GOVERNOR Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Friday expressed optimism that Nigerians will overcome the present economic and other challenges, urging them to keep hope alive.
The governor noted that there is no pretence about the present hardship the country is going through, stressing that it had been tough economically for Nigerians, and the hardship did not start in recent years.
Governor Makinde spoke at the funeral service organised in honour of Madam Victoria Ajoke Adedayo, the mother of Nigerian Tribune’s ace columnist, Dr Festus Adedayo, held at St. Michael Christ Apostolic Church, Okelisa, Akure, Ondo State.
While commiserating with the people of Ondo State on the demise of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor Makinde said that the challenges the nation was facing were not insurmountable.
“The challenges that we are facing as a nation are surmountable. Things are indeed tough for us economically. But I want to ask you this: don’t give up. Let us encourage one another and this period shall pass,” the governor stated.
Makinde said he promised to attend the burial ceremony because “Mama Adedayo who gave Nigeria Festus Adedayo deserves every honour we can accord her.”
Describing Festus Adedayo, the deceased’s first child, as a “professional to the core,” the Oyo State governor noted that it would only take a woman with vision to raise good children as the late Mama Adedayo had.
Governor Makinde, while greeting his major opponent in the 2023 election, Senator Teslim Folarin, jokingly said, “I greet my brother, Senator Teslim Folarin, and his entourage. This time last year, we didn’t want to see one another as it was election time: January, February and March. We were abusing one another. Here we are today. The burial of the mother of our brother, Festus Adedayo, has brought us together.”
Adedayo, who was media aide to former governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State and the late former governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State at different time, thanked Governor Makinde for showing him uncommon love.
He thanked others, too, particularly Senator Folarin and former Oyo State deputy governor, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, who he said came despite the fact that he did not invite him.
On Folarin, he said: “Senator Teslim Folarin is one person I have written against several times. And I remember the day we met, I said, ‘Distinguished, you know I don’t like you’. He said he knew. I said, ‘You know I have written against you several times’. He said he had read them but wanted us to be friends. Thank you, Distinguished. I invited you and you came. I thank you, sir.”
The funeral service was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life. Besides Governor Makinde, others present at the event were the former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Makinde’s deputy in his first term, Mr Rauf Olaniyan; Senator Teslism Folarin; the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc; publishers of the Tribune titles, Mr Edward Dickson and his wife, Mrs Olubunmi Dickson; Editor, Saturday Tribune, Dr Lasisi Olagunju; a former president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors; prominent newspaper columnist and former Commissioner for Information in Osun State, Mrs Funke Egbemode and Honourable Babs Oduyoye.
Others include Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, Dr Bode Olajimoke, Chief Mike Dada, Mr Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), Justice Solomon Akinteye (rtd), representatives of Mr Peter Mbah, Enugu State governor; Messrs. Dan Nwoye; Uche Anichukwu; Dr Ruben Inwusi; a former aide of Mr Akinwumi Ambode, former Lagos State governor; Mr Habib Haruna and Justice Owoyemi (rtd).
The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi Odundun II, was also in attendance, alongside representatives of the Onpetu of Ijeruland, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran, among several other dignitaries.
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