Osun’s Governor Rauf Aregbesola was on Wednesday described as a ‘God-given asset to humanity’ by an Igbo socio-political group, Igbo Mandate.
The group, led by its National President, Prince Anselem Udoka, stated this at Government House, Osogbo while paying a condolence visit to Mr. Governor over the demise of his mother, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola.
Udoka lauded Aregbesola’s leadership style, which he described as unprecedented in the political history of Nigeria.
He commended the Governor for building a better future for the people of the state in the area of education, agriculture and youth empowerment, which he said the benefits had impacted greatly in the lives of the citizens.
Prince Udoka acknowledged Aregbesola for rebranding and facelifting the state’s infrastructure, saying the Governor has done well in improving the condition of living of people of the state.
He described Aregbesola as an infrastructure developer, committed politician and unwavering extra-ordinary human being whose administration has turned around the fortunes of the people and the state.
He said: “Though we are here to commiserate with our Governor on the demise of his mother but it behooves us to acknowledge the impacts of his government on the lives of the people, particularly the non-indigenes of the state.
“Governor Aregbesola has no doubt committed all his life passionately to serve humanity and raise the standard of living of his people to enviable height .
“It is on record that the state government under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola has genuinely demonstrated to the whole world his high sense of detribalism in relating to non-Yorubas particularly the Igbos.
”He is a leader par excellence. A leader whose passion for development cannot be quantified. He has shown love to us and he has given us a warm reception and conducive atmosphere for our business to thrive.
While assuring Governor Aregbesola of the group’s support, Prince Udoka noted that the group would leave no stone unturned at ensuring the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the forthcoming 2018 governorship election.
Similarly, the Chairman, Igbo Mandate Group, Odun State Chapter, Mr George Ihoanu, threw weights behind Governor Aregbesola’s administration, saying his emergence has positively turned the fortunes of the state.
He described Governor Aregbesola as a true, sincere and loyal leader, who has not for whatever reason compromised the core values and principles of democracy and good governance.
He said the state has been so supportive to the Igbos and the group which had helped the Igbo community’s development.
“I have always seen Governor Aregbesola as a model of development, symbol of transformation and genuine leader whose leadership has affected the lives of the people positively.
“We are proud to have a personality of Aregbesola as Governor of the state where God has ordained us to live. We have the records of his achievements. We have been in the state for quite some years, we have witnessed different governments but none of them performed excellently well as Aregbesola has done.
“He has brought the real change to the state and turned around the fortunes of the state to the benefit of the residents.
“We have seen his impacts in all aspects of the economy and we are proud of his policies and programmes because they are designed to develop the humanity and raise the standard of living of the people living in the state”, he added.
In his response, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola assured the Igbo community and other ethnic groups residing in the state of his administration’s continued supports to ensure their fruitful stay.
“We will continue to support you as we used to do to ensure that your stay is not only comfortable but fruitful as we are working assiduously to industrialise the state for the benefit and betterment of all.
“We shall not relent in our effort to ensure and guarantee the security of lives and properties of the people of the state and by extension, we shall continue to improve on the standard of living of our people”, Aregbesola said.
Packaged by Rahman Salami
