They are;
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN, Dr. Mrs. Olubunmi Ademosu, Special Adviser to Governor
Akeredolu on Intergovernmental Relations, Rector, Yaba College of Technology,
Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe, Princess Oladuni Odu, Secretary to the State
Government; Pastor Theophilus Netufo, GMD, Ikeja Hotel Plc, Prince Benson
Babatope David, GMD Luminus Group, Prince Tony Erewa, GMD G. Erewa Group, Rear
Admiral Samuel Alade rtd, Mathew
Oyerinmade(MATO), and Mrs. Titilola Esther Adedoyin. They were all inducted into the Ondo State @46Hall Hall of Fame.
The event which was held at the International Culture and Event Centre (The Dome), Akure, Ondo State, had in attendance the Ondo State First Lady, Arabirin Betty Akeredolu accompanied by the Ondo State Executive members. Others were Ondo State Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, HRM Oba Adetoyinbo, Deji of Akure, Professor of Constitutional and Electoral Law, Rasheed Ijaodola SAN, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Dr. Remi Olatubora, SAN and Prof. Olatunmile Adekunle, Evangelist J. K Naiyeju, Former Accountant General of the Federation amongst others.
Earlier
in his welcome address, the `Chief Host to the programme, Mr. Segun Ojelade,
the General manager, NTA, Akure on behalf of the organizers, stated that the
spectrum of important occasions, birthdays are pretty low on the totem pole,
"but when a birthday happens to be a significant milestone, like turning
46 in the life of an individual, entity, state or nation, there is always a
huge justification for rolling out the drums.
"When
the idea of this commemorative project, Ondo State @46 Hall Fame and Leadership
Colloquium mooted, NTA jumped at it. This is because it is one of the states in
Nigeria in which development we have taken a special interest. We, therefore, considered it an honour for us to be part of history in a noble effort to give
a toast at the celebration of a state known for its enviable parade of eggheads
and economic features."
Ojelade
said; "Today, we can only agonize how wayward and degenerate the Nigerian
society has become in the absence of the right values and positive role models.
Today, the worldview revolves around the self, crass materialism, wealth, instant
gratification and pleasure for its own sake. And to arrive overnight, none of
the traditional values would suffice. Rather, one has to be self-centered,
clever, smarter, greedy, streetwise, and ‘get rich quick, or die trying’. This
is not the true Nigerian our founding fathers envisaged. Whatever happened to
our foundation!
"Against
the backdrop of increasing decay in our moral fabric, dishonest practices and
inefficient management of public affairs by those in the corridor of power,
Ondo State Hall of Fame Book Series and People of the Year Award was conceived
to identify worthy role models in the state and use the achievements of these
role models as examples to educate the youths that success through genuine
labour is more rewarding and fulfilling.
"We
believe that something has to be done to salvage the image of our country.
While there is no estimate to rely on, it is safe to say that there are still
few role models around; exemplary men and women who, against all odds, have
embraced hard work and integrity, though we hardly have their preponderance in
high places, especially in leadership positions."
The High
point of the event was the Leadership
Colloquium lecture delivered by Professor of Constitutional Law and Election
Matters, Rasheed Jimoh Ijaodola, SAN on the topic; “Nigeria: The imperatives of
Leadership and Governance”.
The
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and academician, Prof Rasheed Ijaodola, noted
that the ongoing clamouring for zoning of the presidential office to a
particular ethic group “is not democracy. In a good democracy, leaders should
emerge through democratic processes and not imposed.”
According
to Ijaodola, “M.K.O Abiola (now late) a
Yoruba man, followed all the electoral traditions in 1993 and became the winner
of the primary election and became the leader of the Social Democratic Party.
He emerged the flag bearer, and thereafter, every part of the country
eventually voted for him.”
He said
further that “it is a lazy person or persons who lack political acumen or democratic
clout that with seek to hide under ethical considerations in order to become
president. The idea of zoning is not for good politicians but lazy and mischief-makers. They should be ignored.
He, however, threw his back on the idea of independent candidates being mooted by
the National Assembly, stressing that “is a better remedy. If any tribal zealot
intends to climb on ethnic factors in order to become a leader, he or she is
free to come out as an independent candidate.”
On the
issue of leadership and agitation for restructuring currently facing the
nation, Prof. Ijaodola noted that the fact that Nigeria is still surviving is a
great achievement, adding that “the problem of disintegration the nation faces
is not enough to get it broken along tribal lines. If Biafra should go, that
does not translate to getting all the problems of Ibo solved in Biafra. Igbos
are good and great business people. They may be requested to leave Nigeria for
their Biafra. They will need visas to enter Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Kano,
Maiduguri, Warri, Calabar and Port-Harcourt, etc. Their businesses may be
affected.
“There is
no guarantee that the problems they face in Nigeria today will not rear their
ugly heads in Biafra. Osu tradition is still believed to be practiced underground
through non-association particularly with respect to marital issues. The Biafra
Nation will be confronted with such a problem on a very large scale. How can we
allow the descendants of persons our ancestors set apart as sacrifices for the
Gods be our rulers or leaders?. Some others who are not Igbos may find
themselves in Biafra.
“The
issues of minorities may still rear their ugly heads. Let us thank the
leadership of Nigeria for keeping the nation as one. Similar problems may erupt
in the Yoruba nation. Yoruba know Omo ale (illegitimate child) Ara Oke,
Atohunrinwa and so many derogatory remarks can be coined in order to create a
society of classes in a Yoruba nation. Several tribes living together as one is
good and should be maintained. We should not bring in emotion in order to bury
legal steps put in place by the nation in order to bring to justice those who
threaten her survival.”
The
special guest of honour and Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Odunayo
Akeredolu, SAN said that Ondo State has been blessed with good leaders since
it is creation on February 3, 1976, hence the rapid development it has been
witnessing in both human and infrastructures.
Akeredolu,
who was represented by his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa, hailed the organisers of
the event, and the thought-provoking lecture of the guest speaker on the fundamental
problems and solutions to governance and leadership issues facing the nation.
Akeredolu
stressed that his administration in the State has been injecting and providing
quality and quantitative services, projects and programmes purposefully for
human development at every stage of life.
While
congratulating the awardees, Akeredolu urged them not to relent on furthering
more efforts towards a better society and humanity.
After
over one hour of intellectual discussion, thought-provoking lecture, questions
and answers series, entertainment and light music, the event was rated a first-class of it is kind, and one which must come yearly to tap from wealth of
experience and knowledge base of people like Prof. Rasheed Jimoh Ijaodola, SAN.
And for
the award recipients and inductees, it was a lifetime experience and special
honour that will stand the test of time, and boost their statesmanship in no
small measures.
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