Association honours Ogun governorship candidate in US

An Egba association in US has honoured the governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Ogun State in the 2015 general election, Prince Rotimi Paseda.

The body, Egba Descendants Association of Dallas Fort Worth, Texas, said that from all indications Paseda, who is the founder of Paseda Legacy Foundation, deserved all to be honoured as its Patron.

The President of the association, Mr. Kenny Sunmonu, said that Paseda, who explained reasons why he is interested in becoming the governor of Ogun State at the event held at Oduduwa Hall, Dallas, said that the decision to appoint him was unanimous among the members.

Sunmonu, had commended Paseda for not only accepting to become the Patron, but his decision to be present in the midst of members of the association at its June meeting.

Sunmonu stated that the unanimous decision to choose the governorship hopeful was based on his various socio-economic and political activities, particularly his humanitarian gestures, through his foundation, toward the residents of Ogun State.

He said: “Our members are indeed happy to have someone like you as our Patron.  We have heard a lot about you, your contributions and your various programmes, particularly your humanit arian activities through your foundation to help our people in Nigeria.”

“Definitely, you are someone we can partner with in improving the lives of our people back home in Nigeria,” Sunmonu, who was the Vice-President of the association, said.

A highly elated Paseda expressed appreciation to members of the association on the joint decision to appoint his as the Patron.

He stated that it was his desire to become the governor of Ogun State as doing so would put him in a better position to bring about adequate development and make life more meaning for the residents of the Gateway State.

He maintained that, if elected, he was fully prepared to provide an alternative good government to the people compared to what obtained under the past and present government in the state.

Paseda, who donated N1 million to support the charity programme of the association in Egbaland, assured that if voted as governor he was fully prepared to sacrifice all possible at his disposal for the development of the Gateway State.

“It is my desire to become the governor, to governor Ogun State.  And I am fully ready to sacrifice everything possible within my ability to the upliftment of the state,” Paseda, who is the founder of Paseda Legacy Foundation, said while narrating how he revived the UPN, a political party once founded by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the Second Republic.

He added: “I am in UPN to use it as alternative platform to become the governor of the state to enable me have great opportunity to improve the lives of our people there.”

The governorship candidate, who recently declared that he would contest again in 2019, expressed appreciation to the members and promised to play his part as the Patron of the association.

Paseda declared that despite been an Ijebu man from Ogun East Senatorial District he sees the whole of the state as his constituency, which informed his readiness to give back to all sections.

While also speaking at the event, the Treasurer of the association, Mr. Ladi Lemboye, briefed Paseda on the history and various activities of the association, particularly in Nigeria.

Lemboye, who was the Assistant Secretary General of Egba National Association US and Canada, said that the Dallas chapter would continue to offer support to the down-trodden and the needy people within the Egba communities in Ogun State.

He explained that various programmes, which include award of scholarship to needy students, would soon be carried out for secondary schools students within Ogun Central Senatorial District.

Among those present at the event were three past presidents of the association – Dr. Ayo Ogundele, Pastor Phillip Ajayi and Deacon Olufemi Oyegunle.