Femi Adesina Ikponmwosa Kingsley Osamede is a student of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Benin. He is also highly literary, and recently won an essay writing contest in the oil and gas industry.
On Monday, January 7, 2019, Osamede traversed the hills and the valleys, from Benin to Abuja, to visit Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, with whom he had been in contact online for some time. He didn't come empty handed. He brought a portrait of his host.
The young writer also put his thoughts about the visit on paper, which he titled, We do our bit for Motherland, which is reproduced below:
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In the words of John Adams, “Our obligations to our country never ceases but with our lives”. These words of one of the founding fathers of the United States of America and the second President of that great country recently found a rebirth in the life of one great father, presidential spokesman and celebrated journalist in the person of Mr. Femi Adesina.
I can recall having a chat with Mr. Femi Adesina on how he is able to manage the busy schedule associated with being a spokesperson for the President, and he giving me a response I would come to cherish as one of the most profound statements I have ever heard. In response to my inquiry, he said: “We do our bit for motherland’’.
As an ace journalist that doubles as a clergyman, it’s not surprising how he’s able to counter the often unsubstantiated rhetorics from the opposition party with no modicum of vituperation or belligerence from his end. He redefined to me the subtle art of convincing one’s opponent without name calling, which is very uncommon in our clime.
Even on the many television programs he has featured in, he has never once lost grip of his emotions or river of thought. He’s always abreast with happenings in the society and he gives just the right answer to every question thrown at him.
Mr. Femi Adesina’s calm and collected composure is identical with his principal’s. Recall here, the atmosphere of the 2019 budget presentation in 2018 by President Muhammadu Buhari before the Joint Session of the National Assembly. Ignoble acts of the lawmakers was respectfully ignored and later doused by the noble words of Mr. President. He said “the world is watching us; we ought to be above this”. These words became as ointment to open wounds and as peace on raging storms. Calm was restored in no time.
Mr. Femi Adesina’s eloquence and wisdom are similar to that of another Aso Villa clergyman who is the number two man in the country. It’s even more so, when you study how they attend to political and societal matters with Biblical principles befitting of sons of God. Prof Yemi Osinbanjo has in many ways proven why he’s an award winning orator and pulpit man. Indeed, debates to Mr. Vice President are like the English letter alphabet recitals for an English Professor. No contest therefore.
As a writer myself, I have learnt so much reading the Spokesman’s thoughts in his many articles, as well as picking his brain whenever we chat. The thoughts, grammar and illustrations in all his pieces, which should be rightly called masterpieces, tell what sort of a literature master he is. Every time I see his name below every header, I am more than certain of the veracity of the content that follows.
I have had cause to research what his schedule is like on an average day, boy will you be amazed! From preparing itineraries, informative articles and speeches, brainstorming ideas, participating in numerous conferences, jetting off and touching down, appearing on television, radio programs and phone pickups from various media outlets and personalities. It’s really difficult to think he even has enough time to breathe! In one interview, he did say the job of a presidential spokesman can only be done at most in the two terms of that President as the job not only tells on one’s health but one’s family as well.
For someone of his societal stature, I would never have dreamed of conversing with him, given the fact that I am a medical undergraduate. But for his humility and his people personality, that was never the case.
I must therefore commend such a man.
In a world where fake news and half-baked journalists hold sway, the likes of Femi Adesina give hope to the noble career.
By Ikponmwosa Kingsley Osamede
Award winning writer,
University of Benin, Medicine and Surgery
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