…as Olagunju Urges Cooperation for Incoming Leadership
Members of the Oyo State Electoral Officers Forum gathered on Thursday to honour the immediate past Chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission ( OYSIEC), Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, for the support enjoyed by the forum and tremendous achievements recorded by the commission during his tenure.
Speaking at the brief ceremony held at the commission’s headquarters in Ibadan, the chairman of the forum, Dr. Olusegun Odekunle, said the forum decided to celebrate the former OYSIEC boss for ensuring peaceful conduct of local government council elections on two occasions.
Recounting his encounters with Aare Olagunju, Dr. Odekunle appreciated the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde for the recent reviews of allowances of the electoral and assistant electoral officers in the state.
He also appealed for the provision of additional working tools for improved service delivery.
“Today, basically, we are appreciating God for the peace in Oyo State, the election atmosphere we had. We are also using this opportunity to celebrate our immediate past chairman of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission for the successful tenure that he has had with the responsibility of coordinating local government council elections in this state”.
” Aare Isiaka Olagunju , SAN has been a boss, a father, a leader. He is disciplined, corrects with love , and a person with a very good listening ear.
When you give an opinion, or you present observation, he doesn’t keep it on the rug, he looks into it diligently, and he responds. And he had seen to the welfarism of the electoral officers”.
In his remarks, the Immediate Past OYSIEC Chairman, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, expressed delight over the conduct of the electoral officers during the council polls.
Olagunju, who attributed the successful conduct of the two local government council elections conducted to due compliance to the electoral law by his team, called on the forum to cooperate with whoever takes over the leadership of the commission in the interest of the people of Oyo State and its development.
“I am very proud of all of you, I didn’t receive any allegation of gross misconduct against any of the Electoral Officers.This is commendable”
” I have always said that we are the ones that will govern our country and no angel will come from heaven to govern us.”
Whether we like it or not, whatever we do , Posterity will judge” .
” I have done my own , Whoever that will come , please give them necessary support, cooperate with them even more than you did to me”.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, OYSIEC, Mrs.Abisola Ogunmola, sought a continued mutual working relationship between the electoral officers and the commission towards delivering its mandate.
The event, attended by the electoral officers across the thirty-three local governments of Oyo State, friends of the immediate past OYSIEC chairman, and staffers of the commission, featured the presentation of gifts, special prayers, and a host of other things.