Six years after the death of late former governor of Oyo State, gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (SOLAN) is not happy that Governor Abiola Ajimobi has not found it expedient to immortalize Great Lam.
According to Lanlehin, who was late Lam’s preferred choice in 2011 before Ajimobi was picked, Ajimobi can honour his former teacher by naming a prominent state institution after him to underscore his educational/teaching background or instituting pro-people governance models in managing the state’s affairs, six years after his demise.
This, Lanlehin explained, became necessary, following the epochal role Great Lam played in his emergence, first as Oyo South Senator in 2003 and later as Oyo State governor in 2011.
In a statement by his media aide, Damola Adeoye, Lanlehin reiterated that for Nigeria’s democracy to thrive, and move to the level of advanced democracies of the world, the country needs to learn from the politics of selflessness, dedication to worthy causes and unflinching loyalty to progressive tendencies exhibited by Lam-Adesina
Reminiscing on the legacy of people-oriented governance Lam-Adesina, fondly called Great Lam, was reputed for, Lanlehin urged aspiring statesmen and serving office holders to always prioritise the welfare of the people in their acts and conducts, as that alone remains the surest route to the hearts and minds of the people.
“Alh Adesina, governor of Oyo State from 1999 to 2003 under the banner of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), and leader of then Action Congress, which later became Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), was also a prominent educationist, staunch pro-democracy activist and leader of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in Oyo State, as well as a popular newspaper columnist, who was incarcerated during the military days for his strong democratic views, earning him the appellation “prisoner of war”. He was also an ardent follower of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, under whose political platform, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), he won election into the House of Representatives in 1979. Born 20 January, 1939, Great Lam breathed his last on Sunday, 11 November, 2012, aged 73.
“Senator Lanlehin (SOLAN) thereafter admonishes the Lam Adesina family and millions of his followers popularly called Lamists, to continue lighting the torch of welfarism and to propagate the culture of excellence Great Lam was noted and reputed for. That legacy, Senator Lanlehin notes, is clearly evident in the advertised performances of Hon Adedapo Lam-Adesina (Omo Oloore), member representing Ibadan Northeast/Southeast Federal Constituency.
“Senator Lanlehin (SOLAN) uses the opportunity of the sixth anniversary of Great Lam’s departure to the eternal beyond to assure the people of Oyo State that by the grace of God and their support, he would return smiles to the faces of the people through pro-people governance come 2019, reminiscent of the example laid by Great Lam in his years of service to the people,” the statement added.
