IN recognition of the fact that he is not a perfect being, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Monday pleaded with whoever he might have wronged in the course of his governance of the state, to use the occasion of his 64th birthday to forgive him.
The governor also promised to re-dedicate the remaining part of his life to the service of humanity and put in all his best to ensure that the state is turned around for the better.
The governor stated this while speaking at his 64th birthday anniversary celebrations held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
The occasion had earlier been preceded by thanksgiving services at the Government House Chapel and Government House Mosque, where special prayers were offered by Christian and Islamic clerics.
The ceremony was witnessed by eminent personalities including the Aare Musulumi of Ibadanland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi II, Ambassador Olusola Saanu, Chief Kola Daisi, other eminent personalities, politicians, religious leaders, market men and women, as well as the ordinary folks across the state.
Ajimobi, while thanking God for sparing his life to witness the day, expressed appreciation to the people of the state for giving him the opportunity to serve them as governor and for their continued support which has resulted in the successes so far recorded by his administration.
The governor, who pledged not to let the people of the state down, said that he would continue to ensure the good of humanity and the continued development of the state.
“I want to state that nobody can become anything except he is allowed by God. I know for sure that my becoming governor of Oyo State was by the grace of God and the support of the people. I, therefore, have no choice than to continue to work for the peace, progress and overall development of this state,’’ he said.
At the occasion, speakers after speakers eulogised Ajimobi for raising the ante of governance in the state and for rescuing the state from rom the ruins of the past.
For instance, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, said he was proud of the governor as a true son of Ibadanland, stressing that the kind of development currently being witnessed in the state was last witnessed 60 years ago.
Also, a prominent Ibadan indigene and former diplomat, Ambassador Olusola Saanu, thanked Ajimobi for not disappointing the people of the state who willingly gave him their mandate in 2011.
While the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi OlAyiwola Adeyemi III offered special prayers for the governor, the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Akin Oke, and the Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Mr. Yekini Popoola, pledged their support to the second term ambition of the governor.
In his sermon, a prominent Islamic scholar and preacher, Sheikh Muideen Ajani Bello, said the support and goodwill currently being enjoyed by the governor from religious leaders in the state was due to his outstanding performance.
He said that the state had witnessed an unprecedented development never thought of in the annals of the state.
