Umenzekwe celebrates Hakeem Babatunde Bello @ 60, extols his virtues
By Cyriacus Nnaji:
Honourable Chief Modestus Umenzekwe (Onwa Achina) has joined millions of well meaning Nigerians across the globe to celebrate the Special Adviser, Media and Communications to His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN, CON), Hakeem Babatunde Bello who turned 60 recently.
Mr Bello who is also former editor, Daily Times, and Fellow, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), served as Special Adviser, Media and Communications to Fashola, both as Governor of Lagos State and Minister of Works and Housing.
Umenzekwe who spoke to journalists in his office in Lagos on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, further extolled the virtues of Hakeem Bello, whom he described as very humble.
He disclosed that the seasoned journalist is not just a compassionate personality but also a man with the milk of human kindness, adding that he has known Mr Bello for over a decade.
Chief Umenzekwe revealed, “Mr Hakeem Babatunde Bello is a man I have known for over a decade, just like his boss, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN, CON). The man Bello, I always see him as a brother in far away Yoruba land.
“He is humble and always has compassion for human beings, no matter where you come from,” Umenzekwe added.
Umenzekwe disclosed that he has taken time to study the celebrant and arrived at the conclusion that Fashola’s decision to make him his Aide, was a right decision. “I have taken time to study Hakeem, and I came to a conclusion that his boss, Fashola made the right choice, and when you read Fashola’s eulogy on him, you would notice the closeness, you would notice the nostalgia he expressed in having him as a Special Aide.”
He further said, “Though I am not quoting Fashola verbatim, he resigned on his job to work with him, even though they were not certain where they were heading to. That is my understanding of what Fashola said.
“How many people can do that? And eventually it paid off. Fashola became a great political enigma and administrator, a trail blazer and a noiseless gentleman, the same character is what Bello represents,” Umenzekwe stated.
Speaking on his humble mien, Umenzekwe spoke glowingly about Mr Bello, and described him as a man who, aside working for the nation is also thinking about his fellow human being. “I have met him on several occasions, you would never know that he is even an Aide to a big man like Fashola, ask him questions, he would supply you with answers, very humble.
“When you make mistakes, I remember, vividly, in one of my publications, not on Fashola and not on government, but on a seasoned personality, even tough it wasn’t a bad publication, he called me and said, ah, Chief, you should have told me before making this publication; it may create problem for the man in the establishment.
“That means, at all times, he is thinking about the welfare of another person. And I apologized, because, that person is his friend and we navigated around the whole thing and there was no problem, I won’t mention his name.
“So Bello is working for the nation, and he is thinking about how another person will be feeling. This nation has a person in him, the journalism industry has a person in him, my leader, Fashola has a person in him, his wife has a person in him, as well as his children.
“I once attended the traditional marriage of his daughter, with my wife and some friends, he received me as if he was receiving a king. I was trying to dodge, he said, no, relax, we are one, this country is one, feel free, and he was personally serving us drinks and food,” Umenzekwe disclosed.
The chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Umenzekwe, prayed for Mr. Bello and wished him well. “I fervently hope that one day, like his Oga, he will come up higher than he is now.
“On this his 60th birthday, I wish him well, I wish him long life, I wish him good health, I wish him wealth, I wish him everything good in life. May God bless him,” he prayed.
