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OvertheyearsasIhavecometoappreciatehispersonalitymore.Alovingandattentivefamilyman,aloyalfriend,andanationalpatriot.OnefearlesslycommittedtomakingthingsworkinNigeriaandusinghisresourcesinANAPfoundationtopursuehisideals.Manyyearsagoafterreadingonehisboldandfearlesswrite-upsonthecountry'spoliticalchoices,Icalledhimtoaskwhyhewouldputhimself,hisfamilyandbusinessesatriskwithsuchcommentary.HetoldmeitwashisdutyasaNigeriantotellthetruthashesawit.Andanyway,somebodyneededtodoit,iffornootherreason,forposterity'ssake.AtedoisobviouslyveryproudofhisKalabariheritage,andassociateswiththisinhismodeofdressing.Ialsorealisedthathisstrongselfconfidence(whichsomereadasarrogance)comesfromhispedigreeofroyalbackground,strongancestralfamilyroots,soundupbringingandexposure.Heisamanwhoisveryselfawareandconsciousofhispurpose,evercalmandnotgiventoundueexcitement.Ashecrossesthelandmarkageof70,heisnowmorethanqualifiedtojointheleagueofquintessentialstatesmen.IprayGodtogivehimmorecourageandcapacitytocontinuetobetheconscienceofournation.Thathewillcontinuetobeaninspirationtohisfriendsandgenerationasafamilyman,aprofessional,serialentrepreneur,businessmanandnationalpatriot.FromDorothyandI,andourchildren,wewishyou,Atedo,averyhappybirthday.Wewishyougoodhealth,greaterjoyandfulfilmentintheyearsahead.WeareproudtobeconsideredyourfriendsandthankyouandDudunforyourfriendship.WethankyoualsoforwhatyouselflesslydoforNigeria.MFR,FRPAUDEMEUFOTUDEME33
