The unwavering spirit of Dada Olusegun: A shining example of doggedness and loyalty

By: Dr. S. I. Akinfalabi

The social media world has been buzzing with the name Dada Olusegun in the past few days. If you’re not conversant with X, especially the political section, you may be forgiven if you haven’t heard of the name Dada Olusegun. Let’s assume you haven’t heard of the name, I want to introduce you to Dada Olusegun.

My name is Dr. S. I. Akinfalabi, I am a researcher, an academic and a writer. I have been following Dada Olusegun’s story from afar for about a decade, but I have been working closely for more than a year now with him. In this period, I have been able to see firsthand the man he is made of and I am beyond compelled to tell this story. People like Dada Olusegun are not easy to come by, tough on the surface but with a very large heart, and upon closer look, you can easily see why they have become who they are.

Few days ago, Dada Olusegun tweeted: “Those who want to burn the country down under whatever guise will meet the strongest resistance of their lives. Not from security agencies, but from the silent majority that gave their mandate to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for four years in the first instance. We are waiting”.
For some reasons, mainly of which are political, this Tweet has gotten about 1.1 million views, still counting and a lot of reactions. Now, this is a simple comprehension problem. Dada Olusegun, in no where in the above Tweet, threatened peaceful protesters, so, when people are reacting the way they have, one wonders if they had no intentions of being peaceful with their planned protests. For brevity and clarity, Dada Olusegun himself is a product of protest and by law of the land, protesters must be protected and allowed their rights of expressions within the law.

After that tweet, hell broke lose, a lot of young people, especially the Obidients, descended on Dada Olusegun, went back in time, to dig up his past tweets as far back as 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 etc. Majority of the dug up tweets showed a man who will defend his team and beliefs. They showed a man who is very passionate and will follow his convictions till the very end. Some of those tweets could have been well worded, no doubt, but, Dada Olusegun, like all of us, is not perfect, far from it. Considering the journey he’s on, he needs some of these messages to remind him of his growth and the miles still to cover. A lot of people I have spoken to on this issue, didn’t necessarily see anything wrong about the Tweet, considering most people back then just tweet anything for fun and because most social media users have tweeted something even worse, largely due to the non-regulated nature of social media back then. Their concerns majorly were that he should have done a proper house cleaning upon his appointment.
Note, taken!

In the words of Nelson Mandela, “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Dada Olusegun, DO, like we call him, didn’t just become the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media overnight, he has a track record, one which embodies this spirit of resilience and determination. One notable experience was his contest for the National Youth Leader position of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Dada Olusegun was in pole position to win, but powerful forces coerced him to step down in favor of another candidate. In a heart-wrenching moment, one filled with emotions, which till date still haunts some of us, he took the microphone on stage, tears streaming down his face, with a shaky voice and hands, Dada Olusegun announced his withdrawal. The other candidate was later announced the National Youth Leader of the Party. This experience would have broken a lesser person, but Dada Olusegun’s spirit remained unbroken, unbent and unbowed. That video of his speech, is today being circulated on X to ridicule him but it’s stuffs like that, that makes him Dada Olusegun.

His doggedness and total believe in himself have made him a beacon of inspiration to many. Like the African parable of the tortoise and the hare, Dada Olusegun’s journey is a testament to the power of slow and steady progress. He has consistently demonstrated that with persistence and hard work, one can achieve greatness. As the saying goes, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” Dada Olusegun has navigated the choppy waters of politics and social media with finesse, emerging stronger and more determined.

On social media, he’s probably the most talked about appointee of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, because, if you don’t talk about the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, should he really be a Special Assistant on Social Media? You get my drift?

His leadership style is reminiscent of the wise words of Myles Munroe, “Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” Dada Olusegun has influenced countless lives through his work, using social media as a tool for good. He has fostered a sense of community and engagement, encouraging open dialogue and feedback.

As the Yoruba proverb goes, “When the elephant walks, the ground shakes.” Dada Olusegun’s impact is felt far and wide, and his presence is unmistakable. He is a true leader, a student and astute follower of politics, always willing to lend a helping hand and offer guidance.

Dada Olusegun is easily to APC, what Rodri is to Manchester City. Every team needs a Defensive Midfielder who will stand and defend his team against all odds. One who understands when to hold the ball and when to spread those killer passes into the 18-yard box of the opposition. One who is never afraid to speak up, never afraid of a fight, especially when its tough to do so and everyone else is silent to secure their jobs.

Like 2Baba and MI sang in their hit Track “Nobody”: “if nobody talks about you, then you’re a nobody, whether na true dem talk or na lie, my guy, wallahi….”.
This article has no such intention as to paint Dada Olusegun as a saint, but to rather showcase his many imperfections which has all come together to mould the man he is today. Dada Olusegun’s doggedness and quality leadership are a shining example to us all. He embodies the spirit of African resilience and determination.

As we strive to make a positive impact in our own spheres, let us draw inspiration from his unwavering commitment and dedication. For as the great Maya Angelou once said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” Dada Olusegun is indeed doing better, and we are all better for it.
Through it all, Dada Olusegun has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his principles and a loyalty to his convictions that is truly inspiring. His story serves as a beacon of hope for young politicians and a reminder that true leadership is about standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.

Dr. S. I. Akinfalabi writes from Orile Owu, Ayedade, Osun State and can be reached on X: @akinfalabs_