Encomium As Family, Friends Celebrate Former Osun Speaker On Diamond Jubilee
- My Husband Is Deeply Rooted In Values, Faith – Wife
- My Father Is A Meeting Point, Full Of Empathy – Son
- He Is An Exemplary Youth Ambassador – Oluseye
FAMILY, friends of the former speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam have continued to shower him encomiums as he marks his 60th birthday anniversary today.
The wife of the celebrant, Mrs. Temitayo Salaam, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER, described Salaam as a man of integrity and good character, deeply rooted in his values and faith.
According to Mrs Salaam, the former speaker is a man who believes so much in loyalty, adding that he encompasses what it means to be an Omoluabi.
She said, “Mr Najeem Salaam is a man of integrity, good character and a very contented person. He believes that nothing comes from man except from Almighty Allah. He believes that whatever would be in life would be and that destiny can only be delayed, it cannot be changed.
“My husband is a man that is deeply rooted in his values and faith. He loves the people of Osun most especially and wishes them good thing. We will travel sometimes and he will see some notable things abroad and he will say I really want to do this for my people. That is a very interesting factor and he is a man that believe so much in loyalty.
“We see a whole lot of politicians will swerve and sway where like money is and where they feel they can gain a lot of things but he is not like that. He is a man that is loyal to every cause that he believes in to the highest order. He encompasses what is means to be an Omoluabi.
“Sixty is a great age. If God kept anyone alive to the age of 60 that is huge milestone and have seen him growing up also in mind and in intelligent. Sixty is a remarkable age and I pray he lives to see more years on earth. Yes, I will choose him over and over again because he is an excellent husband, a great father, not just his biological children but to every child he comes across. He doesn’t want anyone to go hungry and any child out of school because of money. He gives every child equal rights. Those are remarkable things about him.”
In his birthday message to his father, the eldest son of the former speaker, Mr Sherif Salaam described his father as man full of empathy and a rallying point for the people.
Sherif while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER pointed out that the celebration is a way of giving little bit of what Hon Salaam has been giving to people.
“He is my father, someone that has been guiding me all through and I have grown over the year to know him as someone that carries his people along. He values his community. He is someone that loves having people around him all the time. This is his 60th birthday and I think this is the first time we are actually putting something as big as this together and also first time to also make him feel what you give can also return.
“As father, he has done so much for this family. Despite that he is always out most of the time, he tries to create time for us. He tried to make sure everyone gets what they want at the right time. As a community leader, he is someone that despite any challenges he is facing, he always finds time to attend to his people. He sees himself as meeting point where everyone come together and not just coming together, he proffers solution to issues facing the community.
“Hon Salaam is a man who values his own words. He wants to make sure people see him as someone that say yes and he will never renege on that yes. He wants to make sure that people see him as a man of integrity. He is full of empathy and gives everyone sense of belonging. I believe this sixty years birthday is a way for us a community to give a little bit of what he has been giving to people. We hope this birthday will come with so much hope, blessings and would not be the last,” he said.
Reflecting on his relationship with Hon Najeem Salaam, Ogun-born politician, Akeem Oluseye described him as an exemplary youth ambassador who always shows genuine empathy.
According to Oluseye, the celebrant was there for him during the challenging moment of his political journey.
He disclosed this in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday.
The statement reads: “Hon. Salaam has truly been an exemplary youth ambassador. I was first introduced to him through his younger wife, who happens to be my sister. Our bond grew stronger through our shared passion for politics.
“During a challenging period in my political journey when I faced setbacks and was short-changed by poor leadership, he showed genuine empathy. In his own thoughtful way, he supported and encouraged my aspirations. His kindness and belief in me will always be appreciated”
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
