Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, Southwest Nigeria has charged citizens and politicians to pull their collective strength to work for the nation, irrespective of their political differences and sentiments for greater tomorrow.
He gave this charge at the 30th Anniversary Awards in Osogbo, the state capital on Thursday, stressing that state-building is a collective enterprise.
Prominent Nigerians from all walks of life had converged on Osogbo to felicitate with the government and people of Osun, as the State marks the grand finale of its 30th anniversary with an awards presentation to distinguished citizens.
The event had in attendance former and current governors as well as first-class traditional rulers across Nigeria, among other dignitaries.
28 distinguished and prominent citizens who had served the state in varying capacities were honoured at the Banquet and Awards ceremony.
Describing the event as symbolic, Oyetola said it was deserving to pay tributes to the illustrious men and women who have held sway as leaders of the people.
“We are here today because you all provided direction and showed distinct leadership in a manner that has earned our State its deserved recognition and reputation over the years. We are grateful to you all.
“This banquet and awards is designed to recognise and celebrate our distinguished citizens and friends of the State whose phenomenal contributions in the various fields of endeavour have made Osun proud and have helped to build the Osun of our founding fathers’ dream.
“Twenty-eight persons have received awards in four categories at this event as follows: 11 recipients of Lifetime Achievement Award, 10 recipients of Osun Distinguished Citizen Award, 2 recipients of Legacy Award, while 5 persons got the Osun Merit Award”.
Governor Oyetola urged citizens to continue to collaborate with the government to achieve sustainable development.
Speaking at the event, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, commended the government of Osun on the awards, describing it as a welcome development because of its potential to ignite high hopes and hunger for diligence and excellence in the youths.
One of the Awardees, a former governor of the state, Chief Bisi Akande, in appreciating the honours conferred on past leaders, commended the state government for recognising the services and labours of the past leaders
He noted that the journey into the position of power was filled with the good and the bad, saying past governors had experienced series of challenges while in power such as labour unrest and difficulties in payment of salaries of workers with the state’s meager resources.
He congratulated and commended past governors for meeting these challenges despite the meager resources that accrued to them. He thus called on the people to keep offering the necessary support to the government in order to take Osun to an enviable height.
“I congratulate my colleagues for having served the State and I congratulate the people of the State for having reached this height. I pray Osun will continue to grow from strength to strength and I pray all the past leaders will never have reasons to regret the services they have rendered to the State”, Akande said.
One of the high points of the event was the decoration of the former Military and civilian governors of the State since its creation in 1991 by the incumbent, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
Governor Oyetola was in turn decorated by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Honorees categories
The honourees, under the Osun Lifetime Achievement Award, included: Chief Bisi Akande (former Governor, Osun State), Pastor Enoch Adeboye (General Overseer, RCCG worldwide), Sheikh Abdur’rasheed Hadiyatulla (President, Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria), and General Ipoola Alani Akinrinnade, rtd. (former Chief of Army Staff, Nigeria from October 1979 to April 1980, and then Chief of Defence Staff until 1981 during the Nigerian Second Republic).
Others in the lifetime achievement category are: Asiwaju Hammed Omidiran, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, Prince Tunde Ponle, Professor Olu Aina, Chief Akinwande Akinola, Engr. Joanah Olu Maduka, and Chief Dr. Benjamin Adigun.
The State, under the Legacy Award category, also recognised Dr. Folorunsho Alakija (Chancellor, Osun State University and dynamic philanthropist), and the late Madam Susanne Wenger (a culture and tourism icon).
The Osun Merit Award honourees included Emeritus Prof. Ademola Oyejide, Chief Nike Okundaye, Professor Oye Gureje, Professor Isaac Adewole, and Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN.
The Osun Distinguished Citizens Award honourees included Pastor Matthew Asimolowo, Alagba Yemi Elebubon, Brigadier General Leo Segun Ajiborisha (retired), Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, Asiwaju Khamis Olatunde Badmus, Prince Lawal Obelawo, Chief Moses Inaolaji Aboaba, Mr. Adewale Adeyemo, Mr. Kola Adeniji and Mr. Mike Awoyinfa.
Dignitaries at the events include, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Ogun State Governor, Dr. Dapo Abiodun who were represented; former Governors of Osun State, former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former Oyo State Governor, Otunba Alao Akala; Former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake;
Traditional rulers in attendance include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi who was represented; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe amongst others.
Nnenna.O
