The atmosphere was serene. There was Country music in the background, as guests eagerly awaited the arrival of the man of the moment. Venue was the Oriental Restaurant, Victoria Island Lagos, where friends of Edo State Information and Orientation Commissioner Louis Odion organised a 40th birthday bash for him.
The atmosphere became charged when the Master of Ceremony (MC) announced his presence. Many rose to catch a glimpse of him.
Odion was dressed in a black Agbada. It was an evening of encomiums from those who know the birthday ‘boy’. The celebrator shed tears as accolades were showered on him.
A band, the Manifest, thrilled the audience. Upcoming comedian ATM ensured that there was no dull moment. The MC read the citation of the celebrator. The birthday cake was cut and a toast made to the celebrator.
Managing Director, Leadership Azubuike Ishiekwene’s accolades on Odion were moving.
Odion broke down in tears, when Ishiekwene told what he called the ‘unknown Odion story.”
He said Odion was a friend who sticks closer than a brother, a family man and an astute professional.
Narrating how the celebrator helped salvage his relationship with a mutual friend of theirs, Ishiekwene said Odion is endowed with wisdom that is above his age, adding:“he is a young man with the heart of a lion.”
As a family man, Ishiekwene said Odion carries a lot of responsibilities gracefully.
‘’When we hang out as friends, you never know the burden that each of us carries because the clothes that we wear cover a lot. The role that Louis plays in his own family is far beyond him but, he carries it with dignity. He is doing a lot and I keep praying that God will strengthen him and give him the resources to keep doing well,‘’ Ishiekwene said.
Former Health Secretary Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi described Odion as a man of character, adding that he needed no special notice to come and celebrate with him.
Adelusi-Adeluyi said: “The voice of Nigeria is wholesomely represented here and that is how it should be because we are honouring one of your own. We are honouring a young man who has a very good name, born in a good month and has attained a unique age.
‘’His name, Louis, has a very proud pedigree. In French, it is given to describe someone as a famous warrior. Odion is very dear to me and I cherish him a lot because he is a man of character and it is only a man of character that can be trusted. He has been a good ambassador for the journalism profession.”
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello said his relationship with Odion dated back to 1989 when the Sunday Concord was established and strong hands were needed for the political desk.
‘’We discovered that there was this man who has been writing and every time he writes, it gets published. So, we decided to look for him and discovered it was a young boy inside Concord. He was with the advert department. So, I met the advert manager and told her she has to let Louis join us and that was how it started.
‘’When our newspaper was shut down and other papers were wooing us to come, I was surprised that somebody like Odion who was still very young stayed with us. He was not willing to go while some others left until the paper was reopened. It was later shut within six months but Louis still stayed with us.
‘’So, we became very proud of him because we thought that someone like him should look for something else to do. Even when Abiola was in detention and things were very difficult for the paper, he stayed and we advised him to take up the offer with ThisDay,” Bello recalled.
Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji, described Odion as a young successful fellow who knows his onions, adding that he is gifted.
Ikuforiji said: ‘’If these elders can come here to celebrate with Louis, and I know I am not the only elderly person who has Louis as his friend. Even my own leader, the national leader of our great party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), is a friend to Louis and I am sure if not for his own very tight engagement, he would have personally been here with us.
‘’I do not know him at the professional level that the likes of Tunji Bello know him. But the much I know of Louis, I feel very grateful for the invitation that was extended to me to be here because truly, he is a man of character.
‘’The very day I met him, I knew he is a special breed. When you think of somebody like Louis, you will be happy that all hope is not lost. There is a generation coming that represents hope. Nigeria is in dire need of the help of ’men of the pen.”
Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue Board Chief Oseni Elamah, also spoke glowingly about the celebrator. Odion, he said, conquered fear on the palace ground of the Oba of Benin, when he came out to make the threat to his life by a politician, a media issue, adding“and that was how he gained his freedom.
He described Odion as “Mr. Character and Integrity,” adding that he brought a professional touch into the Adams Oshiomhole administration with which they have been able to achieve many things.
Overwhelmed by the outpouring of emotions, Odion said: ‘’I am honoured by such great love. I do not even know what to say but I can tell you that I was fortunate to have a great boss in Tunji Bello, who aside mentoring me, gave me the opportunity to go back to school while working.
‘’If he did not give me such an opportunity, I would not be here today. It is not just about talent because there are so many talented writers out there who have not excelled. So, I remain grateful to Tunji Bello and my other friends, who believed in me as a young man.”
Former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba; Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation Sam Omatseye; Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Gbenga Adefaye; Ekiti State governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Mojeed Jamiu; publisher, Global Excellence, Mayor Akinpelu; Special Adviser to Lagos governor, on Media and Publicity Hakeem Bello; General Manager, Mobil, Captain Victor Iriobe; Publisher, Encomium Kunle Bakare; Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Kehinde Bamigbetan; Chairman, Bevista, Benny Obaze; Yomi Idowu; Ted Iwere; Omisore Abiodun and Ogbeni Goke Odeyinka were at the event.
