Sunday September 13, attention will shift to Ikoya Town, one of the historic communities in Ondo South, an area noted for rich yoruba culture, traditional institutions and communal values.
It is a day set aside by Prof. Dayo Faduyile who had graciously invited his political associates, supporters, professional colleagues, friends and well wishers to Celebrate with him the faithfulness of God on his political journey so far and where He is taking him to going forward. The event will be rounded off with a grand reception for all invited guests.
This occasion will highlight why it is important to thank God for all blessings received from above because ingratitude in whatever form is one of the most dangerous responses to divine favour.
A Biblical account in Luke chapter 17v17 states how Jesus christ healed ten lepers, yet only one returned to thank Him, leaving Christ to ask in surprise “Were not ten lepers healed? Where are the other nine?
Another example of how God hates ingratitude is found in Biblical account of 1st Samuel chapter 15v11 where God says “I regret making Saul King for he has turned back from following me and has not done what I asked him to do” Saul a young man who was hopelessly stranded after fruitless efforts of getting the lost asses of his father Kish was promoted as king but later became uncontrollable by God.
These accounts reminds us that every true promotion should not make us forget the one who lifted us. Against this background, the forthcoming September 13 Thanksgiving service for Senator Dayo Faduyile and a grand reception for the people shows it is not just a celebration of victory but an expression of gratitude to God for the journey, the political elevation as a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the great responsibility that comes with it.
The event is essentially to recognise the role God has played and will still play in his political journey while also appreciating political leaders, supporters, Professional colleagues, friends and well wishers who contributed to his electoral victory right from his emergence as APC Candidate in the June 20 bye election where he clinched victory to replace Senator Jimoh Ibrahim who is now Nigeria’s Permanent representative to the United Nations.
It will afford him the golden opportunity to communicate that the electoral victory is definitely not the destination but the beginning of a larger responsibility to deliver good dividends of democracy for Ondo South constituents.
On several occasions in Nigeria just like in other parts of the world, political victory by politicians who became successful have produced pride that shuns and distance the very people whose efforts made the electoral success a reality. For Senator Dayo Faduyile and the September 13 Thanksgiving service, he remains humble after victory hence he chooses to acknowledge those who stood by him during the tough moments of anxiety, fear of unknown and the great apprehensive moments while the political campaign, lots of manoeuvres and behind the scenes were plotted but God took control.
The lessons for the September 13 Thanksgiving and the grand reception coming up in Ikoya has lots of lessons which override the celebration and the joyous moments it will evoke. By gathering his political associates, supporters, professional colleagues, friends and well wishers for a deserved Thanksgiving to God and grand reception for the people, Senator Faduyile is sending a powerful message “It is true I have achieved something but I have not forgotten those who helped me and I recognise God as the ultimate source of the journey”
By inviting his professional colleagues to the event, Professor Faduyile is making another valid statement that he will not forget his identity whose networks can contribute to his ideas, expertise and independent perspectives to his legislative functions, meaning after electoral victory, it is good to build bridges and not walls.
On the whole, the September 13 Thanksgiving service and grand reception hinges on leadership philosophy that “Every responsible political office holder should enter office with humility, occupy office with gratitude, exercise power with restraint and leave office with a good record of service because at the end of the day, political office holders especially for someone as a Distinguished Senator like Prof Dayo Faduyile will be remembered more for what is achieved while in office, such as good legislation, effective representation, development projects, opportunities created and lives impacted positively.
