80 Reasons Why Allah Makes Me Prosperous In Life - Chief Bakare
A world class construction Engineer, Alhaji (Chief) Yekini Olawale Bakare, the Balogun of Ajiranland Eti-osa has enumerated his experiences on earth in the last 80 years, adding that Allah has made him prosperous and has continued to bless the works of his hand.
Speaking during an interview with Journalists at his Ajiran country home, the Baba Adinni, Eti-Osa Muslim Community, a great philanthropist, shed light on his experiences on earth over the years, stressing that longevity is a divine grace from Allah and not by strenght. Excerpts.
Q: Sir how is life at 80?
A: I will continue to appreciate Allah for giving me the grace to celebrate 80 in good health and sound mind.
This is not by my making, but his grace, yes the journey has been challenging but Allah has given me the grace and the resources to overcome challenges at all times.
I started from nothing but I thank Allah for blessing me with the works of my hands and crowning my efforts with success, I married six wives that are very cooperating and understanding and they are giving me the required support where necessary.
Q: How did you make your billionaires sir?
A: I am not a billionaire, I am just favoured by Allah and I am always contented with the little Allah gave me. I just have some little millions in my account for my up keep and that of my family.
I was an entrepreneur since my youthful days and I believe strongly in investment and I have being able to discover a secret about life. If you are a source of blessing to people Allah will always bless you.
Q: Sir are you interested in procuring a private jet for your 80th birthday anniversary?
A: I have not been able to use all the cars in my compound not to talk of a private jet, what am I going to do with a private jet? Where am I flying to? However, the cost of maintaining a private jet is very expensive considering the level of poverty in the country, I prefer renovating mosques, building structures in public schools, giving helping hands to the needy than procuring a private jet. In a country where forty million children are within the poverty line, 80 percent of Nigerians cannot afford one square meals, therefore procuring a private jet is not the way to go.
Being the Balogun of Ajiranland, I took delight in community service, providing funds for projects that will have direct impact on the people by extension. I am the Baba Adinni Eti-Osa Muslim Community and I am committed towards propagating Islam in Eti-Osa and Lagos State in general and Allah has continue to help me towards this direction.
Q: Sir you are highly connected with the political class, why are you not into politics?
A: We are all politicians, whether in the private or public sector, we all play politics, yet some people are active politicians, by aspiring for political offices.
I was in politics during the era of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), in fact I represent my ward but like you know in Nigeria politics you have to be economical with the truth and I am a straight forward person, whenever I say good morning if you check your time it will be accurate.
In Nigerians politics, you need to promise the electorates with projects that can never be implemented in the next fifty years just to get their votes and I don't believe in that kind of approach.
I always cast my vote for the candidate of my choice and give helping hands to candidates that seek for support.
Q: Being one of the billionaires in Nigeria what is your message to young entrepreneurs?
A: Like I said earlier I am not a billionaire I just have some millions, I don't have a foreign account, the little money with me I invested so that I can get adequate returns.
My message to the young entrepreneurs and youth out there is that, they should be hardworking and committed to duty at all times, yes there is need to relax occasionally but they should not be distracted by social vices, rather they need to be focused, straight forward and always maintain their integrity.
Youth should not been in a hurry to make wealth, yahoo plus is not the way to go because it reduces their life span and involves a lot of dangers. If they can abide with these principles, the sky will be their limit.
Q: Please mention one event you will never forget?
A: In life one has to be brave and I believe strongly that with Allah every challenge has a solution. Allah always make a way where there seems to be no way and he has continued to give us the opportunity and the cause to glorified his name.
I could remember some years back, I had some contract in Akure, Ekiti and Ondo and I used to monitor the project from Lagos every day, although it looks challenging but with Allah everything is possible and Allah crown my efforts with success.
I will not forget in a hurry there was a period I executed some projects and I had to wait for ten years before my account could be credited, one of the lessons I have learnt in life is that with patient we can move mountains.
Q: What are your recommendations to Muslim faithful during this period of Ramadan?
A: Nigeria is our country we have no place to run to, therefore we must continue to support our country in prayers and also go a step further to be law abiding citizens, obey regulations of the government so that there will be peace in the society.
