William Shakespeare, English poet, actor and playwright in one of his unputdownable books entitled “Macbeth”, described human life as “a poor player that struts and frets its time upon the stage and then is heard no more”: and as “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” I beg to disagree with Shakespeare if it is assumed that he was referring to the lives of all persons; great and small, who have trod this earth. If however he was categorically referring to the lives of the wretched of this world, I may be comfortable with his observation.
For no reasonable person will disagree that the lives of great men and women, such as the late Abraham Lincoln, former President of the United States of America, the late Winston Churchill, wartime Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the late John Kennedy, former President of the United States of America, the late Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, the late Mahatma Ghandi, father of India’s independence, the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India, Mother of the “poorest amongst the poor”, the late Indira Ghandi, former Prime Minister of India who was brutally assassinated, the late Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the late Revd. Martin Luther King Jnr., the globally renowned champion of non-violent resistance and Chief Priest of racial equality, the late Michael Jackson, global king of hip-hop, the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe , first indigenous Governor-General of Nigeria and former President (titular) of Nigeria, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, former Premier of the defunct Western Nigeria and the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, former Premier of the defunct Nothern Nigeria were lives that were mere walking shadows and poor players who strutted and fretted their times upon the stage of the world, or can any sane and objective person describe these illustrious lives as tales told by idiots, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.” These lives, by all available indices were very successful, memorable and famous. They were lives that were eventful and marked by extra-ordinary achievements. They were lives that impacted positively on the lives of their fellow men and made the world a better place for the habitation of humanity. They were lives lived in tandem with the philosophy of the great English poet, Longfellow, as showcased in his immortal poem: “A Psalm of Life” in which he observed as follows:
“Lives of great men all remind us
that we can make our own lives sublime
and departing leave behind us footprints
on the sands of time.”
The Esama of Benin, Sir Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, CFR yesterday, 1st September 2013 kicked off activities for the celebration of his 79th birthday. On Sunday, the 1st September, there was the inauguration of Christian Brethren Ministry Road constructed by Ray Royal Construction Company in honour of Sir Igbinedion. On Friday, 6th September, there will be a prayer session at Family Intercessory Ministry. Saturday, 7th September will see the House of Igbinedion receiving dignitaries and guests from within and outside the country for the celebration.On Sunday, 8th September, there will be another prayer session by the Baptist Family by 3pm, while Monday, 9th September will be for lunch and entertainment of family and friends including visit of Rotarians .
Tuesday, 10th September will be the birthday lecture by Igbinedion University, Okada by 12 noon, while Wednesday, 11th September, the birthday proper will be marked with an inter-denomination church service, billed to hold at No. 1-13 Okada Avenue, Benin City GRA. On Thursday, 12th September there will be dinner for Knights, while the House of Igbinedion will play host to dignitaries and guests from across the globe on Friday, 13th September. Receiving of guests will continue on Saturday, 14th September, while on Sunday, 15th September there will be a thanksgiving mass at Saint Gabriel the Arch Angel Catholic Church on Sapele Road, Benin City.
