GATEWAY STATE:
IN THE NAME OF GOD – LET THERE BE
PEACE.
BY
HON. (MRS.) TOMI SOBOYEJO
Former Member, Federal House of
Representatives (2nd Republic)
Power is like a strong drink, when sipped; it is fine but with continuous
unstoppable sipping it can make one drunk. An adage says it as “absolute power
controls absolutely”.
Truth is like an
acid, it burns through layers of falsehood and expose itself no matter how long
it takes. According to Martin Luther King Jr., this Universe hinges on moral
foundations. To him, the universe justifies Carlyle in saying “No lie can
live forever”; it justifies William Cullen Bryant in saying “Truth,
crushed to earth will rise again”; it justifies James Russell Lowell in
saying “Truth forever on the Scaffold, Wrong forever on the Throne, With that
Scaffold sways the Future, Behind the dim unknown stands God, Within the shadow
keeping watch above his own”; it justifies the biblical writer in saying, “You
shall reap what you sow”
You cannot be
right when you use negative options as the Ogun State lawmakers are presently
doing. Right is right and wrong is wrong. Certain acts are
directly recognized as universally and unconditionally wrong. Falsehood for
example is known to be wrong, not from its own incompatibility with social
well-being but from its very nature. Honesty is seen to be right in itself, and
not because of its beneficent economic and social results. Evil is wrong by
its perceptions and inner composition. It takes two
persons to form an interpersonal relationship, but it takes two cooperating
persons to actually make relational connection with deep love in their hearts.
This same truth holds for the House of assembly and the Executive arm of
government. The simple
lesson this relational connection teaches us is to love one another, serve one
another, obey God and do God’s Will and Commands at all times.
Saint John
mentioned three stages of growth in 1 John 2: 12-14 as Children, Young Men, and
Fathers. Saint Paul added the fourth stage when he addressed the elders of the
Church. Elders are those that have reached their spiritual maturity, and are now
ministering to other people, and giving leadership to the body of Christ. This
scenario holds true of political growth. Using Ogun State as a case study: the
members of the House of assembly ably led by their speaker, Hon. Tunji Egbetokun
are Young Men; the Executive Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency Otunba
Gbenga Daniel is the political father of the State; the immediate past President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the Speaker of the
Federal House of representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, and the Minister of Mines
and Steel, Alhaji Sarafa Tunji Ishola are all Elders of the State by virtue of
their positions. These positions of Young Men, Father and Elders as enthroned by
God should be complimentary and not conflicting or cause conflagration.
There is no
doubt that Otunba Gbenga Daniel worked very hard and has achieved immensely in
positioning the government of Ogun State as a role model to many other States.
The PDP members in Ogun State who out of selfish disposition are fanning the
embers of flame to start wholesome fire to the political environment should be
aware of Armageddon and being consumed by the fire. The Gateway State has been
peaceful and by the grace of God and untiring effort of the executive governor
stands today as a State to emulate; a State that is known not only in Nigeria
but also in Other Continents. The crux of the matter is ‘Election 2011’. This
election 2011 is about three years away and many things could happen before then
to change the political calculations. Events and people will definitely change.
God only knows tomorrow and no one can make plans for the future without God.
Such plans are futile; ‘a lesson in Abacha’s demise’. No one should allow
tomorrow to destroy today. Rather, all hands must join together to make today
great and enhance the good job that Otunba Gbenga Daniel is doing in Ogun State.
The change of the Senatorial chairman of Ogun Central should not be politicized.
Only God enthrones; if a door closes another opens; Senator Osholake should look
at the positive side and I am sure the executive governor of Ogun State will
remember his sacrifice of peace.
Ogun State has
never experienced the kind of development and growth in Infrastructure, Trade,
Commerce, Industry, Cultural Cooperation etc. that is on at present. What should
be uppermost in the minds of stakeholders now should be dividends of democracy
to the people and Otunba Gbenga Daniel must not be prevented from delivering
these dividends by the various negative distractions. The genuine members of PDP
in Ogun State must rise up to condemn these infamous radicals and rascals who do
not mean well for the populace but are self-centered.
It is therefore
imperative for me at this point to share with my readers especially those who
are not opportune to read my early piece titled “A salute to Stewardship….” On
Net; to know the person called OGD and help the detractors know his ‘SHAPE’. My
aim is to make you understand OGD and by understanding him join hands with him
to make
Ogun
State greater.
The Ogun State
Executive Governor’s name is Justus Olugbenga Daniel. Justus belongs to the same
family of Justice, Justification, Justify, and Just. Justice, as an attribute of
God, is referred to in AV in Job 37:23, Ps 89:14 (RV ‘righteousness’), and Jer.
50:7. In all cases the word is generally represented by ‘righteousness’.
Justification, Justify, are Verb and Noun that originate in Christian Latin (the
Vulgate); Latin analogy affords some excuse for the Romanist reading of
‘justify’ as ‘make just,’ by which sanctification is included under
justification. It is a term of ethical relationship, not ethical quality, and
signifies the footing on which one is set towards another, not the character
imparted to one. God is a ‘Just’ God who demands same from his elect. God’s
elects emulate the ‘Just’ attribute of God. Whoever deals or has dealt with the
Ogun State Executive Governor knows OGD to be a ‘Just’ Man. The name Justus was
given as surname to three people in the New Testament according to A. J. Maclean
(1) Joseph Barsabbas (Ac 1:23); (2) Titus or Titius, host of St. Paul at Corinth
(Ac 18:7 RV; the MSS vary between these two forms, and some omit the first name
altogether), apparently a Roman citizen converted to Christianity by the
Apostle; and (3) A Jew named Jesus or Joshua who was with St. Paul in his first
Roman imprisonment (Col 4:11). All these three people are witnesses to the good
name and character of whoever bears the name ‘Justus’.
OGD’s middle
name, Olugbenga simply means God has elevated me or God has promoted me and
whoever God elevates can not be brought down. Promotion does not come from
North, South, East or West but from God. In OGD’s various endeavours, God has
kept his promise of promotion to him. His elevation to the executive
governorship of Ogun State is from God and no one can change the fact or remove
him by mischievous misrepresentations. Whoever dares it will be damned.
OGD’s Surname
‘Daniel’ seals the promises and prophesies inherent in the first and middle
names. Daniel is a character of the Bible. Two passages in the Book of Ezekiel
(14:14; 28:3), written respectively about B.C. 592 and 587, mention a certain
Daniel as an extraordinarily righteous and wise man, belonging to the same class
as Noah and Job, whose piety availed with God on behalf of their unworthy
contemporaries. All three evidently belonged to the far-distant past: Ezekiel’s
readers were familiar with their history and character. The Book of Daniel is
well known to Christians but the true meaning of the name is understood by
Biblical Scholars and those who understand the book of Daniel in the Scriptures.
Twenty-five centuries ago, Daniel could have despaired. He and thousands of Jews
had been deported to a foreign land after Judah was conquered. Daniel found
himself facing an egocentric despot and surrounded by idolaters. Instead of
giving in or giving up, he held fast to his faith in his God. Daniel knew that
despite the circumstances, God was sovereign and was working out his plan for
nations and individuals.
The book of
Daniel centres on this profound truth – the Sovereignty of God. It is only in
Daniel’s prayer in Chapter 9 that we find the personal name ‘Yahweh’. Its
alternative, ‘the LORD’, is also limited to this chapter and 1:2. This expresses
the fact that ‘the God of Daniel (6:26) is not just the God of the Jews (Yahweh)
but is the God, who is God of all nations; the Supreme God of the pantheon; the
Most High (God) and that is the God of OGD. The meanings of OGD’s names are the
keys to understanding the Man and his driving force. His name revolves round the
Sovereignty of the Omnipotent God. OGD’s name is not separable from his being,
his character, his affinity, his passion, and his politics. The Man (OGD) has
proved beyond reasonable doubts his inclination towards God and the five
purposes of his life as itemized by Rick Warren in his best seller “The purpose
Driven Life”.
OGD’s five
purposes are:
1.
He
was planned for God’s Pleasure;
2.
He
was formed for God’s family;
3.
He
was created to become like Christ;
4.
He
was shaped for serving God; and
5.
He
was made for a Mission.
OGD’s enemies
are always at a loss as to the source of his staying power. It is a simple fact
that he applies his abilities as endowed him by God to his mission. His
effectiveness in governance is in his ‘SHAPE’. SHAPE as applied to his:
·
Spiritual Gifts,
·
Heart,
·
Abilities,
·
Personality, and
·
Experience
OGD has governed
Ogun State like a Servant-Leader. No governor of the AD era has performed
excellently well like he has done. He has set up a high qualitative standard of
governance unbeatable in the South-West. OGD style of leadership is spiced with
equity, justice, fairness, and compassion. His style of leadership is a blessing
from God, and very few leaders possess this attribute. This unique leadership
style makes OGD tower over and above his peers. In more ways than can be
enumerated; OGD is like the late sage and leader by his actions and deeds. OGD
has transformed Ogun State and opened investment opportunities never enjoyed
before in the State.
The Agricultural
Policy of OGD is one of the best in the world and a re-awakening of Papa
Awolowo’s Agricultural ideas. We must acknowledge that OGD is not in power for
personal gains for he was already wealthy and prosperous. He has made his name
in Business and had International links ever before becoming an Executive
Governor; but his overriding passion is to serve humanity. This service to
humanity he started when he set up the Gateway Front Foundation (GFF). Prior to
GFF, OGD has been an individual philanthropist and he has touched several
people, the needy and the poor not only in Ogun State but in the whole of
Federation. His many tittles given out on merits attest to his generosity and
wide acceptability.
OGD should not
loose sleep on the nefarious activities of his detractors. He should continue in
love to do what he knows how to do best; serving God and humanity. God’s promise
to OGD in Joshua 1:5 is ‘Never to leave him nor forsake him’. God
promises remain steadfast for him as he keeps walking with God regardless of
what he encounters. He should not be afraid of opposition; certain people will
always stand up against him.
Les Parrott
identifies the types of people who will do this in his book ‘High Maintenance
Relationships’. They are:
1.
Critics who constantly complain or give unwanted advice.
2.
Martyrs who are forever the victim and wracked with self-pity.
3.
Wet blankets who are pessimistic and habitually negative.
4.
Steam rollers who are blindly insensitive to others.
5.
Gossips who spread rumours and leak secrets.
6.
Control freaks who are unable to let go and let things be.
7.
Back-Stabbers who are two faced.
8.
Green-eyed monsters who seeth with envy.
9.
Volcanoes who build steam and are always ready to erupt.
10.
Sponges who are always needy and never give anything back.
11.
Competitors who always keep track of tit-for-tat.
These are the
type of people OGD is expected to lead; so be strong and be more passionate.
Continue to do the right things, moment by moment, and day by day. God Bless
Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
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