Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has celebrated the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as he turns 64.
The former Minister of Aviation and lawyer, celebrated the ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives with a post on his X handle.
Fani-Kayode wrote in the post: “Happy birthday to my dear friend & brother Hon. Femi Gbajabiamilla, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu & the former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives.
“We grew up together with the likes of Folabie Caxton Martins, Wole Atunrase (both of whom lived just round the corner from you in Surulere), Deremie Ajidahun and so many others in those heady yet great days of the 1970’s and 1980’s in Lagos and London and have been closer than brothers for at least 50 years.
“In all that time you have never let me or any of us down & you have always displayed nothing but loyalty & sincerity to those you grew up with & your childhood friends.
“I remember your scathing criticism of the late & great Chief Bola Ige when you & I first started politics in 1990 & after he ran down the concept of ‘newbreed politicians’ which the Government of that day introduced & promoted.
“I remember the day you came back from America in 2004 with your beautiful wife Saa after many years of living abroad & your visit to President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Villa to tell him that you & her were back & that you would be living in Abuja.
“I remember the restaurant and bar you and madame opened in Abuja a few years later where all those that mattered used to gather and make merry.
“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.
“I remember watching the great loyalty & commitment you displayed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from 1993, through the NADECO days, through the time he was Governor of Lagos state & up until the time he was elected President & how you stuck with him through thick & thin.
“I remember the unadulterated & rare display of love you always displayed & still display towards your dear mother, our Mama (who was my late mother’s friend & a great politician in her own right) & towards your dear wife.
“These are memories that I have of you & few know that behind your sometimes stern & officious look lies a very soft, kind & caring heart.
“I remember the great and fiery speech you made at my 47th birthday dinner party at in Lagos in 2007 when I was Minister of Aviation & how you spoke so well of me whilst at the same time & in the same speech you courageously criticised the President & Government that I served!
“I remember the equally fiery speech I made at your birthday dinner party a few years later in Abuja in 2011 when you were a member of the House of Representatives and just after the election of our old friend Hon. Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House.
“I remember saying on that day that your time would come to be Speaker & to go to even greater heights in our nation & my words proved to be prophetic.
“Most important of all I remember your sheer humanity & your extraordinary courage when it comes to speaking your mind & the bitter truth even to your closest friends.
“You are a profoundly good man Femi and you know that I am not one that speaks lightly or is given to paying compliments unless I mean them.
“Most importantly 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.
“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.
“I have no doubt that there is still so much more that lies ahead for you my brother &, as always, my prayers are for & with you.
“May God grant you many more years of peace, joy, good health, prosperity & service to our fatherland & may He continue to lead, guide & protect you & yours.
“You have done us proud & by God’s grace you shall continue to go from strength to strength.
“Have a great day my brother & know that you are loved, cherished & appreciated by many.”
