At 66, former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, revels in rare grace, writes Olawale Olaleye
A few weeks ago, a conversation struck at the home of former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Oyelaja Amosun. It was a general discussion about health and, more importantly, the distinguishing difference between care and treatment.
Everyone in the room spoke about how they’d been managing their health and staying alive. Emphasis was on routine check-ups, and that seemed to be a common denominator for everyone except the man in whose house they all gathered.
Strangely, it was not a serious gathering for any particular meeting or formal parley.
It was a casual visit that brought everyone together, albeit unplanned. Almost everyone knew each other, which also made the conversation more interesting.
First off, there was no one in the room, who had known Senator Amosun for less than 12 years, minimum, and yet, no one could tell of anytime they had seen him sick or heard that he was indisposed by any stroke. Not even during the Covid 19 pandemic.
But Senator Amosun was going to shock everyone the more, when he told the sitting he had never gone for a check-up of any sort in many years, let alone worry about the state of his health, the least being his blood pressure monitoring.
He had hardly landed when everyone – almost unanimously – told him why he remained in such a great state of health.
“But you fast everyday except on Sundays, and you don’t think that’s enough health care?”
He wore a momentary probing look and said, “Hmmm… maybe o,” and everyone else laughed out loud.
Quintessential Amosun, they all must have muffled!
Of course, his disposition to health check immediately changed after everyone had convinced him it was a necessity, whether or not he felt healthy from within.
Whilst he had since yielded to this collective advice and done a few check-ups, he still feels vindicated that everything came out clean 100 percent.
Talk about anyone savouring the grace of God and I’d gladly point in his direction as one of those, who not only enjoy grace in quantum, but also grateful for such a rare gift of life from God.
This year would make it the 19th since Senator Amosun had been fasting everyday except on Sundays. And you still wonder how he came about life in abundance? Think again!
A quick search reveals interesting 10 health benefits of fasting. One, it supports hormones and genes that influence metabolism. Two, it may support weight loss. Three, it supports blood sugar management. Four, it supports gut health, and five, it supports heart health.
The sixth benefit of fasting is that it may help disease prevention. Seven, it may delay ageing and support growth as well as metabolism. Eight, it may reset your circadian rhythm. Nine, it may support brain function, and ten, it may reduce anxiety.
Senator Amosun may not own the world, but not many come near what he has been blessed with so long the subject is health, regardless of how much such individuals boast. Even those who come close still struggle with one or two challenges.
Therefore, when you go over those 10 points of fasting, you can understand why he remains fit as a fiddle, in addition to not smoking, drinking or even considering the third evil often associated with men.
Thus, with a sturdy physique and evidently sound mind, Senator Amosun reeks of the enviable grace of God, which also explains how he has managed many of his life’s challenges without betraying emotions.
A devout Muslim, who concedes everything to God – good or bad, he worries not about things he cannot change and where his efforts are demanded, he leaves nothing to chance. Whenever he stands with you, just go to bed.
A perfectionist in many respects, it is safe to conclude he also suffers from OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This is what you see, even at first contact with him.
He is neat, has good taste, and is organised to a fault.
He is not just hands-on, he always makes sure that everything is done to the best of his ability such that whatever the results are would not bother him at the end of the day, for as long as he had put in his best.
Senator Amosun is not just generous, he is kind-hearted with a high sense of responsibility. You do not need to nudge him to do that, which is right. Even if he runs the idea by someone else, it is probably to seek a second opinion.
A lover of people and family man to the core, he respects tradition and authority and is big on self-preservation. You will never find him where he is not wanted, and he’ll never be found wanting anywhere they seek him and his importance.
Therefore, at 66, it is trite to say that God has gifted this man of means and moderation, life more abundantly, which is why you all should raise your glasses and toast to a good life of great and admirable examples.
Happy 66th birthday, omo oye, omo ajiri.
-Olaleye is Deputy Editor at THISDAY Newspapers
