All roads led to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Sunday, where the movers and shakers of the Nigerian society gathered to celebrate the State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who turned 55 years.
The celebration took off with a thanksgiving mass conducted by the Catholic Bishop of Oyo Diocese, the Most Reverend Emmanuel Badejo who, apart from the admonitions given to the congregants, charged Nigeria’s political elite to always put the people above party and personal interests for the nation’s wellness and prosperity.
The Bishop said God was requesting Nigerian leaders to put the people above party considerations warning that to do anything contrary would create avoidable liabilities and throw such leaders into the dustbin of history.
The Most Reverend Badejo urged Nigerians to roll up their sleeves to support leaders in their quest to create a better society.
His words: “We must roll up our sleeves to support leaders and those who want to create a better society. The light of honesty is disappearing; the light is not going round enough. God is calling on leaders to put people above party, to put people above personal interests because the people come first and they are God’s greatest legacy. Those who fail to do so will become liabilities and thrown into the dustbin of history.”
While congratulating Fayemi on his 55th birthday, Bishop Badejo hailed the governor for spearheading various people-oriented programmes and building capacity for the people.
The clergyman particularly commended the governor and other Southwest governors for initiating the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, saying that the governors had “demonstrated a superior understanding of what it means to prioritise the sanctity of human life.”
The Catholic Bishop,in a prophetic manner, said that Ekiti might be a small state, it had all it takes to lead Nigeria in the near future.
He prayed God to give Fayemi “good collaborators and trustworthy allies” as he continues to serve the people selflessly.
In his remarks, Fayemi reiterated his promise to dedicate the rest of his life to the service of God and humanity, stressing that “a life without service to God and humanity is not a life worth living.”
The Governor, who expressed gratitude to God, his wife, family members and allies, admonished his well wishers to keep faith in God by trusting Him (God) to use those in positions of leadership to tackle their challenges.
Continuing, Fayemi said challenges are opportunities to make a difference in the lives of human beings, adding that he would continue to focus on the work of God in improving the situations of his society and the country.
His words: “All of the challenges will not go away overnight but you should believe that God is the one that can always use those of us that have been given grace to lead, to be of service to all his children, we have no choice than to continue to commit ourselves to the Service of God.
“I have been a beneficiary of God’s generosity, because for me challenges are opportunities to make a difference in the lives of human beings, so if you allowed me, let us just focus on the work of God to improve the conditions of our society and country.”
Other highlights of the birthday celebration, which was attended by the crème la de crème of society, featured a panel discussion and public presentation of a book that interrogated his first term in office.
In his goodwill message, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, described Fayemi as “a governor who is not partisan and has proven himself to be pan-Nigeria and had a relationship with everyone regardless of political affiliation.”
Tambuwal added that Fayemi was doing incredibly well as a very accommodating and patriotic Nigerian leader.
Among the dignitaries were State governors: Dr Okeize Ikpeazu (Abia), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto),Jide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), and Dr Hadiza Balarabe, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State; Godwin Obaseki (Edo).
Also in attendance were former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Bawa Bwari and Vice President Kings College , London, Prof Funmi Olonisakin who chaired the panel discussion.
Yoruba leaders, including Prof Banji Akintoye and Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Fasanmi as well as former deputy governors- Prof Modupe Adelabu and Abiodun Aluko-were also in attendance.
Others are the Archbishop of Ondo Anglican Diocese, Bishop Christopher Omotunde, Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Bishop Felix Ajakaiye, and traditional leaders in the State led by their chairman, Oba Ajibade Alabi.