The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has charged the newly appointed minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu to be conscious of the enormity of the challenges lying ahead of him in the ministry described as very central to
every household in the country.
Olubadan gave the charge on Friday, August 25, when he received Adelabu who was on a courtesy visit to his Alarere, Ibadan residence.
Adelabu, who came alongside some of his supporters, was received by the monarch and two of his advisory council members, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi and Oba Hamidu Ajibade, Ashipa and Ekerin Olubadan respectively.
Olubadan, who spoke through his Ashipa, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi said the critical and strategic role the ministry constitutes in the life of the country places a huge burden on Adelabu’s shoulder as the Minister.
He equally charged Adelabu to put it into his consciousness at all times that his record at the ministry would rub off on Ibadan, his place of birth and all the sons and daughters of Ibadan, both at home and in the diaspora would be looking unto him as their ambassador. “All of us will be praying for your success and we want you to remain our pride”, Olubadan added.
The minister, earlier in his presentation said he was aware of the task ahead of him and his posting to the ministry by President Bola Tinubu was deliberate based on and trust and confidence in his ability to deliver.
He maintained that with the support and prayer of everybody, he won’t let the President and the nation down.
Adelabu said: “I have come home to receive prayers from my father, the Olubadan of Ibadanland because, it is said that there’s no prayer that is as efficacious as parental prayers for a child. I decided to move round to thank all the critical stakeholders that made contributions to my emergence one way or the other before the job actually starts in earnest.
“I know it is not going to be a tea party and I’m ready for the challenge. Mr. President acknowledged that I have the strength and energy to run round which informed the posting. He said he won’t put me in a place where I can be effectively functioning, even in my bedroom because of my background as a banker/accountant, rather, he wants me to exert my energy and I’m ready to do my best.”
He disclosed that he’s determined not to fail in the ministry, not minding the legacies left behind by his predecessors.
He said: “I want to go into study of what has been happening on all the departments, why has people been failing and the fact that others had failed in the past doesn’t mean I must fail like them because I’m not them and they are not me.
“I plead with our people to stop negative confession about our situation generally in the country because there’s power on the tongue. Let people stop cursing the PHCN, rather, let’s be praying and saying positive things about our affairs. What we confess, we experience. Let’s be positive at all times and I’m sure we will have positive results”.
The minister also called on politicians generally to relegate politics to the background now and face governance stressing that there’s time for everything.
“There are lots to be done and Mr. President is in a hurry to make things work, yet the people themselves are impatient as well, so, we need not be bogged down with politics for now. Personally, this is the aspect (governance) of democracy that I love most and I’m throwing myself fully into it. With your ceaseless prayers, I’m confident of successful tenure.”
