Laying the Red Carpet

By Fola Adekeye
Monday, September 01, 2003

Prominent indigenes of Kwara State gather to honour their governor and other political leaders and resolve to support them to take the state to greater heights

Kwara State social circle was abuzz with activities in the past week. Politicians from across party lines threw their differences away and re-united at civic receptions and dinner parties for elected and appointed office holders in the state. The fora afforded prominent state indigenes the opportunity to remind their rulers and representatives of the deplorable condition of the state and the need for development.

Iwo Community, where Joel Ogundeji, the state deputy governor hails treated him and Bukola Saraki, governor to a dinner party at the Circular Hotel, Ilorin. Solomon Aboyeji, president, Iwo Community, said the dinner was organised in honour of Saraki and his deputy because they represented positive wind of change for the state. He commended the new agricultural programmes of the state government and pleaded for even distribution of development programmes in the state. He then assured the elected leaders of the community's unflinching support and loyalty.

Saraki thanked the community for the reception and promised the people that they would benefit from all life-enhancing programmes of the state government. "We are in government to improve the quality of human lives. Together we will make Kwara a great place for all of us, and I am ready to lead the development of Kwara State," he said.

Kayode Wahab, majority leader, Kwara State House of Assembly, praised organisers of the dinner saying it was a measure of goodwill, hope and aspirations of the people. "A people longing for development came to celebrate the ray of excellence and promise that this regime holds. To the deputy governor, it is a call to service and exemplification of the dictum that 'if you serve God, God will serve you and if you serve your people and your community, they shall stand by you in times of need,' " he told Newswatch.

Also in attendance were: Idris Gana Umar, secretary to the state government; S.A. Ibrahim, head of service; David Oyedepo, chief judge of Kwara State.

Kwara Progressives Movement, KPM, the largest socio-political group in the state also held a similar dinner for Cornelius Adebayo, minister of communications at the same venue in Ilorin, on August 22. Stephen Wole Oke, general secretary, KPM, reminded Adebayo that it was time to liberate the state from socio-economic drudgery. "This appointment has come at God's own appointed time. The movement shares in the joy of the recognition accorded C.O. Adebayo's sterling qualities by President Olusegun Obasanjo. We are here today to celebrate excellence and to give honour to whom honour is due," Oke said.

At the reception were prominent members of the movement in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP; Alliance for Democracy, AD and other political parties in the State. Adebayo, who was overwhelmed by the turn-out said: "This gathering has re-enforced my belief that Kwara state has great people. Only great people do come together after elections. I thank you all for this civic reception and dinner party," he said.

Oke described Adebayo as a role model that should be emulated. "He is very well-known for his dedication to a cause he believes in, a man who is ever ready to help others in need even at the expense of his own comfort and convenience," he said.

Born February 24, 1941, Adebayo was Kwara State governor between October 1, 1983 and December 30, 1983; he was senator for Kwara South senatorial district, twice, Kwara State commissioner and head of English department, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

It was the turn of Kwara South senatorial district, August 23. The district also held a civic reception at Ajase-Ipo Township for Adebayo, Ogundeji, Deborah Olufunke Adedoyin, minister of state for women affairs and youth development; Gbenga Makanjuola, member, House of Representatives; Banke Badmus, deputy speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly and 18 others.

At the reception, Adedoyin promised to champion programmes for women and youth during her tenure. "The present government knows that there are more women in the rural areas and that women in the rural areas are poorer. We are determined to invest in our youth because that is the best way to secure the future of our nation. But we need your ideas, prayers and support," she said.

Henry Ade Olaosebikan, chairman of the reception committee, said the occasion had given the people opportunity to appeal to their leaders to shed "pull-him-down's toga which had characterised our interaction in the recent past." According to him, meaningful progress and development were only achievable in an atmosphere of unity and cooperation. Olaosebikan called attention to the needs of the community such as good roads, potable water, better communication network and industries to absorb the teeming unemployed youths in the area. He also advocated the creation of more local governments especially in Ifelodun, which is now regarded as the largest local government in the country. "We cannot achieve these goals if we continue to destroy ourselves. We need to cooperate with the government in its determination to bring about meaningful development throughout the state. Our elected and appointed men and women of honour should be the rallying point to move our Kwara South forward," Olaosebikan said.

While urging Saraki to live up to people's expectations, Olaosebikan also appealed to those in his cabinet to serve his administration with undivided loyalty. "Some of the members of his cabinet who are from Kwara South senatorial district are among those we are honouring today. It is left to this crop of people to be loyal to Saraki's administration and objectively fight the course of Kwara South," he said.

Omo Ibile Igbomina, a cultural group, held a dinner party for Adebayo, M.S. Ajadi, a senator; Adedoyin, Ogundeji and 21 others, August 23. At the occasion, David Bamigboye, first governor of the state and chairman at the dinner party, said Kwara South senatorial district never had it so good in federal appointment. He advised people of the district to pray for the success of their sons and daughters in political offices. He told the elected and appointed people to do their best to move the state and district forward. "We want your cooperation. We don't want your separation. Please, work together and make us all proud," he said.

Ajadi appreciated the honour done him. "By the grace of God, my people should expect greater performance. My people re-elected me because they said I did well. I am re-dedicating my life to the development of Kwara South," he told Newswatch.

Femi Sanni, a communication expert from Toronto, Canada and Usman Lawal, an engineer and PDP stalwart, commended the developmental ideas behind all the receptions and dinner parties, saying they had assisted the state to close existing gaps between politics and development. "I believe what Chief Adebayo said. Kwara is blessed with great people and I am happy that they are coming together having recognised that," said Sanni, an AD candidate for House of Representatives.

Also at the dinner were Makanjuola, Ogundeji, Lai Mohammed, former AD gubernatorial candidate in the state; Luke Ekundayo Edungbola, deputy vice-chancellor, University of Ilorin; J.A. Fakayode, chairman, Kwara United Football Club; J.A. Afolayan, permanent secretary, general services and A.O. Adeoye, permanent secretary, planning commission.