Oyetola receives NewsDirect award, says “I’ll return to continue where we stopped”
By Jeleel Olawale
Immediate past Osun State Governor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola has been honoured as ‘Hero of Democracy and Good Governance’ by the Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper.
The honour was bestowed on him in Lagos, at the 12th Anniversary Lecture and Award Ceremony of the Newspaper.
Oyetola was represented on the occasion by his media aide, Ismail Omipidan.
According to the NewsDirect Newspaper management, Oyetola was honoured for stabilising the economy of Osun in spite of the visible socio-economic challenges that confronted the State while he was Governor.
Presenting the award, Publisher and Editor-in-chief of the Newspaper, Prince Samuel Ibiyemi, said “Oyetola was able to take care of the fears and evil of fiscal indiscipline and lack of implemention which hamper projects services in the nation’s public service.
“The recognition and choice of Oyetola for the coveted award came on the heels of the thorough assessment of the outstanding performance and monumental achievements he recorded in four years while in office.”
Receiving the award on behalf of his principal, Omipidan thanked the staff and management of the Newspaper for finding his Principal worthy of the honour.
He said the award had gone further to show that the services his Principal rendered in Osun was being acknowledged within and outside the State.
Omipidan expressed confidence that in no distant time his principal would return to Osun to continue from where he stopped in November last year.
He added, “I feel happy but ordinarily it is not something we expect. It came as a pleasant surprise. Whatever award we receive, is a further call to service which is a testament to the fact that my principal did creditably well while presiding over the affairs of Osun State.”
Reacting to PDP’s allegation against Oyetola on debt profile of Osun, Omipidan said, “when the PDP government in the State came up with lie that my principal borrowed billions of Naira, I challenged them to provide evidence and date when the loan was procured but they cleverly left out the date.
“We cannot have date of liquidation without date of procurement. I challenged them to publish the date but they couldn’t. It shows that they are just out to blackmail my principal and the people of Osun know he truth.
“I want to enjoin them to allow peaceful atmosphere as we enjoyed in Osun during Oyetola’s administration to continue. We want to enjoy people of Osun to continue to pray for my principal and APC in the State. They should not be allowed to be provoked and I’m sure we will soon return to government,” Omipidan said.
