The Sun News On-line

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Omu-Ijebu, Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State, urged serving governors in the country to always respect the wishes and aspiration of their deputies.

The VP, who spoke during the Outing/Thanksgiving service, which held at the Omu Town Hall for late Princess Esther Olaitan Daniel, the mother of Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, also lamented that some governors were found of treating their deputies with disdain

His words: “For those of you who know my political history in this country, I served as a deputy when Gbenga was serving as the governor of this state. I know as deputy, how some governors treat their deputy governors.
“ Sometimes when they have cause to go and represent them (governors) at occasion, some of them feel like they don’t want to go because of the kind of treatment they may receive.
“Most governors don’t have respect for their deputy. But there are some who appreciate their deputy. Gbenga is one of them. So I’m not surprised that his mother was that kind of a person who lived a humble life.

“On this kind of occaison, I want to call on our people, not just our mother, but all of us who are mothers, fathers, mothers to be or fathers to be, to live exemplary lives that will be worthy of emulation by our children.
“It is only through this that social vices can be eradicated among our youths. Let’s show our children exemplary leaderhship by the way we conduct ourselves and I believe that in our life time, we will all be happy for it. Let’s attain exemplary leaderhsip by the way we conduct ourselves.”
He commended Governor Daniel for not only showing respect to his deputy, Alhaja Salmot Badru, but also treating her with dignity, saying that it was one of the virtues he must have learnt from his late mother.

Jonathan described the deceased as an embodiment of good motherhood for instilling good virtues in her children and enjoined mothers to bring up their children in such a way that they would be useful to the nation.
The Secretary -General of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, Reverened Ademola Ishola, who also spoke during the thanksgiving service urged political leaders in the country to imbibe the culture of diligence in their service to their fatherland.

The Baptist, who extolled the virtues of Princess Daniel, also described her as “a role model per excellence, a diligent and resourceful wife and mother, who added value to her society”.
Ishola urged leaders to always strive to ensure that their work and ethics add value to the nation, noting that governments at all levels must be benevolent to the poor.

Rev. Ishola, whose sermon was entitled Good Motherhood, said that mothers were always submissive, modest and benevolent as demonstrated by Mama Daniel during her lifetime.
His words: “Please ensure to lift the downtrodden up, make sure they experienced the goodness of the Lord through your generosity.”
Governor Daniel who was overwhelmed by the presence of the Vice President whom he described as a man of honour whose simplicity should be emulated thanked all for their moral, spiritual and financial assistance.

Dignitaries that attended the service included, the Vice President, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Sarafa Ishola Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adebisi Sosan, former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan among several others.