Don’t use religion, tribe to divide Nigeria, APC chieftain advises

A Chieftain of APC in Ondo, Mr Ifeoluwa Oyedele, has advised politicians not to use religion, party or tribe to divide Nigeria.

Oyedele, who is also an Executive Director in Niger Delta Power Holding Company, gave the advice during his investiture as ‘Ondo State Man of The Year 2018’ award on Saturday night.

Oyedele, who hails from Igodan Lisa in Okitipupa Council area, was the Ondo State Coordinator of Buhari Campaign Organisation in 2015.

He has also served in various APC technical committees, especially the Constitution Drafting and Merger Committee and had even designed the party’s logo and flag.

Oyedele said that politics, religion and tribal affiliations should not be dividing factors in the country, but rather integrity should be our watchdog.

“It is unfortunate that we are going through difficult times, but the thing (division) has been planned by people who sit down daily to destroy our nation just because of what they may take away.

“The duty to change this nation rests on all of us. Party divide should not be a substitute for doing good for our people.

“For those of us who are carrying our religion all over the places, it will come to nothing if your behaviour is not excellent. We should not be divided on basis of party, religion or tribe.

“Today, we allow evil doers to use this divide to exploit our weaknesses. Nigeria is a great nation.

“We must change this nation and return it to where it was before and make Nigeria a good reference point in whole world,” he said.

Oyedele expressed regret that civil and public servants had been looting the nation’s treasury without thinking twice.

“We are groaning everyday about people who are in the government, but many of our workers are worst than them.

“The responsibility to change this nation is not in the hand of any governor or president, but in the hands of each and everyone of us to display integrity in our life.

Oyedele described President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of integrity who would

not to milk the nation’s treasury.

“This is first time in the history of the nation that we have a leader who is not a businessman or a ruler.

“Buhari’s integrity is the reason why many Nigerians are still given Visas in many embassies today. We must continue to pray for him,” Oyedele said.

Dr Sunday Akinbiola, the Organiser and Chief Executive of Hero Magazine International, said that the award was started in 2008.

He said that selection of Oyedele was due to his striking attributes of hard work and philosophy of giving back to the society.

Akinbiola said that the award was to celebrate excellence, reward exceptional accomplishments, salute positive personal character and acknowledge career achievements of illustrious sons and daughters.

“10 years ago, the idea was conceptualised to annually give honour to those whom honour is due, to those who through their dint of handwork, tenacity of purpose and their deliberate acts in both their public and private life.

“The selection process for choosing awardee annually is devoid of any coloration, religious, political and ethnicity, but based on their track records and their contributions to society and humanity.

“The award will encourage the awardee to continue to soar higher and contribute his quota towards the development of the state and Nigeria at large,” he said.

The event was attended by the state Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, the Secretary to the State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde, Mr Mike Omogbehin, a member representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency.

A representative of Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, was also at the event.