ADo-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital and Ikenne, Ogun State, came alive yesterday as progressives under the aegis of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) and the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation celebrated the posthumous birthday of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Minister of Mines and Steel Development Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, led a cast of political stalwarts, who came to celebrate the day with local progressives in Ado-Ekiti.
They told a crowd of audience, who thronged Eagle Hall, Ikere Road, Ajebamidele, that all Yorubas must sustain the ideals of Awolowo, which made the Southwest to stand out as a beacon of development.
Members of ARG, All Progressives Congress (APC) and their admirers had earlier in the day staged a public walk to mark Awolowo’s 109th birthday from Okeyinmi Roundabout to Ajebamidele, venue of the public lecture in a carnival-like fashion.
At Ikenne, eminent Nigerians, including Prof. Banji Akintoye, former Nigerian Ambassador to Netherlands, Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu, ex-Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko also marked the 31st posthumous birthday of late sage with a call on the nation’s youth to learn from Awo’s leadership example and exemplary lifestyle.
Fayemi used the Ado-Ekiti event to sound a battle cry that the APC was poised to win back Ekiti State in the July 14 governorship election and implement the four cardinal policies of Awolowo, which was in operation when the progressives were in power.
The former Ekiti State governor regretted that the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has obliterated the four cardinal policies, which include free education, free health services for children, pregnant women, aged, job creation and rural growth.
The minister, whose rumoured governorship ambition has been trending for the past few months, said the July 14 election represents a good opportunity to return the APC to power to restore the Awo-inspired legacies for the good of the people
Akeredolu, who was chairman of the occasion, said the APC is the party that still promotes Awo’s legacies, noting that the first Premier of the Western Region was being celebrated for pioneering the development of his race.
Oshun, who was represented by an ARG leader, Mr. Ayo Afolabi, said the body would work hard to ensure that Awo’s legacies remain alive, adding that the Yoruba would continue to celebrate the late political legend.
A guest lecturer at the event, Prof. Alade Fawole, regretted that many of the contemporary political office seekers lack germane ideas to lead because they haven’t groomed themselves by reading and getting exposed to ideas that would make them better leaders.
Fawole, in his lecture titled: “Obafemi Awolowo and transformative politics: Sustaining the worthy legacy,” urged politicians to emulate Awolowo by developing ideas that would change the society for better.
Akintoye, Mimiko, Dr. Awolowo-Dosunmu, at the Ikenne event, urged the youth to be determined, courageous and have vision, if they aspired to effect desirable change in the leadership problems Nigeria has been contending with for decades.
The programme, titled: “Awo Conversations” at the Efunyela Hall, was organised by the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation as part of efforts to inculcate in the youths the enduring legacies of selfless service of the first Premier of the old Western Nigeria.
Akintoye, who chaired the occasion, berated the country’s leaders for being so selfish with no thought for the people’s welfare and growth.
He said selfishness on the part of the leaders at all levels of governance informed the prevalence of hardship and suffering among the youths.
Also, Awolowo-Dosumu, who is the foundation’s Executive Director, said the programme was organised to enable youths be in a better position as citizens to make informed choices on issues that affect them.
She explained that the youths have been denied inspiration, sense of dignity and belief in capacity for greatness, saying they should be equipped adequately with skills that could assist the country attain greatness.
For Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, the youth must be determined, have clear vision born out of knowledge and experience and be ready to make sacrifices to actualise their political ambition.
Other dignitaries at the Ikenne gathering were Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Senator Anthony Adefuye, Prof. Ayo Olukotun, Rev. Kayode Oyediran and his wife, Rev. Tola.
Others included Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rise Networks Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, , President, Arewa Youth Forum Alhaji Yerima Shettima, Dr. Jumoke Yacob-Haliso, Dr. Adedara Oduguwa, Senator Femi Okunrounmu and others.
