Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas on Tuesday disclosed that he’s one of the few Politicians who have no godfather in politics.
Speaker Abbas disclosed this during an interactive session with select public Secondary school students whom he interacted with during the commemoration of Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day Anniversary, which also coincides with his 59th birthday celebration.
Hon. Abbas who admonished the young Nigerians on the need to believe in themselves rather than become unduly dependent on their parents for survival, narrated his rise to stardom to the Students and other Nigerians in attendance.
Born into a polygamous Family of 29 children, Hon. Abbas, charged them with the need to exhibit love, believe in themselves, be very hardworking, be very prayerful, be very honest, and be very transparent.
“By the time I reached the age of 19, I was already a homeowner. A homeowner at 19, I built my own house based on my sweat. I never needed one single contribution from any member of my family.
“By the time I finished secondary school, something very very dramatic happened. I went to my Father and told him that I had come to say bye-bye to him and that I was going to the National Youth Service. He was lying down, he stood up and looked at me and said, Abbas when did you go to the university, when did you go to the university?
“I said, Baba, I’ve been studying all these years; he never knew. Because he never sees me coming to ask him, ‘Give me school fees,’ give me money for books, give me this, give me that. That is the kind of environment I grew up, believing that I can do it for myself.
“And even when I ventured into politics, I’m probably one of the few you find in this country who does not have a godfather in politics.
“Nobody ever supported me or sponsored me, nobody; I didn’t hide under anybody’s umbrella to be elected or to be re-elected. I believe in myself and serve my people diligently. They appreciated and they kept re-electing me.
“So this I’m telling you not just because I want to feel good about telling you about myself, it’s just to tell you that when you believe in yourself, not believing in your parent and what they can do for you, the sky is your limit.
“Believe in yourself, be very hardworking, be very prayerful, be very honest, be very transparent,” he charged the Students, just as he urged them to shield themselves from religious discrimination and tribal sentiments to go far in life.
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