“If a window of opportunity appears, don't pull down the shade.” -Tom Peters

The day that I saw Engineer Rauf Aregbesola closely was the day that his then party, ACN was in Akure for 2007 Presidential Campaign. Then, the distance between him and myself in front of FUTA Health Center was at most, two arms length. The only mobile policeman that was around as the third person was inside another car parked by his right both doors of the two vehicles opened while I stood in-between them.

I was passing by to Akindeko Common Room when I saw him. Being the governorship candidate for my home state, Osun, I had earlier known and developed respect for him, so coming across him under such coincidental situation in Akure, out of affection and respect, I intended to have an interaction or at the least, greet him.

He was on a phone call, so I decided to wait till he was done with the call before approaching him. While still waiting, the school CSO, without provocation, acted in the manner that made the mobile policeman, out of sense of duty, to come nearer and closed the door of the vehicle that Engr Aregbesola was seated and positioned himself by the door.

This development made me lost opportunity and hope of having direct interaction with the man.

Why am I writing this after many years?

The reason is this: I recently saw online, the video of someone, whom I assume to be a young Yoruba man, with a similar and even better opportunity than mine with the ex governor at an eatery somewhere in America.

The young man refused to reciprocate the friendly gesture from the minister, who offered him a seat, probably due to his disposition towards Nigerian political office holders. He had all the opportunities to relate with the ex governor, engage the minister, ask questions and express his concerns but he went confrontational with the minister and ended up bungling the opportunity.

It is evident from the video that the young man had never met nor had any interaction with the minister before that moment, so his actions reminded me of what they call Fallacy of hasty generalization, as I was taught in my varsity days.

Being a politician or a political office holder does not make Aregbesola or any other person an enemy, rather, individual ought to be assessed on personality or performance.

To me, Aregbesola’s performance in Osun State as a governor is visible in the kind of reception he enjoys whenever and wherever he visits in the state. As a future advice to the young man, the ability to manage one’s temperament is a great asset and also the eyes that identify opportunities in every situation.

Who knows if that meeting could have been a foundation for better future engagements between him and the minister, if he had not allowed his attitude to become his own CSO, who equally deprived him of healthy engagement?