**Fela Durotoye@47: Celebrating a Generational Shift Campaigner**

Adetokunbo Olufela Durotoye, leadership coach, corporate trainer and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Alliance for New Nigeria, ANN, clocks 47 today which interestingly, is his wedding anniversary. Adedayo Adejobi writes on the milestone, his thoughts, and ideas on leadership.

Olu Okeowo Celebrates

“A s the saying goes: ‘You ver miss what you’ve never had’. I am really grateful for the quality of the relationship I have with my sons; Mobolurin, Demilade, and Morolaoluwa.

They are my best friends and I have always believed that by the time they get married, I would have three daughters added to my family. Since my daughters-in-law will carry my name forever, all I have to do is to be patient and wait for my three daughters to arrive when my sons get married. Having waited so long, you can understand when I say I will be the best father-in-law ever. My wife feels so special being the only girl in our home. All four of us pamper her so much and give her all our love.”
These were the words of Fela Durotoye, leadership coach and corporate trainer as well a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Alliance for New Nigeria, ANN. FD, as his friends and admirers call him, is 47 today and the day also marks the 17th anniversary of his wedding to his wife Tara, owner of House of Tara Beauty Centre in highbrow Lekki, Lagos.
Fela is a father of three boys and he believes even his wife is not the ‘odd woman’ out among three ‘men’. To me, she is always pampered and she is very loved and that is why he believes that when his sons get married,
There won’t be clinking of glasses. There will not also be popping of champagne. When THISDAY asked him earlier in the week how he would celebrate his birthday, he said there wouldn’t be any celebration.

Rather, he would be doing what he usually does every year. And this involves going somewhere private with his sweetheart and reminisce about the state of the nation.
Durotoye said the nation needs the younger generation more than ever before. To him, the raw energy the youth has makes it possible for them to devote time and that energy to building the country. Alluding
to a music video playing on the television. To Durotoye, the music video is a metaphor of the Nigerian situation.

According to him, if young Nigerians are given the chance to govern the country, the creativity and energy deployed in music videos indicate the high level of creativity that can be brought to governance.

“If we are given the chance to lead the country, I don’t mean lead the country, but rule the country, that is the kind of creativity we would bring into governance,” Durotoye told THISDAY. “We keep talking of how Nigeria developed in the 60s and 70s. That should not surprise us.
These men, who have refused to let go of leadership, or do I say rulership, were young then and they were full of energy and also full of ideas. That was why they were able to achieve much then because those were their best productive years. All they need right now is to let go of leadership and let the younger generation try their own leadership energy. The creativity you saw in that video will be replicated in governance.”

That is a profound analysis. And thank God, Durotoye has thrown his hat into the ring. He wants to become president. He has already joined the Alliance for New Nigeria, ANN. To him, the desire to serve stems
from the belief that Nigeria could be made the most desirable nation on earth by the year 2025. Tall dream you would say going by present realities but that is not with Durotoye. His raw energy and self-belief can be effervescent at times. Even when you tell him the odds are stacked against him going by the entrenched interests that have held the nation by the jugular since independence, Durotoye would tell you it is because Nigeria has always been ruled and not led.

He added, “The apparent failure in leadership of our country comes from a rulership system that has over the years produced rulers rather than leaders. I believe that leaders are role models of excellence and integrity whose lives are worthy of emulation. True leaders have the ability to create and deliver desired results, desired outcomes and a desired future for all. In other words, Leaders make people, places
and things better while rulers make people, places and things worse over time.”

Speaking further, Durotoye said through the nation’s history, there has always been emergence of rulers in positions of authority instead of leaders in positions of service.
“Rather than serve the people, rulers consider the people as their subjects who are meant to serve them and their interest. Rulers use the power of their position to oppress and make things difficult for their subjects (the people). Rather than royal fathers, the system produced traditional rulers and afterwards, colonial masters who never came to serve the people, and thereafter, military rulers who came as overlords to oppress the people. And from military rule, we’ve experienced political rulers in a democratic framework.”

To him, true leaders make the lives of the people better; rulers make the lives of the people bitter. He pointed out, “As long as we do not replace the system of rulers, we will continue to experience the so called failure of leadership. The system is the problem.”

Happy birthday to a visionary Leader!

He has never STOLEN and he will never STEAL. ��

#MyFD
#greatPersonality
#ExcellentSpirit.
#anewnigeria
#teamFD

In the spirit of politics without bitterness, we say Happy Birthday Mr Dutotoye.

Buhari 2019; Igbo Presidency 2023!

Happy birthday our incoming president.

Andiebest:
Happy birthday our incoming president.

Waoo.. That smile is so powerful, never seen anything like it before

igbodefender:
In the spirit of politics without bitterness, we say Happy Birthday Mr Dutotoye.

Buhari 2019; Igbo Presidency 2023!

Lol

Happy Birthday to him!



Talking about politics, I sincerely wish him and Sowore well. But to all who are gunning for either of these two guys for presidency, especially in Southwest, we need to wise up or we'll be condemned to another four years under Buhari.

If either of these two young persons were from the north it would have been an easy sell, but as Nigeria is today, the northern youths are not enlightened enough to see a reason to support them, and they believe power must remain in the north come 2019.

So we must look beyond the young candidature, but rather support anyone who has better sense of governance than Buhari.
God Save Nigeria!

Who know him?

Mscheeew.

dodelight:
Happy Birthday to him!



Talking about politics, I sincerely wish him and Sowore well. But to all who are gunning for either of these two guys for presidency, especially in Southwest, we need to wise up or we'll be condemned to another four years under Buhari.

If either of these two young persons were from the north it would have been an easy sell, but as Nigeria is today, the northern youths are not enlightened enough to see a reason to support them, and they believe power must remain in the north come 2019.

So we must look beyond the young candidature, but rather support anyone who has better sense of governance than Buhari.
God Save Nigeria!

You just spoke like a typical Nigerian youth, what makes u think its on the north votes that brings in a president. Why do you suddenly think PMB and his handlers are romancing the SE, oh wait a minute, have u forgotten PMB won in the key states in the north in 2011 but still lost the election to Jonathan?

Jesusloveyou:
Who know him?

We do and over 30million youths who are desirous of a new Nigeria

cbrass:


You just spoke like a typical Nigerian youth, what makes u think its on the north votes that brings in a president. Why do you suddenly think PMB and his handlers are romancing the SE, oh wait a minute, have u forgotten PMB won in the key states in the north in 2011 but still lost the election to Jonathan?

So, you untypical Nigerian youth, you think the supports from the south alone is enough to make anyone president in this country?

I hope your 'hope' and wishes are not blinding you from reality

cbrass:


We do and over 30million youths who are desirous of a new Nigeria

One of the realities you are missing is, at least half of your numbered 30million youths that you claimed know him are already affiliated to either of the mainstream political parties.

Does this mean I don't believe in a youth presidency? Yes, I do! But it's a long way from here, yet it's achievable.
Fela Durotoye can't fly in 2019, neither will Sowore; but they can keep mobilizing the youths for 2023 or whenever. They don't necessarily have to be beneficiaries of such movements but it will help the nation in long term. So, wake up, bro.

Fela who?

dodelight:


One of the realities you are missing is, at least half of your numbered 30million youths that you claimed know him are already affiliated to either of the mainstream political parties.

Does this mean I don't believe in a youth presidency? Yes, I do! But it's a long way from here, yet it's achievable.
Fela Durotoye can't fly in 2019, neither will Sowore; but they can keep mobilizing the youths for 2023 or whenever. They don't necessarily have to be beneficiaries of such movements but it will help the nation in long term. So, wake up, bro.

The president was right afteral, some youths are not only lazy but too timid, mind you this is not about a youth president but this about the quest for true leadership, if you are not tired of the rulership they subject us to, then Fela Durutoye is and the youths too. Join the train before its too late

dodelight:


So, you untypical Nigerian youth, you think the supports from the south alone is enough to make anyone president in this country?

I hope your 'hope' and wishes are not blinding you from reality

What you should have done which u failed to do is ask how we plan to achieve this and not going about this stereotypical way of thinking about elections. Well our target is the entire south and North central

cbrass:
**Fela Durotoye@47:

He has never STOLEN and he will never STEAL. ��

Seriously?? And how would you know this, even unto the future? Never say never.

Thanks for telling us how old u are,,,,,
Now we know,,,

cbrass:


What you should have done which u failed to do is ask how we plan to achieve this and not going about this stereotypical way of thinking about elections. Well our target is the entire south and North central

The reality is still that your plan can work in a long term, not for short term (2019), because an average Nigerian northern youth (middle belt inclusive) has this entitlement mentality. A lot must be done to educate them in this regard.
One thing I can promise you is, if you are able to stir up such revolution in thinking in the north before next general elections, then you have my support.
But right now, I won't because of youth presidency risk another four years under Buhari.

dodelight:


The reality is still that your plan can work in a long term, not for short term (2019), because an average Nigerian northern youth (middle belt inclusive) has this entitlement mentality. A lot must be done to educate them in this regard.
One thing I can promise you is, if you are able to stir up such revolution in thinking in the north before next general elections, then you have my support.
But right now, I won't because of youth presidency risk another four years under Buhari.

So who is your candidate?

cbrass:

So who is your candidate?

Right now, none.
I am hoping someone with a better sense of governance will win the PDP ticket. Yes, people may say PDP wrecked this nation for 16 years, but that's not absolutely correct, since most of those that held sway in most of the 16years are still in the government of the day. And somehow PDP has learnt in a hard way.
In fact, as it stands today, I will gladly vote an Atiku who has a business sense rather than watch and split the votes in favour of Buhari. (Forget about the corruption noises about him (Atiku); Nigeria doesn't need a saint, rather we need a brain).
However, the mobilization and enlightenment of the youths to know their power and right must continue for a long term gain.

Andiebest:
Happy birthday our incoming president.

Where did you get that picture of Fela from?

dodelight:


Right now, none.
I am hoping someone with a better sense of governance will win the PDP ticket. Yes, people may say PDP wrecked this nation for 16 years, but that's not absolutely correct, since most of those that held sway in most of the 16years are still in the government of the day. And somehow PDP has learnt in a hard way.
In fact, as it stands today, I will gladly vote an Atiku who has a business sense rather than watch and split the votes in favour of Buhari. (Forget about the corruption noises about him (Atiku); Nigeria doesn't need a saint, rather we need a brain).
However, the mobilization and enlightenment of the youths to know their power and right must continue for a long term gain.

I said it before you need to heal, so just because you desperately want to vote out PMB u will settle for an Atiku.. Hmmm

#nottooyoungtorun

cbrass:

I said it before you need to heal, so just because you desperately want to vote out PMB u will settle for an Atiku.. Hmmm

So, you would rather Buhari continue?

cbrass:

I said it before you need to heal, so just because you desperately want to vote out PMB u will settle for an Atiku.. Hmmm

So you have nothing to say to my last reply...

And I was already enjoying our conversation ...

Good luck, Bro!

dodelight:


So you have nothing to say to my last reply...

And I was already enjoying our conversation ...

Good luck, Bro!

What do you want me to say again by already admitting that you will leave your house and queue in the sun or rain to go vote for a thief - yes I used that word and I won't appologise for it, except u can tell me what u mean by this statement "I don't want a saint but someone with business sense"

cbrass:


What do you want me to say again by already admitting that you will leave your house and queue in the sun or rain to go vote for a thief - yes I used that word and I won't appologise for it, except u can tell me what u mean by this statement "I don't want a saint but someone with business sense"

So anyone that is not a saint equals a thief in your mind??!!

Wow! Fela Durotoye must be so blameless and faultless and infallible!

dodelight:


So anyone that is not a saint equals a thief in your mind??!!

Wow! Fela Durotoye must be so blameless and faultless and infallible!

If you have a case against him pls bring it forward. However harlibuton case comes to mind
When will Atiku visit the US?

cbrass:

If you have a case against him pls bring it forward. However harlibuton case comes to mind
When will Atiku visit the US?

Typical of a diehard follower!
I asked a very simple, though rhetorical, question. Is Fela Durotoye faultless?
Just answer the question.

And about Atiku and whatever Harlibuton case, there you missed it again. First, I never once said I'm Atiku supporter (check through again in case you missed the point), I only alluded to him in case push comes to shove. (That is, if left with such bad choices between Buhari and Atiku).
Secondly, from my rhetorics, Atiku is not a saint, so I don't care whether he can travel to USA or not. What's my business with US approvals or visitation.
I shot!

Shoot!

dodelight:


Typical of a diehard follower!
I asked a very simple, though rhetorical, question. Is Fela Durotoye faultless?
Just answer the question.

And about Atiku and whatever Harlibuton case, there you missed it again. First, I never once said I'm Atiku supporter (check through again in case you missed the point), I only alluded to him in case push comes to shove. (That is, if left with such bad choices between Buhari and Atiku).
Secondly, from my rhetorics, Atiku is not a saint, so I don't care whether he can travel to USA or not. What's my business with US approvals or visitation.
I shot!

Shoot!

the word "faultless" is ambiguous , you need to be specific. though No one may be without fault but we are not talking about treasury looters here. I never said you are or was a supporter of Atiku but I sense the hands of Esau and the voice of Jacob though