Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State
Sam is younger than Nigeria’s independence but wiser than the independence, more truthful and sincere than the independence. Congratulation! You have lived the mission statement of LEADERSHIP very well. You have said it with this paper; you held onto that value. I praise your courage. We just need more, and I salute you at 50. We pray that you will be 60, 70, 80 and 90 and, thereafter, whatever you decide with your Creator, God Almighty, is your business.
Dr Enyantu Ifene, member, LEADERSHIP Board
Sam is a bridge builder. I noticed this thing because our country is at a critical point and there are elements in Sam’s character that I think we need to look at for us to find what binds us together as a country. He has built bridges between the young and the old; he is young, he represents the ideologies of his generation. but I also know from working with him that he respects the wisdom of our leaders. As you can see, his mentors on the high table are distinguished Nigerians and he holds them in high, esteem and has learnt tolerance and love of country from many of them on the high table.
I also know that Sam comes from the north-central belt of Nigeria; he is a minority but, if you look around him, his friends cut across every tribe in the country— and I mean genuine friends, not just because he owns a newspaper but because he has reached out regardless of where anybody comes from. He looks for soul mates and, usually, his discussions are about what will move this country forward. So most of his friends are idealist Nigerians like him.
Very few people know that Sam is married to Zainab, nee Remawa, who is a practising Muslim. Sam represents that balm that this country and in particular the north needs: that we are one people with one destiny regardless of our tribes and religions and Sam preaches this all the time.
Nobody has said this, but Sam is impatient; he drives himself and he drives those around him mad but he gets results. Sam tolerates all people regardless of tribe or religion, but Sam is intolerant of bad leadership. If you read his columns and his contributions, he says I don’t care where anybody comes from; I care that they should be able to lead this country well and we are all gathered today to celebrate this man of all seasons, to welcome him into the club because I’m 10 years older than him. Our people say when a young man washes his hands well, he eats with elders. Sam has washed his hands well, he can eat with elders but he is a leader of his generation. God bless you, Sam.
Ayisha Osori, LEADERSHIP Columnist
I will like to commend you, Sam, for your leadership and all the good things that people have said about you. I was privileged to be on a flight with Sam to the UK a couple of months ago and I didn’t know him. I actually didn’t read LEADERSHIP either and he was with Hakeem Bello-Osagie, and Hakeem said to Sam, “You should speak to Ayisha; she writes very well” I think, from then on, Sam pursued me with the kind of relentlessness that I have not seen before— and I have sympathy for his wife and his children. And so, though I wanted to take a break from writing, I found myself dragged into writing for LEADERSHIP. And it has been a wonderful experience. Sam has a great team and he has a way of putting together great people.
And so I like to wish him a very happy birthday and wish all the distinguished guests safe journey back home. I wish to say that there is no better way than for all of us who like Sam to not let all the discussions here just die with rhetoric.
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