OLATUNDE AYINDE OLADUNJOYE
Happy birthday Distinguished Minister, Dr. Olorunibe Mamowora.
I took these pictures on December 16, 2021 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja. I chose not to.post them immediately because something in me said I should keep them for future.
I am posting the pictures today to celebrate a former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, former Senator of the Federal Republic and a serving Minister of State for Health.
On this day, as always, Senator Mamowora joined the queue to check in at the airport. I saw his trade mark cap from afar and recognised him. The queue was long that morning but he remained patiently on the line with his security aide behind him.
Coming from my LG, Ijebu East (and I’m proud of that), I went to him to greet him and we engaged in political discussions.
A woman raced down to where we stood on line; she had gone to fetch a senior airport official and was talking on top of her voice and pointing: “This is Senator Mamowora, Minister of Helath.”
The official beckoned to the Senator to step out of the line and follow him in (probably to the VIP Lounge), but the Senator thanked him and chose to remain on the queue. The woman pleaded and the Senator insisted on remaining on the line. So the woman and the official left, bewildered.
I saw him through the check-in procedures. He maintained uncommon equanimity.
I was humbled; I said to myself that this is an exemplary Nigerian.
As you mark your 69th birthday today, sir, I wish you the very best. God bless you immensely, sir. Igba odun, odun kan!
. Oladunjoye is the Publicity Secretary of the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC)