COURTESY VISIT ON OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA BY DR BISHOP OYEDEPO, PRESIDENT LIVING FAITH CHURCHES WORLD WIDE On my way here, I was pleasantly surprised to observe changes, I have had the opportunity of seeing so many new projects like schools and road construction which are pointers to your giant strides in the infrastructural development of the state. I was born in Osogbo and I know how this place looked like. I have many friends from the state, including Pastor Ashimolowo. You shouldnt be distracted by the disturbing comments of the people who are not able to initiate those things God has given you the priviledge of doing. Im not flattering you, Im proud to associate with your government because of your resolve to elevate the plight of the poor whom you have the priviledge of leading in Osun. I have said this in your absence that I am looking forward to joining hands with you to improve the living condition of the teeming masses. Before any other consideration, one was created to be a humanist after which you can be categorised on the basis of any other classification. These were the comments of Dr. David Olaniyi Oyedepo, the Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Churches Worldwide a.k.a. Winners Chapel who paid a courtesy visit to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday, he said that the roads built by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his time stood the test of time, hence his name couldnt be erased easily from the sub-conscious mind of the beneficiaries, the ones being constructed now are of very good quality, no person succeeding the present administration can formulate any policy that will destroy it, they are legacies that would be referred to by generations after you. You should not be bothered by the spate of criticism following your style of government, it is not unexpected. You should understand that change is something that is always resisted in its inception until the sincerity of purpose of such change is dawned on the populace. Ill give you a personal example, my former secondary school was to be converted by the Federal Government to a girls school, the alma matter resisted the move until it was amicably resolved. In his word, he advised all and sundry to embrace things that would bring about long-lasting peaceful co-existence that would engender creativity of our people, any atmosphere of development that does not inculcate a peaceful co-existence is based on false foundation. You have clearly committed yourself to the total eradication of illiteracy which is the basis of development. Those who are canvassing against impartation of western education are only mischievous because there is nothing they have access to that is not a product of western education ranging from the telephone, the weaponry, the vehicles and all instruments they employ to marshall their agitations are inventions of education. Earlier, Ogbeni Aregbesola who informed the cleric of his preference to be addressed simply as Mr against the popular prefix like His Excellency, explained the states huge investment in tablet of knowledge generally known as opon Imo which contains necessary textbooks recommended by the examination conducting bodies for ordinary level students distributed to senior secondary school students free of charge. The deputy governor also gave brief explanations on the schools reclassification exercise that took off after an educational summit attended by major stakeholders in education which was held immediately on assumption of duty by the present administration. While introducing few members of the executive council members who were present at the occasion to the Bishop, Prof Mrs Olubukola Oyawoye, the commissioner for Environment revealed that those who are of Christian faith constitute the largest majority in the cabinet, ranging from herself and Mr Adekunle Amos, the special adviser on security who are members of Winners Chapel, to Mrs Williams, the Special Adviser on Water, who is a pastor in Redeemed Christian Church of God. She remarked that those who are spreading rumours of Aregbesola Islamisation agenda in Osun are either ignorant of happenings or are economical with the truth because of their selfish interest. Prof Sola Adeyeye, the senator representing Osun Central senatorial district a pastor, while corroborating her claim, reiterated that it was the insistence of Ogbeni Aregbesola who prevailed on his constituents, who are largely muslims, to accept him, a christian for the senatorial position. In addition the governor revealed that because of circumstances of his native yoruba origin, where discrimination on account of religion is impossible, many of his siblings have embraced christianity to the extent that some of them are pastors either in the country or abroad including the one here, Rafiu, that everybody refers to as Gbenga, a member of your congregation, Winners Chapel. If Im not able to prevent those members of my family that I have control over, how for Gods sake would I muster enough capacity to attempt to lord a religion over a state virile in human resource like Osun, Ogbeni Aregbesola, told the visitor that there is total futility in their smear campaign, he said that he had his elementary and secondary education in Catholic and Anglican missionary schools respectively in Ondo State and that the first Anglican Cathedral which is a shouting distance to his fathers house in Ilesa announced that consequent upon the large number of clerics that abound in the state, a large piece of land has been acquired for the construction of a crusade arcade where religious concern of diverse denomination can fellowship. This is expected to impact on the state spiritually and economically. The visit was rounded up with a group photograph with members of the executive council of State of Osun in attendance after the decoration and presentation of Dr. David Oyedepo with mementoes from government and people of Osun.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 16:04:19 +0000
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