By Sheriff Ibrahim (Gold)
Today is another day to celebrate a beloved boss, passionate friend and very dear brother in whom I am well pleased, Rt. Hon. Engr. Salihu Yakubu Danladi (SYD) – a young man that has distinguished himself as boundary-spanning emerging public servant with an uncommon sense of empathy and alluring disposition to serving the people.
In 2020, during his 35th birthday, I had written that I celebrate the ‘Danladi’ in the Hon. Speaker, and not the Assembly speaker in him.
Fortunately, he has been able to carry the office in his name so well, so far, without allowing the aura of office to erode all of the personal attributes that made the admirable Danladi in him and that is why we have remained friends, notwithstanding some political skirmishes that would’ve ordinarily caused irresolvable personal differences.
That again, speaks to the allusion in my 2020 piece that “Danladi has been tested for Abraham Lincoln’s assertion of the true character of a man, which may not be discovered when things are rosy alone, but sometimes, during adversity.
Danladi has indeed proven himself to possess the powerful values of a boundary-spanning leaders, with his dauntless role of conducting, by being critically instrumental to bringing previously divided political family together, in the common and prime interest of Kwara’s progress, under the leadership of Mall. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
As an ambassador of young people in leadership position, he has convincingly represent the expertise, energy, resilience, dedication and values of the young people, in such a way that ignite positive mindsets, beliefs and perceptions about the ability of the young people to make greater differences in leadership positions, which today serves as a motivation for entrusting responsibility to his generation.
Rt. Hon. Danladi has remained firm yet humble, uncompromising yet respectful and determined without jettisoning compassion.
I join the rest of the world to say a happy birthday to the Hon. Speaker, while praying that his successes and fulfillments to come overwhelmingly outweighs those of years past.
