By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Lawmaker representing Atiba State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola, has congratulated fathers particularly, in his constituency, Oyo Zone and the state in general, on the occasion of the celebration of this year’s Father’s Day.
In a message made available to journalists from his office in Oyo, Hon. Oyekola appealed to fathers to continue to inject the right moral values into their children, in order to make them fulfil their God-given potentials in life.
According to the Oyo-born lawmaker, Father’s Day is an opportunity for parents, particularly fathers, who are heads of the family, to rededicate themselves to playing more responsive and responsible roles of fatherhood, “as they represent reflective mirrors to their children.”
“Fathers need to inculcate discipline in their children, because the society is a direct reflection of various homes; hence, the need for us as fathers to teach our children morals, and guide them towards becoming good citizens and good ambassadors of our families,” Oyekola said.
He also commended fathers for their commitment, diligence, provision and hard work towards making sure that their children are successful in life, describing them as pillars of support.
The Chief Whip congratulated all fathers as they celebrated, urging them to be more alive to their responsibilities.
He appealed to them to put in more efforts towards ensuring united families that would translate to a peaceful society.
“We must be more committed to our homes, nation building and peaceful coexistence that would strengthen us a family, community and a state.
”God bless you all and will provide for all you need to be more worthy and responsible in all you do for the family,” Hon. Oyekola prayed.
Tinubu Can’t Convert Nigeria To One-party State – Oguntoyinbo
Meanwhile, South-West chieftain of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has said that nobody can turn Nigeria to a one-party state, because, according to him, Nigerians are too wise, too sophisticated, to belong to only a party.
Oguntoyinbo made this known while speaking with journalists in Ibadan on Tuesday, June 17, when he paid a courtesy call on Ibadan grassroots politician, Alhaji Abdulrashed Adebisi Olopoeeyan, in his home.
He said if President Bola Tinubu refused to change the current narrative to favour the people, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would receive shock in 2027 from the opposition.
“It is not possible to have a one-party system in Nigeria. A single person cannot change the country’s party system.
“We are a multi-party state. I am very sure that by the next election, something will happen, except President Tinubu changes the narrative positively to favour the masses,” he said.
Amb. Oguntoyinbo added that he decided to pay a courtesy call on Alhaji Olopoeeyan because he (Olopoeeyan) wss his political leader and father.
Speaking on the visit, he said Alhaji Olopoeeyan had been calling on him to visit him in Ibadan, saying he heeded that call on Tuesday.
Speaking on the visit, Oguntoyinbo added: “I am surprised today that the whole discussion has been centred on a call on me to shift my politics to Oyo State.
“I am an Ibadan indigene. My father is a known figure in Oja Igbo in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of the state.
“Alhaji Olopoeeyan admonished me to come to Ibadan, my home town, to practice politics. He said though my mum is from Ilaro in Ogun State, I should come to my state of origin to practice politics.
“You may want to ask how I feel about that. To me, it doesn’t make any difference; politics is about serving the people; and I have interest in turning the son of nobody to somebody. I love to serve the masses.
“Politics is about serving the people. When you have the passion to serve, anywhere you are, you are good to go. We have a lot to do and we keep doing our best for the people.”
Speaking earlier, Olopoeeyan, who said he was already a chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), noted that he dragged the former governorship candidate of the NNPP in Ogun State, to Oyo State politics, so that he could contribute to the development of his father’s land, Ibadan and his state of origin, Oyo.
Olopoeeyan said though he had returned to the PDP already, he would soon officially announce his return to the party in a funfair, adding that he wouldn’t know if his nephew, Oguntoyinbo would join his new party.
“But I think he has done enough politically and in terms of empowerment for the people on the side of his mother’s origin in Ogun.
“I believe he will follow me to wherever I am going. He has been a good sibling, a loyal party man in NNPP. We hardly disagree. I believe he will continue to go where I ask him to go politically.
“But he is an accomplished person in his own right; I can’t force my opinion on him. He will take his decision. But I said he has to come to Ibadan to help in building his father’s state too, after contributing to the development of Ogun where his mother hailed from.
“We are politicians, and I am not unmindful of the need for him to identify with his roots. He has been involved in many philanthropic activities in Yewaland and Ogun State in general.
”Let him help Ibadanland too. He is from Oja’gbo in Ibadan. We need him. He will tell me his decision,” Olopoeeyan said.
