Your Excellency, my dear brother,I warmly congratulate you on your birthday and celebrate your remarkable contributions to Ondo State and Nigeria.
Your years as Governor demonstrated how purposeful leadership can make a meaningful difference in the lives of ordinary people. Your administration’s Abiye Safe Motherhood programme and Mother and Child Hospitals brought maternal and child healthcare closer to families, providing free care for pregnant women and young children. These remain enduring examples of governance driven by compassion.
The establishment of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, stands out as another landmark achievement. By creating an institution dedicated to training healthcare professionals, advancing research and improving medical services, you laid a foundation that will benefit generations to come. Your investments in the Medical Village and diagnostic services further demonstrated this commitment.
Beyond healthcare, your administration’s investments in mega schools, the renovation of existing schools and free shuttle buses for public school students reflected your concern for children’s education and the financial burdens borne by their parents.
For me, the true measure of leadership is the number of lives touched and the opportunities created. Your record gives us much to celebrate, and your name remains closely associated with these valuable contributions to the Sunshine State.
How I wish you were just being sworn in as Governor today, at a time when state governments are receiving billions of naira in allocations every month from Abuja. With your vision and commitment to the welfare of the people, one can only imagine how much more you would achieve with such resources.
I also wish Ondo State indigenes were still as active in writing petitions and demanding accountability as they were during your time in office. If my memory serves me right, we left behind almost fourteen court cases in courts all over Nigeria, arising from petitions written by some indigenes of the state—some constructive, others clearly intended to undermine your administration.
Yet, true to your nature, you never allowed these challenges to rob you of your dignity. You did not resort to threats or insults against traditional rulers. You remained calm and respectful, even under pressure.
You always said, life without criticism is not worth living.
And in one of Chief Azikwe book that I come across, he said Awolowo was not a perfect man when he was a leader of Yoruba in the Southwest, but his people criticise him to the point of nearly perfection through both constructive and destructive criticism .
I shared the same sentiment with him.
Political office is like a kitchen, don't move near it, if you don't want to feel the heat.
As I often say, money and power do not necessarily change people; they sometimes make people forget their humble beginnings when they find themselves in positions they once thought were beyond their reach. You, however, remained grounded.
My dear brother, there is so much I have learnt from you: the way you raised your children, the affection and respect you show your wife in public, and the way you relate to your staff, friends and associates. These qualities spoke volumes during your time in office and remain worthy of emulation.
Despite your strong Muslim family background, you have maintained warm relationships with both Christian and Muslim leaders, showing that mutual respect and peaceful coexistence can rise above religious differences.
The only thing I have stubbornly refused to learn from you is your financial discipline! On that one, my dear brother, I remain unapologetically myself.
As you celebrate another year, I pray that Almighty God grants you sound health, peace of mind, renewed strength and many more fulfilling years in the company of your loved ones.
Congratulations, Your Excellency. Happy birthday, Iroko!
Mogaji Wole Arisekola
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