UNITY IN DIVERSITY FOR NATIONAL PEACE AND COMRADIC STABILITY
– Address Delivered by Patron Kayode Ajala at the Birthday Celebration of EGP Olusegun Obasanjo.
-The Eternal Grand Patron of the Kegites Club, Chief Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo.
-Chiefisis. -Fellowsis. -Comrads. -Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
U-A-ORL KARID!
I am most humbled by the very rare privilege accorded me to stand before this distinguished gathering today to deliver this address titled, “Unity in Diversity for National Peace and Comradic Stability,” as we celebrate the 86th birthday of our revered father, a living legend, a global Icon and the Eternal Grand Patron of the Kegites Club, His Excellency, President Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo.
You would all agree with me that our beloved Club, the Kegites Club, is today faced with variegated challenges, perhaps most disturbing of which is the disunity that pervades and which has weakened the very fabric of our great Club and driven a wedge between us.
So much so, that the spirit of brotherhood and camaraderie that once held us together appears to have taken flight. In our Club today, erstwhile bosom friends and brothers now relate with caution and suspicion, Chiefisis, who are supposed to be revered leaders of Club, are at war with each other, Comrads no longer trust Fellowsis and vice versa, Okpekesis hold strong reservations about Okpakasis and vice versa.
The World Headquarters and the National Headquarters are at each other’s throats. The Supreme Kegites Club International (SKCI) is at daggers drawn with the Kegites Club International (KCI), while the Kegites Club Nigeria (KCN) is shooting from both hips, ready to spill blood. We no longer listen to the wisdom of our Elders when they try to guide us back to the right path.
The beautiful things that once held us together seem to have fallen apart and like renowned writer Chinua Achebe said, ‘Things Fall Apart and the Centre Can No Longer Hold.’
This is a sad testimony. A very sad one indeed!!!
How did we get here?
Let me take you back to my early days as a young Kegite, a little over four decades ago. I remember my pride and love for our cherished slogan, “Unity in Diversity.” I recall with a strong sense of nostalgia how we used to chant this slogan with so much pride, guts and gusto at gyrations, in the years gone by.
With pain in my heart, I look at the disunity, squabbles, arguments, disagreements and quarrels amongst the leadership and membership of the Kegites Club today and I ask this pertinent question, “Do this generation of Kegite members really know the meaning of the slogan, “Unity in Diversity?” And the answer that readily comes to mind is, “They Don’t!”
Let me try to explain.
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The term ‘Unity in Diversity’ is a conceptualization for uniting people with different characteristics. The mere thought of ‘Unity in Diversity’ helps individuals to accept other people and accommodate the differences they hold. In other words, people learn to respect the individuality of others, value their uniqueness and respect the opinions of other people. People have to respect and love each other. This, of course, develops a trust and connection between people and helps in effective decision making, which would ultimately aid the growth of a national socio-cultural club like ours.
Our leaders, (Archival Chiefisis, Patronsis and Matronsis, Fellowsis and AB Chiefisis) must develop mutual respect for each other. It is only when this is done that the solutions to all the contentious issues be-devilling the Kegites Club, can be easily attained.
Even amongst the great nations of the world, the term ‘Unity in Diversity’ is quite germane. In the year 2000, the European Union (EU) adopted ‘Unity in Diversity’ as their motto. The adoption of this motto highlighted the unity of diverse nations who were members of the European Union (EU). The concept of ‘Unity in Diversity’ is a necessity for the betterment of human society.
As members of the Kegites Club, which is unarguably the largest socio-cultural club in Nigeria today, we need to develop an unflinching faith in the concept of ‘Unity in Diversity, if we must overcome the challenges plaguing our Club presently. We have to respect and love each other irrespective of our differences. It is only when we do this that the Kegites Club would bloom in its true colours.
We must understand clearly that Unity is strength. Division is weakness. There is beauty and power in Unity. As a Club, we must be united in heart and mind. When there is team work and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.
As a Club, unity, not uniformity, must be our priority. I want you all to know that unity is attained through variety. Our differences must therefore be integrated, not annihilated.
We must shed our over blown egos, do away with our overdosed sense of entitlement, as can be seen in our arguments and disagreements on matters concerning the Kegites Club, discard our extremely judgmental nature and embrace humility. It is only humility that will lead us to unity and unity will in turn lead us to the peace, comradic stability and progress of the Kegites Club. I want you all to note that, even the weak become strong when they are united.
I emphasize this, there is beauty and power in unity. We must be united in heart and mind. One Kegites Club, One finger salute, One People.
Once again, I wish our revered father and Eternal Grand Patron, His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo, a happy birthday, as I pray that the Lord continues to grant him an abundance of good health and all the good things of life.
Let us unite together and spread love for a better Kegites Club.
In the words of Martin Luther King, “We may have all come on different ships, but we are all in the same boat now.”
Let us all join hands together, driven by our slogan, ‘Unity in Diversity,’ to ensure that the boat of the Kegites Club does not sink in our own time.
MAY WE ORL CONTINUE TO WALK AND NEVA STUMBLE!
Patron Kayode Ajala (08/04/23)
Ilya Meleki (OOU) 1983/84
