Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has commended a former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, for investing efforts and skills over the years to make a difference in the various public offices he had served.
Oluwaseun Abosede, the Publicity and Organising Secretary, Omolaubi Progressives, a group that has Aregbesola as the grand patron, in a release obtained on Sunday, said Adeleke made the disclosure at an event marking Aregbesola’s 67th birthday in Osogbo, the state capital.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, the governor said his administration was building on the legacy of infrastructure amenities expansion of the Aregbesola administration by completing some of the projects initiated by him when he served as Osun State governor.
Adeleke further said, “You are blessed. You only know a core politician with the calibre of people following him when he is not in power. For me to see the calibre of people that are here even without being in power at the moment, it means God is with you. It also shows that you are on the ground.
“On behalf of the Osun State Executive Council, we are celebrating you, our party the PDP is celebrating you. Continue to do good to people. You are reaping the fruits of your legacy and impact in the lives of the people and I pray God to grant you many more years in good and sound health in service to Osun State.”
In his remarks at the event, Aregbesola, who served during the second term of Mohammadu Buhari administration as the Minister of Interior, said the challenge of underdevelopment facing the country would only be surmounted when leaders imbibe the culture of putting the interest of the masses first in governance.
The ex-governor also said good leadership is hinged on governance guided by the fear of God, utmost dedication to the principles that put humanity first as well as embarking on projects that see to the continued prosperity of the mass in the society.
Aregbesola maintained that discipline, courage, character and competence in leadership remain important attributes of an administration that was ready to serve the people.
He added, “We thank those who we started together, those who have joined us and those who will join us. We are inviting everybody to join the Omoluabi movement.
“We make no discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion, occupation, economic status and any circumstance of birth, except in adherence to our core values and character. We are open to all people, young and old, rich and poor, educated or otherwise, traders and blue collar, landowners and tenants.
“The core of our belief is that political power should be deployed in service of the people. The way to go in bringing people out of underdevelopment is for the leadership in every strata of society to imbibe the Omoluabi ethos in its governance template and ideology.
“We cannot serve or lead the people to victory without ensuring that those governing rule with the fear of God, utmost dedication to the principles that put humanity first as well as embarking on projects that see to the continued prosperity of the mass in the society. That is simply the best way to lead.”
Aregbesola was sworn in as the 4th democratically elected governor of Osun State on Saturday, November 27, 2010, and left office after two terms of four years each on November 27, 2018.
Aregbesola and Adeleke have enjoyed a cordial relationship since the latter became the governor of Osun State in 2022.
