Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age: they shall be fat and flourishing – Psalm 92:13-14 (KJV).
His Excellency, General Dr. Yakubu Gowon GCFR is an enigma. A man endowed with the humility of his Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, an Officer and a gentleman par excellence, a keeper of relationship, a lifter of people and an obedient Ambassador of The Great Commission of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I want to appreciate him for allowing God to use me to invite him, and for his acceptance as The Patron for Life (the only one for that matter) of The Bible Society of Nigeria and for my cordial working relationship with him for the last 5 years of my service as the 7th General Secretary/CEO of the organization and the last 4 years as Chairman, United Bible Societies, Africa Area Board. He has since added value and is still adding value to that organization even after my retirement. He is an enduement of wisdom, a transformational leader and a positively contagious influencer. I received my last award from him on 8th August, 2013 with my wife standing beside me. That has been my WhatsApp DP since 2013.
My family home and abroad can never forget his agreement to Chairman my 60th birthday at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos on 8th July, 2018. I was expecting His Excellency to send a note of regret to me since his son had accident in Abuja on Saturday, 7th July, 2018. His selflessness was at play when we saw him at the Banquet Hall of Sheraton Hotel to honour me. I am eternally grateful for this sir.
The Chartered Institute of Directors was going to be 40 years old in May, 2023 and a Gala Night to conclude the activities was organized at Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island. Since His Excellency, General Muhamadu Buhari GCFR was the Special Guest of Honour, my co Sub-Committee Members had relied on me to ensure that my Father, the 90th Anniversary Birthday Boy is invited to be the Chairman of the occasion. The lot fell on me because the Institute would not forget how His Excellency Chaired the Annual Directors Conference as the Speical Guest of Honour on my invitation in 2016 as the Chairman of the Organising Committee then at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. I had put a call across to His Excellency on Saturday and he agreed to do so. Alas, on Monday, his Personal
Assistant called me that he had agreed to Chairman the Golden Jubilee of NYSC which was his baby and so would not be able to come to Lagos as he is not ubiquitous. I told the PA that His Excellency is a good father who would not want his son disgraced. He would find me another past President to stand in for him. His Personal Assistant believed that would be impossible. I put a direct call to His Excellency, the man we are celebrating at 90 today and he promised he would try. Lo and behold, he called me to say that His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan GCFR has agreed to Chairman the occasion. When the past president came, he announced that even though the organisers had put his name as Chairman, he is happy to say that he has come to represent our father, General Dr. Yakubu Gowon GCFR to which the audience gave a resounding ovation.
Your Excellency, we thank God for your life @ 90, we thank God for your better half, Mummy Victoria and her ready-made smiles as well as your biological and spiritual children and grandchildren the world over. On behalf of myself, Bisi and Kofoworola, my family says, congratulations. God who has been your help in ages past is surely your hope for years to come. I was there at 80 and now 90. If Jesus tarries in coming, I will join your well-wishers to celebrate your 100 years. God bless your new age sir. I leave you with the blessing below as your portion:
And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Deut 34:7 (KJV).
Revd. Dr. Barr. Fred. B. Odutola
7th General Secretary/CEO
Bible Society of Nigeria.
Former Chairman, United Bible Societies,
Africa Area Board.
19th day of October, 2024.
