It was encomium galore as the former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Chief Michael Koleoso, celebrated his 81st birthday at his Basorun, Ibadan residence.
Speaking at the ceremony which was ushered in with a thanksgiving service, a former commissioner for health in Oyo State, Dr Gbola Adetunji, described Chief Koleoso as a truthful and honest person in words and deeds ,the virtues, he said endeared him to the celebrant.
Also speaking, a former commissioner in Oyo State during the administration of Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, Chief Bayo Lawal, praised the celebrant’s virtues of truthfulness and dedication to duty.
According to him, Chief Koleoso was the brain behind Alhaji Lamidi Adesina’s government as the SSG then. “There has never been any SSG like him and there will never be,” he said. Adding that as the chairman of the State Tender’s Board, Chief Koleoso discharged his duty with absolute honesty and transparency “.
In his own comment, Hon Rafiu Adekunle, former Minority Leader in the Oyo State House of Assembly, described Chief Koleoso as a person who always pays evil with goodness. “He’s always trusting and forgiving,” he said.
While expressing gratitude to God for sparing the life of the celebrant to witness his 81st birthday, Hon Adekunle described Chief Koleoso as a blessing to Oke-Ogun, Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.
“We have always drunk from his fountain of knowledge, his advice always guides us not to go astray,” he said.
In his remark, Pa Ashiru Kusamotu said he regarded Chief Koleoso as his leader because of his candour. “He will always tell the truth no matter whose ox is gored,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, the celebrant, who was overwhelmed by the array of dignitaries that graced the occasion in spite of its low-key nature, thanked God for sparing his life to witness the day.
He said, “I am an extremely happy person. I am still alive due to God’s grace. In whatever we do in life we should always be mindful of the end. We should be mindful of our character as it is what will determine our altitude. We should never repay good deeds with evil as evil will always dwell with those who do that.” ALSO READ: May Day: Saraki lauds workers‘ contribution to National development
While urging politicians not to see politics as a profession, the Babalaje of Sakiland equally advised them to shun selfish politics. We should see politics as a way to improve the well being of our people and not our own pocket alone.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included all the African Democratic Congress (ADC) members in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Wole Oladokun and Mr David Oladele (both retd Permanent Secretaries in the Oyo State Civil Service, Mr Imosu Adeyemi, and Alhaji Tahir Rufai, MD Taracco Investment, among others.
and then