Onabanjo, a true follower of Awolowo - Daniel

Olayinka Olukoya, Abeokuta - 14.02.2008

The first civilian governor of Ogun State, late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, has been described as a disciple of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose achievements in terms of human resource development cannot be matched in the history of the state in particular and the nation in general.

The Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, said this on Tuesday in Abeokuta at the launch of a book written in honour of Chief Onabanjo entitled: Olabisi Onabanjo: Footprints of a Patriot.”

The governor praised the good works of his predecessor, saying that he was an embodiment of the ideals of late Chief Awolowo. “Chief Onabanjo was a true and steadfast disciple of the sage,Chief Awolowo, whose life was an epitome of Spartan discipline.

“In his lifetime, he transformed into a leader in his own right. Like Paul the Apostle was to Christ Jesus, Onabanjo helped in popularising the Awoist creed and ultimately made it a religion.

“Even though pessimists never gave Ogun State a chance of survival because in their view, it was not viable, Chief Onabanjo, coming from the Awolowo background and imbued with a dogged spirit, laid a very strong foundation for a viable and progressive state, which, today, is the smart investor’s destination of first choice,” the governor added.

The matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs.) HID Awolowo ,who was the mother of the day at the occasion, eulogised the late Chief Onabanjo, describing him as a man of honour.

Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo said this in a letter sent to the governor which was read at the ceremony. She congratulated the state government on the feat recorded in honouring Chief Onabanjo.