*Leadership is not about noise; it is about service. It is not about position; it is about purpose
SPEECH BY CHIEF OLABODE IBIYINKA GEORGE AT HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY AND BOOK LAUNCH
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Your Excellencies,
Past Presidents of our great nation,
Serving and former Governors,
Distinguished members of the National Assembly,
Our revered traditional rulers,
Members of the clergy,
Friends, family, compatriots, and my fellow Nigerians —
Good afternoon.
Today, I stand before you with a heart filled with gratitude. I thank the Almighty God, the giver and sustainer of life, who has guided me through eight decades of this remarkable journey. Eighty years — what a blessing, what a testimony of grace. I am humbled. I am grateful. I am deeply moved to see all of you gathered here to share in this moment.
When a man reaches eighty, it is natural to look back — not with regret, but with reflection. Life, to me, has been a tapestry woven with joy and pain, victories and trials, moments of light and times of shadow. Through it all, God has been faithful.
I have learned that life is not about how many times one falls, but how many times one rises again — how one keeps faith with truth, integrity, and service. My life has been a journey through the barracks, through the corridors of power, through the storms of politics and the calm of home. Each season has left me with lessons that have shaped who I am today.
I stand here not as a perfect man — because perfection belongs to God alone — but as a grateful man. Grateful for family, for friends, for comrades and adversaries alike, and for this great nation that has given me both purpose and belonging.
No man can travel far alone. Whatever achievements I may claim are the results of the love and support of my family.
To my dear wife, Roli, my beloved partner and the anchor of my home — I thank you from the depths of my heart. You have walked beside me through seasons of triumph and seasons of trial. You have been my strength when I faltered, my counsel when I doubted, and my calm in every storm. Your grace, patience, and loyalty have been the quiet foundation of my life.
I also thank my children and grandchildren — the living testimony that love endures through generations. You have brought joy, laughter, and a sense of renewal into my life. You are my legacy. I pray that you will continue to grow in wisdom, compassion, and service to God and humanity.
When I see your faces, I am reminded that family is not just blood — it is the constant reminder of who we are and why we must live with purpose.
There is one member of my family whose absence is deeply felt today — my dear son, Dipo. His passing remains one of the hardest chapters of my life. There are pains that do not fully fade, and his memory lives in my heart every day.
Yet, even in that painful moment, I witnessed something profound — the compassion and humanity that unites us beyond politics or position. I will never forget the gracious condolence message I received from many people, like Presidents, Governors and friends from different political platforms.
We have stood on opposite sides of the political divide for many years, yet in that moment of grief, they reached across the aisle with empathy. Their letters reminded me that beyond the noise of politics, we are bound by something greater — our shared humanity, our shared faith, and our shared love for Nigeria.
For that gesture, I remain truly grateful. It is a lesson for all of us — that reconciliation, forgiveness, and compassion are the true marks of leadership.
My journey through public life has been long and eventful.
From my early days as a young naval officer, serving this nation in uniform, to my years in political leadership, I have seen Nigeria in her brightest and most challenging moments.
I have served in government. I have served in opposition. I have celebrated victories and endured defeats. I have been praised, and I have been misunderstood. But through every twist and turn, I have held firmly to one conviction — that Nigeria is worth serving, and Nigeria is worth believing in.
Public service is never a smooth road. It is filled with tests of character and moments that stretch one’s spirit. But to serve one’s country — to play even a small part in shaping her destiny — is a privilege I will always cherish.
I have learnt that politics, at its best, is not about bitterness or revenge – it is about building bridges and advancing the common good. We may disagree, we may contend passionately, but at the end of the day, our purpose must be the progress of our people and the unity of our nation.
Nigeria has been my lifelong passion. I have seen her strength and her fragility, her promise and her pain. Yet, I remain an incurable optimist about her future.
We are a blessed nation — blessed with intellect, with resources, with faith, and with a resilience that defies hardship. What we must now summon is the discipline to work together, the courage to speak the truth, and the humility to heal old wounds.
At eighty, I have learned that no nation is built by anger or division. Nations are built by hope, by love, and by a collective will to rise above selfish interest. I urge our leaders, across all divides, to place Nigeria first — to remember that our children and grandchildren will inherit whatever we build or destroy.
Let us build a Nigeria where truth is not punished, where competence is rewarded, and where the weak are not forgotten. Let us build a nation where unity is not just a slogan, but a lived reality.
To the young people of Nigeria — my sons and daughters, and the future of this country — I say this with love:
Do not give up on Nigeria. I understand your frustrations. I know the temptations to despair when things seem stagnant or unfair. But remember, no generation has had it easy.
Our own generation faced war, dictatorship, imprisonment, and persecution — yet we endured because we believed in the promise of this land. You must do the same.
Be bold, be curious, and be upright. Do not lose your moral compass. This country needs your creativity, your innovation, and your courage. The destiny of Nigeria will not be written by foreign hands — it will be written by you.
Leadership is not about noise; it is about service. It is not about position; it is about purpose. Serve your communities with integrity, and you will change the nation more than any slogan ever could.
As I stand at this milestone, I am reminded that everything in life is transient — power, wealth, titles, applause. What endures is the legacy of character, of kindness, and of service to others.
I thank all who have walked this road with me — my friends, my mentors, my political associates, even my critics. You have all shaped my story in one way or another. I hold no bitterness, no malice, no regrets. At eighty, there is no room for anger — only room for gratitude.
My faith in God remains unshaken. He has lifted me from despair to renewal, from confusion to clarity, from pain to peace. And for that, I say again, To God be the glory.
As we celebrate today, and as we launch this book that captures some of the lessons and experiences of my journey, I hope it will inspire reflection, dialogue, and above all, understanding — understanding of what it means to serve and to live with conviction.
To my friends gathered here — thank you. To my dear wife and family — thank you. To all Nigerians — thank you for walking this journey with me in one way or another.
At eighty, I look not backward but forward — forward to a Nigeria that fulfils its promise; forward to a generation of leaders who will rise above self; forward to a time when every Nigerian, no matter their background, can live with dignity and hope.
May the Almighty God bless you all for coming.
May He bless my family, bless Lagos State, and bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you. God bless you all. God bless Nigeria.
