Since when I was a child, I have always looked up to you. It was about your simplicity which I felt covers much of your toughness. Growing up, myself and my brothers discussed how liberal you are but I wasn’t carried away with your liberal/simplistic demeanor. I knew you have a tough core. You have inspired me into becoming the man I am becoming. Whether it was Block 399, Akute or Magodo, I was always excited to come around and this was not just because of the kids but much more because I felt if I added your pattern of living to my dad’s pattern of living, I would be the man of my dreams. I know a lot of people may say what did a child know at that age but I have seen in my own son, similar traits of projecting into the future the type of man he wants to be as an adult. Which gives me some comfort.

Okay I forgot to mention that the drum of sweet (what my kids will now call candy) in your bedroom in Block 399 and the Nintendo was also a motivation for me to come around. Oh, how can I forget the several trips to the farm in Akute. You introduced me to side-business. Yes, the pig farm, the Kabor (I hope I got the spelling right) truck and the commercial bus. As early as 7 years old, I used all the snacks money my dad gave me in Grade 3 to buy Seven-up bottle crowns. You ask me why? Of course, Seven-up was doing a raffle draw and the First prize winner was going to win a Jetta Executive Sedan. I spent all I had buying crowns believing I was going to win. (Sadly, I never won) One day, my dad asked why so many crowns? I said I was going to win the Jetta Executive. He probed further “so what are you going to do with it when you win? I said I was going to sell it and buy several buses and get commercial drivers to drive it so I can start having my own extra money. That inspiration came from your commercial bus and the Kabor (as we often called it then).

The news of you joining Coca-Cola inspired me a lot and you made my love for that brand increase so much, it is still hard for me to identify with a competing brand. Your choice of architecture baffled me. Simple but timeless. Though I was perceived as a child, I was very much aware of my dad presenting to you the architecture plan of the house in Ipaja and without you doing too much analysis, you advised him that the building was going to be too massive for a salary earner. Yes, he didn’t adhere and I am sure he later realized it as the building gulped a lot of his working life. From that moment as a child, I made up my mind that I was going to play it safe when it comes to building. My wife probably is unaware this underlines a lot of my decisions.

I will never forget 1998 August. We (myself, Femi and Fela) had written JAMB and expecting our result. You drove us to JAMB office in Ikoyi to check our results despite it was a working day. On getting to JAMB office, the queue was very long and you spoke with someone who advised we come back later in the day. So, you had to drive us to your beautiful office on Gerrard Road ikoyi in your Toyota Corolla. For me that was another conception in world of my dreams. The Great Coca-Company. We were freezing cold as we waited in your office. First because the AC was chilling, Secondly, because we were dreading the JAMB result and thirdly the ambience in that office was nothing like Nigeria. As we sat in your office, the then Marketing Director walked into your office and I eavesdropped on both of you talking about strategy on how to edge out Seven-up. The conversation was so inspiring to me, there and then, I decided that I was going to go for a career in Marketing and told myself “One day I was going to work as a Marketing personnel in global brand like Coca-Cola regardless of what that JAMB result looked like. (Then I was trying to study law. I eventually spent 6yrs in KPMG working as Senior Marketing Analyst) We eventually went to check the JAMB result and it was awful. I had 167, Femi had 170 and only Fela got slightly above 200. I remember the drive home was a quiet one. You dropped us on that express road before vying off to CMD road in Magodo and told us to go home. We knew were in for it. You got home later that night and called us. I remember that conversation. You told us in your words: “how did you think I was able to build this type of house? I took my studies seriously and you guys have to sit up. You unserious guys”. I hate to disappoint anyone that I look up to. I went back to think about my life. That conversation is paying off. I eventually got into OAU.

Time went by and I kept seeing how Coca-Cola was always changing your cars. The one that struck me was the BMW. I understand companies giving out cars like Toyotas as official cars but a company giving out a German car as Status car did beat my imagination. I have always admired German cars since I was age 8 but you owning one validated my desire that one day, I would own my own BMW. **Smiles**.

Growing up, I just wanted to glean life nuggets from you. Especially considering that you were the only person and maybe Mr. Eyiowuawi too that my dad was so comfortable around. I could keep on writing but let me run to a close. I later graduated and was job hunting and I read in the paper that the great Food scientist from Coca-Cola resigned to set up his own Food factory. I had not a single reservation working with FEMVEL because I knew with you, it was going to be successful but I remember you telling me “Lekan we are not ready for you yet and by the time we are ready, you most likely would have moved on with your career”. I was happy with such encouraging words.

Sometime in 2011, I lost my dad. I think that is the hardest thing I have ever dealt with. The burial was completed and all the distant relatives were gone. The house was quiet and deserted despite we were all in the house. I was in shock, pain and confusion. I was just becoming a Man and the person I felt could answer my manly questions and help me navigate the tough decisions of life just died on me. I remember that Sunday evening after the burial, you came back to this deserted family and after paying my mom a visit, you called us (the children) downstairs and gave me the most comforting words I have ever heard. You said in your words: “your dad is gone and he was a good man though not perfect as no one is but he was such a good man and very close to me. Now that he is gone, I am here to be your father”. This pierced the core of my heart. Not that I didn’t think you have always been a father but such words coming when it came was beyond what I needed. I don’t know if my other siblings heard that or responded to that offer but I did.

Then December 2013 came and in my usual weekend trips to Magodo. You asked me: “Lekan, how old are you”? I said 31. You went further…”do you want to get married and you put the caveat: “it is not a trick question because you don’t have to”. I smiled and said I want to get married but there is still time. You responded “there is no time” and I gave an example of my then CEO – Seyi Bickersteth who married at 35 and had his first child at 40. You responded that “Seyi Bickersteth is just one in how many people and how many people are fortunate to become a CEO”? You went further to say “set a date like a budget and start working towards it”. Uncle Gbemi was seated that evening. There and then without a serious girlfriend, I set Aug 30^th 2014 for my wedding. Took my girlfriend seriously and as the wedding date approached, I ran to you one Sunday morning and said I am cutting off this engagement. You sat me down on the dining and said “this is where you have to show yourself a Man”. “Life is tough and you can’t back down simply because you are scared. In my mind”, I was like mehn…and here we are 7years and counting.

Many times. I wonder if there is any way I can pay for the way you have inspired me even in areas you are unaware of but I tell myself the best way is to hold dear those values that your have taught me. Happy Birthday to you and thank you for taking the tough path. I know being a good father is tough but thank you for not giving up on being who you are.