term. ‘We have a Governor that has performed, we don’t need to sugarcoat it, and this is giving us leverage. We are building bridges, friendships, and calling people together for us to have a more united front for the gubernatorial elections. There is strength in numbers, united we stand, divided we fall, we are coming victorious. Gov. Sanwo-Olu has 2nd term in the bag by the special Grace of God’
