By Engr. Ridwan Elemosho
When I reflect on yesterday’s events and the genuine warmth with which people came together to celebrate our leader, for many of us who look up to his leadership, it was a moment that went beyond formality. The Kwara PDP Youth Summit, organised to commemorate the 63rd birthday of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON, felt less like a scheduled programme and more like a shared acknowledgement of a life devoted to public service and purposeful leadership.
The summit was held in his honour, yet what struck me most was how Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON gently redirected attention away from himself and towards the youths in attendance. In expressing gratitude to Almighty Allah, he noted that while he had planned to spend the day quietly with his family, “to whom honour is given, reciprocity is expected.”
To many of us , this reflected a defining quality of his leadership with an understanding that honour comes with responsibility.
Listening to his address, I was particularly drawn to his emphasis on youth participation in shaping the future of democracy. His insistence that young people must be entrusted with real responsibility, designing development plans, implementing them, and leading key sectors resonated deeply. It reinforced the belief that progress is only sustainable when those who will inherit the future are actively involved in building it.
His closing words “Wherever discussions focus on genuinely engaging our youths and helping them realise their God-given potential, count me in” ,did not surprise me. Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON has long demonstrated a youth-driven approach in practice. From his years as Governor of Kwara State, when capable and intellectually sound young people were appointed into key positions, to his tenure as President of the Senate, where he played a notable role in advocating for the Not Too Young to Run Bill, his commitment to youth inclusion has been consistent.
In the end, yesterday left many of us with a quiet conviction.
The summit, organised to mark a birthday, became a moment of reflection on values rather than personality. It affirmed that a life well spent is not measured by years alone but by consistency of purpose and readiness to keep contributing. At 63, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON continues to exemplify leadership grounded in service, restraint, and responsibility.
End.