Page 48 - Demo
P. 48
Itisarareandspecialprivilegetocelebrateamanwhoselifehasbeenamasterclassinintegrity,intellect,andimpact.AtedoandImetin1966asyoungboysstartingboardingschoolwithinthestoriedwallsofKing%u2019sCollegeLagos%u2014aplacethatshapedourdisciplinebutnotnecessarilyourdestiny.Thatpersonaldestiny,Atedoshapedhimself.Fromthoseearlydays,hisclarityofthought,commandofprinciple,andquietconvictionsethimapart.Eventhen,hewasn%u2019tjustthinkingahead%u2014hewasthinkingdifferently.Overthedecades,Ihavewatchedwithdeepadmirationasmyclassmatebecameabankerofconsequence,apolicyvoiceofreason,anationalinfluencerofresponsiblepoliticaldiscourse,andamoralcompassinmomentswhensilencewouldhavebeeneasier.Butbeyondtheheadlinesandboardrooms,Atedoismyfriend%u2014loyal,reflective,andfiercelyprincipled.AconfidantwhosecounselIvalueandwhoseconsistencyIcherish.Heisandhasalwaysbeenaconsistentlycommittedfamilyman.At70,heisstillmentoringthenextgenerationonthevalueswelearnedasteenagersattheGoodOldSchool%u2014theintegrityofethics,theimportanceofcivicresponsibility,andtheimperativeofprincipleandpurpose.Hecontinuestocarryhimselfnotwiththeweightofyears,butwiththeurgencyofmission.Stillaskinghardquestions.Stillrefusingeasyanswers.StilldoingthehardworkofshapingabetterNigeria.Atedo,youarenotonlyadmired%u2014youareneeded.Andtoday,wedonotjustcelebrateyouryears.Wehonoryourcourage,yourlegacy,andtheuncommonexampleyoucontinuetoset.Happybirthday,mybrother.Mayyourlifecontinuetobemeaningfulandyourpurposerelevant.ByDr.YeleAluko.BIRTHDAYTRIBUTETOMR.ATEDOPETERSIDE@70YELESHIRLEYAND48DR.YELEALUKODR.SHIRLEYALUKOAND
