Encomiums as Elder Afolabi Dare Silas joins Septuagenarians
By Ifeoma Ikem
Recently friends and well wishers gathered to pour encomiums to the former chairman, National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employers ,Apapa plant, Elder Silas Dare Afolabi as he turned 70.
Recounting on the Lord’s blessings on him, Afolabi blessed God for keeping him to attain age of 70.
He said that right from his youthful days everyone wanted him to be his or her leader even as he joined Coca cola Plc same thing continued and he was elected as the unit union chairman in his absence.
He stated that he was elected as the unit Union chairman in his absence due to the cordial relationship he had with his colleagues and supervisors.
“It was during our first tenure of three years that we achieved the free three square meal in the canteen which started in Apapa plant and spread to other plants.
” Because I was strict in decision making, the then management of coca cola invited me to cooperate with them while promising me promotion.
“I vividly told them that if my promotion will come by merit I will accept but if it’s because of the union activities that I don’t need it, and at the end I was not promoted.
“My subordinate who happened to be a junior staff under me as a cleaner was promoted into the position of supervisor and was receiving the salary of a supervisor.
“To be honest, as a human being I had to resign from Coca – cola, threw in the towel from the union activities and continued to serve my God.
” Although, for the seven years that I was the union chairman everyone felt my impact and everybody was happy,” he added.
Elder Johnson Ogungbemi,a civil servant described Afolabi as an enigma and a courageous fighter, who always stood for the truth.
“I have followed him right from the youth station in my church, he is a disciplinarian, cares for everyone and want people around him to be happy”.
A resident, who gave her name as Mrs Wale Akinboswale said Afolabi is an exceptional and a wonderful father.
“I have known him for the past 10years now, he makes sure people around him have equal share in whatever he has no matter how little it is .
“He is a vibrant person who will go out for what he believes in, he lives very simple, always there at any point in time to help.
“I pray that almighty God will give him more years, peace and keep him in good health”, she added.
Mrs Oluwaranti Majofojodu, Mr Afolabi’s daughter gave God the glory for sustaining her father’s life.
According to her, ‘my dad has faced many challenges in life, many attacks, enemies wanted to cut his life short but today it’s the Lord’s doing.
“Though, when God says yes nobody can say no, it’s only God that gives life, as a human you can only try but all power belong to God, I wish him 80,90 years and more in Jesus name, she added.
