BIRTHDAY: FORMER EKITI FAYEMI PENS GLOWING TRIBUTES TO PA DEJI FASUAN AT 95
It is with immense joy and profound gratitude to God that I join family, friends, colleagues,
associates, and the good people of Ekiti State in celebrating an exceptional elder and statesman, Pa Deji Fasuan, on the occasion of his 95th birthday anniversary.
At 95, Pa Fasuan stands as a remarkable testament to the enduring power of character, service, courage and commitment to the common good. His has been a life that transcends personal accomplishment; it is a life woven into the history and development of Ekiti and, indeed, Nigeria.
He belongs to a generation that understood public life as a responsibility to be carried with honour. His generation witnessed a Nigeria in transition, participated in the building of its institutions and experienced the many triumphs and trials of our national journey. Through it all, he has remained deeply invested in the progress of his people and the development of our society. For Ekiti, his significance is even more profound. He is one of the living links between our past and our present, a man whose experiences span important chapters in the evolution of our state and whose voice continues to provide perspective on where we have come from and where we ought to be going.
I have personally had the privilege of knowing Pa Fasuan and benefiting from his counsel over the years. What I have particularly valued is his willingness to engage issues with candour and intellectual honesty. He does not shy away from difficult questions, nor does he allow sentiment to obscure his understanding of what is right for our people. For those of us who have had the privilege of serving Ekiti in public office, elders such as Pa Fasuan have provided something that cannot be acquired from books or formal institutions; the perspective that comes from having lived through history.
His interventions remind us that political leadership must always be connected to the larger interests of society. Elections come and go, governments change and political alignments evolve, but the responsibility to build institutions, protect the dignity of our people and create opportunities for those coming behind us remains constant.
This is one of the reasons Pa Fasuan’s place in Ekiti’s story is so important. His contribution is not confined to any single office, period or political moment. It lies in the continuity of his engagement with the affairs of our people and in his determination to ensure that the lessons of our past are not lost on the present generation.
At 95, Pa Fasuan has also become a living archive of our collective memory. In his lifetime, he has seen enormous changes in our communities, our politics, our economy and our nation. Yet, he has retained a keen interest in the affairs of the day and an abiding concern about the future.
That continuity between generations is particularly important today. Our young people need elders who can help them understand that progress is rarely the product of one generation. Every generation inherits something from those before it and has a responsibility to improve it for those who come after. Pa Fasuan’s life exemplifies this intergenerational responsibility.
On behalf of my wife, and the rest of our family, I wish you a very happy 95th birthday.
I pray that Almighty God will continue to grant you good health, peace and fulfilment, and bless you with more years surrounded by the love of your family and the affection of the many people whose lives you have touched.
Dr Kayode Fayemi, CON
Former Governor, Ekiti State.
