I think every reflection must follow this premise by Bob Dylan, he says-“If you want to keep memories, you first have to live them”. Going through the memory lane, I must say my existence is the mirror image of God, not for been a too smooth life nor a too hard life but for the irreconcilable circumstances surrounded by my birth and journey so far in life surgeon.
It is exactly 35yrs ago that I was born into a conservative but morally inclined family wherein I grew never to understand when a living is milky or sour. This which may portray itself as an oxymoron is anchored on the fact that I was raised in an extended but well united family where the hallmark of our existence was just satisfaction and nothing more. Been nurtured in the arms of my loving mother Hajia Mariam Sani whom I cannot but say is irreplaceable living and dead gave me the best of morals which is without ambiguity the atlas of my public conducts.
My father, Alhaji Sani Ogu popularly known as Gbokeke was at his prime the best man of one of Kogi states finest Governor, late Prince Abubakar Audu at a time that coincides with my adolescent age but the candor of power was only felt in me vis-a-vis the pride tagged on me by the exalted title of his position in government. Save this, we live, feed, interact and cohabit like every other citizen of the time and this exemplifies how and why I have been able to adapt both the even and odd weathers of my life till this very moment.
Today, I may not have achieved everything but with the ambient of my humble beginnings, I can say, I owe my success to God and all the good people life has joined me with (Late Ocholi James, SAN, my Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello, Hon. Edward Onoja etc).
Attaining my primary school certificate from the little prestigious Arabic Central Primary School Idah and my Secondary education at Government Science Secondary School Lokoja in the year 1996 and 2002 respectively corroborate as the prime of my father’s political career but yet, he opted me for though very uncelebrated public schools, conducive for a viable learning and this gave me a solid foundation for university education where I had to study Physics & Electronics from the prestigious Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State. A school reputable in character and learning, and did my one year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Government Secondary School Pandogari, Niger State.
Whereas men are not made wise by the recollection of their past but by the responsibility of their future, in trying to reflect on the years past, it is important to note the responsibilities that begot who and where I am today stems from my believe that we must live together as a people irrespective of your mode of worship or the language you speak.
As student unionist, I was elected as the Deputy Senate President Igala Students Association(National), after which I emerged as the campus 8th but 1st Igala President of NAKOSS, FUT Minna chapter. In the pursuance of my penchant for active and dogged political participation, I dared to contest for the NAKOSS National President in 2009 and emerged against the anointed candidate of the then government of Kogi state and so, voluntarily resigned after six weeks for the best interest of the body, peace and Kogi students in general.
I joined the dreams of the Talakawas in given birth to the defunct CPC under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari where I served as the pioneer State Youth Leader and Chairman, Northern Youth Leaders Forum.
Fascinatingly, I served as the State Youth Coordinator of Buhari/Bakare Campaign Organization 2011 and on the merging of legacy parties, I became the Pioneer State Youth Leader of the ruling APC and later the youth Cordinator of Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organization in 2015. As God will have it, I was appointed as Special Assistant to the late Minister of State for Labour & Employment (my late Boss) upon his appointment into the Federal Executive cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari. While in that capacity, I was also a member of the Inauguration Committee of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the fourth Executive Governor of Kogi State before he deemed it right to appoint me as the Hon. Commissioner for Transportation.
Today, as I clock exactly 35 years on earth, I say with all senses of humility and submission to the will of God that my life through out the ages have been so professional and I give God all the glory. In the words of a philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche – “The historian looks backward. In the end he also believes backward.” I hope to take myself backward via this reflection because I strongly believe that all my existence in this past years are the product of my past.
– Prince Sani Ogu Salisu
