- hails Oyinlola, 70, too
The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has congratulated the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, on his 63rd birthday.
Adebayo, the first elected Governor of Ekiti State, was in office between May 29, 1999 and May 28, 2003.
Fayemi described Adebayo as a quintessential gentleman, leader, Omoluabi par excellence and a special gift to Ekiti and Nigeria.
The Governor credited Adebayo with laying the foundation for the growth and development of Ekiti State upon which other successors are building.
According to him, Adebayo is a reliable and amiable leader who is always available anytime his counsel is needed, noting that the ex-Governor has mentored many leaders who have contributed to the development of Ekiti and Nigeria.
He noted that Adebayo displayed uncommon ingenuity during his tenure as Ekiti helmsman and bequeathed iconic legacies to the state despite paucity of funds that was a major challenge to the administration.
According to him, the former Governor displayed uncommon passion for development, led by example, gave a true definition of good governance and was an ambassador of the famed Ekiti integrity, honesty and honour.
Describing Adebayo as a committed and loyal party man, Fayemi said he was not surprised that the All Progressives Congress (APC) found the former Governor worthy to be elected as the Deputy National Chairman (South), in addition to other national assignments he has undertaken before becoming a minister in 2019.
The Governor said the people of Ekiti are proud to have Adebayo as the Minister representing the state in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) hailing his impact in attracting investment to the country.
“On behalf of my wife, the Government and good people of Ekiti State, I wish my brother, the His Excellency, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo many happy returns of the day in good health and undiluted joy. You remain our pride in Ekiti.”
Congratulating the former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Asola Oyinlola, who clocked 70 on Wednesday, Fayemi the former governor is an epitome of courage, dignity and character.
Dr Fayemi in a personally signed congratulatory letter said Oyinlola does not stand out among his peers only by nobility but also “his enormous gift of garb, wits and inner stamina”.
The Governor who noted that Oyinlola had always been elderly in conduct and wisdom hailed the former military governor of Lagos as a man with “native intelligence and philosophical conviction”.
He said it is not surprising that the former governor who is also a prince of Okuku in Osun State has emulative characters because he is a man “well rooted in palace courtesies and has an epaulet full of garlands and medals in military excellence”.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum stressed that Oyinlola has earned the respect of many people as a very loyal and forthright gentleman who never betrays any cause to which he is committed.
“My Egbon, as I fondly refer to him, is very loyal and forthright gentleman who never betrays any cause to which he is committed. His forthrightness and frankness sometimes pitches him against those who would prefer guile and deception, but for the Okuku prince, fidelity is the highest form of honour”.
“Even before now, he has always been elderly in conduct and wisdom. A truly prince in courage, dignity and character. You cannot but be marvelled by the depth of his native intelligence and philosophical conviction. Prince Oyinlola is unique in so many ways. The thing that stands him out is not just the nobility of his birth or the genteelness of his military education but his enormous gift of garb, wits and inner stamina”, Fayemi extols.
“As he joins the prestigious club of septuagenarians, I pray God to continue to bless him with good health and sound mind. On behalf of my wife, the Government and good people of Ekiti State, this is wishing Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola a wonderful 70th birthday and long life”, the Governor said.