75th Birthday Thanksgiving Book Launch Of (Engr.) E.O. Adebajo In Ikenne, Ogun State

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REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, THE VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, DURING THE  75TH BIRTHDAY THANKSGIVING AND BOOK LAUNCH OF ENGR. E.O. ADEBAJO AT IKENNE, OGUN STATE, ON THE 9TH OF DECEMBER, 2017

PROTOCOLS

I am honoured to be here to witness the public presentation of this important work, “The Rewarder.” This is the autobiography of our Rev. Sesan Adebajo, who everybody knows is very dear to me. Not only is he an uncle, but I also consider him a great inspirator, a mentor and even a very dear friend.

There are two observations I would like to make. The first is that writing by itself is a disciplined activity; it is easy to talk and everyone of us can talk, but when it comes to putting down our thoughts into writing, we suddenly realize how difficult it is. It was Papa Obafemi Awolowo who was quoting Francis Bacon, who said that those who write are “exact men”.  And why did he say so? It is because writing involves coming down to detail. You can think anything, you can say anything, but when it comes to putting it down in writing, you need to organise your thoughts in a very orderly way.

There is no one who has written anything who has not had challenges in finding the right words to use.

But those who write, you will find frequently, are people who have gone through the trouble and the drudgery of finding the right words.

The second observation that l would like to make is that the most recognised author biographies are the writings of history and the importance of writing history.

An autobiography is a book of history, and it’s also a history book, and when you look at what Rev. Adebajo has written, you will find that it is not just a book of his own life but also a book of the history of his times.

Because the historical context of his life is also a history about the period about which he writes, but history will be written anyway, whether we like it or not. Still, it is better that we write it ourselves or at least make our own contributions to writing it. That way, you at least let the world know our own side of the story, one’s opinion, even explanations and perspectives on any subject covered.

Uncle Sesan has done excellent work on both fronts. He is indeed an exact man; his language and style are a study in clarity of thought and economy of words, and his rendition of history is both genuine and compelling.

But the title of the book is perhaps its most profound feature. The Rewarder. Who is the Rewarder? He is the Lord Jesus Christ, whose plea of guilty to our sins on the cross of Calvary guarantees that all who believe are saved by grace from eternal damnation.

The uniqueness of His rewards comes from this Grace. The reward is undeserved. We are rewarded despite wrongdoings and imperfections by His perfect and enduring love. So it is to this eternal truth that the author anchors the book.

His entire life,  his incredibly early success in business, the fortitude to bear grave losses,  his election to eternal life, and his ministry, he attributes to the grace of the Rewarder. Glory to Jesus!

Just a word of encouragement for those of us who are here who have not yet written our autobiographies or any other book. The best writers in the world have always found writing very difficult. Samuel Johnson said ‘’l have tried to write and l found the greatest difficulties from knowing that which was supposed to fill and had been taught to fill. The only difficulty is how to put down what really happened in action. What are the actual things which produce the emotions that the experiences are?

So all of us who have had any difficulty writing know that the world’s greatest also had the same difficulty, so we no longer have an excuse not to write our own biographies.

Once more, let me congratulate the author on this excellent work and recommend it to all the men and women here.  Uncle, congrats, and l pray that as your days so shall your strength be, and so shall your wisdom and favour with God in Jesus’ name.

Happy birthday!