13th June, 2011
Ogun state Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun has promised to build a museum in memory of those he described as past legends of the state.
He mentioned among others, the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election, the late Chief M.K.O Abiola, his wife, Kudirat, the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, foremost educationist, Tai Solarin, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Beko Ransome-Kuti and a host of others.
The governor who gave this hint at a rally organised today by the state government to commemorate the 18th anniversary of June 12 at the M.K.O Abiola stadium.
He also hinted that his administration might come up with a curricular on the study of the state’s past heroes and heroines with a view to keeping the new generation abreast of what happened in the past.
Amosun, who trekked with top government functionaries, human rightsw activists, students’ groups, artisans and members of the public in what was called “Walk the Talk†from Ake to the stadium, a distance of about 10km, said that the state was blessed with personalities whose contributions to the state, the country and the world could not be overemphasised.
He said such illustrious sons and daughters of the state deserved recognition which would serve a reference point for generations yet unborn.
“We are going to ensure that their effort and the supreme price they paid for us do not go down in vain. For me, we would have a museum to have them in our memory for our kids, our guests and everybody. It is no going to be for our dear M.K.O. alone, it will include our great
Hubert Ogunde, Chief Awolowo, Tai Solarin, Fela Anikulapo, Beko Ransome-Kuti and a host of our past great heroes and heroines,” the governor said.
He stressed that the museum, which would be of world class status, would not be a profit-making project, “but a centre where we can show case our state to the world. We shall be expecting people from all over the world. We shall also look at creating a curriculum for our schools where students can learn about our past legends.â€
Amosun restated his commitment to improve education, health, agriculture and social infrastructure in the state, noting that such step would ameliorate poverty among the citizens, saying “we shall continue to champion the cause to reduce poverty in the state. I want to again say that, in a couple of months or a year plus, the people of Ogun state will see that we mean business.â€
The governor commended the family members of the late business mogul who had been steadfast in the struggle, assuring further that the values associated with the late politician would not die.
Some human rights activists who spoke at the rally include the President, Campaign for Democracy (CD), Joe Okei-Odumakin, her husband, Yinka, Wale Okuniyi, Biodun Aremu, Tanko Yussuf, Momoh Abubakar, Deola Soetan, Lanre Banjo, Debo Adeniran, Mustapha Adewale and Abdul-mumini Abiola,the last born of the wife of Abiola, the late Alhaja Kudirat
The state government declared today Democracy Day and a work–free day in the state.
By Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
