Great Philosophers often say that attaining the position of leadership is without doubt a burden, bearing in mind that not all leaders possess all that it takes to bear the leadership burden successfully. But if a person emerges as a leader in an exceptional circumstance, such a person by whatever standard is without doubt not out of the way.

One of such in our society is Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore, the Apesin of the Source[Ile-Ife] who by the special grace of God is turning 55 years old today.

Born into the famous Laakaye Omisore family in Ile-Ife,on 15 September 1957,Apesin Iyiola Omisore attended St. John’s Grammar School, Ile - Ife between 1972 and 1976 and proceeded to the Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, 1976-1980 and later Technology College, Reading in the United Kingdom where he obtained a Diploma Certificate in Electrical / Electronics Engineering in the year 1983. He bagged his Bachelor of Engineering Degree in ETC Power and Machines, from Brunel University, Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. He later did his Postgraduate Certificate in Building Service and Engineering Management and Master of Science Degree in Building Service respectively from Brunel University Uxbridge. Presently, he is undergoing his DBA and Ph.D Programmes in Procurement, Public-Private Partnership and Corporate Governance at the International School of Management in Paris, France.

Apesin Omisore, is a chartered Engineer, and a fellow of Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers, Association of Cost Engineers, Nigeria Institute of Mechanical Engineers and Nigerian Society of Engineers. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chrisore Engineering Plc which is involved in projects such as the building of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Afri Bank headquarters; EIB headquarters; UACN , Abuja Complex and UBN Stallion House.

In the field of politics, Chrishore as fondly called by his political admirers has remained a factor and a force that goes around without being accorded attention, no matter your disposition towards him the fact being that he has been able to stamp his footprints on the sands of time within the executive and legislative arms of government where he excelled, even at the highest level of political intimidation,isolation and incarceration in his days with the Alliance for Democracy [AD] when he was elected as the Deputy Governor of Osun State in 1999. In 2003 while in incarceration, the Apesin of the source was elected a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Osun East Senatorial District under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] during which he was Chairman and Member of the Senate Committees on Industries, Culture and Tourism, Federal Character & Inter-governmental Affairs, Navy and Communications.He was re-elected into the Upper Chambers in 2007 under the same PDP and served creditably well as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations and Chairman, UND/PINASS Support Implementation Committee between 2007-2011.

A close contact with the Apesin would surely reveal a humble, cultured, gentle, accommodating and light hearthed individual who at every time is of the belief that politics is just an avenue to positively touch the lives of his people.

“What I have found out in my journey of life so far is that, it is easy to impact on the lives of the people, what is important is the background where one is coming from. And as a professional engineer that has transversed within and outside the country, I have discovered that it is a plus to be a professional in one’s chosen career.It is my candid view that any political office should not be seen as an end itself but rather a means to an end, which is service to the people,” he once said.

It is on record that the Senator could boast of numerous achievements in his immediate constituency and even beyond which includes funding of the establishment of a computer training school, Metropolitan Computer Training School, with student enrollment of 500 trainees (all trained free); funding the procurement of Digital Computer for his alma – mater, St. John Grammar School, Ile Ife , donation of N300, 000 to facilitate installation and connection and financial support for the indigent students in the community to forestall the prevalence of dropping out of school; funding the purchase of 4, 000 cement electricity poles, (2000 for Ife land and 2000 for Ijesha land), funding of the purchase of poverty eradication equipments including 215 motorcycles, 107 grinding machines, 107 sewing machines, 1500 mobile phones, 428 ceiling fans,deep freezers for women in Osun East Senatorial district; award of scholarship to 214 students of higher institutions; among several others.

As a true son of Oduduwa and a PRINCE, no wonder Apesin Iyiola Omisore was bestowed with numerous chieftaincy titles which include Apesin Oodua of the Source; (Ile-Ife), Basorun of Ijesaland, High Chief Lisa of Osogboland; Agbaakin of Ila Oragun, Akinrogun of Ede, Asipa of Inisa, Otunba of Ipetumodu, Asiwaju Balogun of Ibadanland, Maiyegun of Ijero Kingdom; Seriki of Usi-Ekiti; and Otunba of Odo-Eku, Isin in Kwara State.

With all these great achievements to his credit at the age of 55, it is worthwhile to appreciate God’s blessing and kindness to such a great Nigerian who without doubt has impacted immensely on the lives of so many and is at all times ready to do more whether in politics or not by saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY and wishing him more fulfilled life in the years ahead especially in his determination to continue to serve his people and Nigerians the more.ASEYI SAMODUN, Oju a maa ri odun.

Jide Adigun, Public Analyst wrote from Lagos.