By OLAYINKA LATONA
ABEOKUTA— GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, yesterday, asked political leaders in the country to imbibe the virtues and values of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in their conducts and delivery of services to the people.

Speaking during the 25th remembrance service for Chief Obafemi Awolowo at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne, Ogun State, the governor said Awolowo lived a life of service to the people, known to be serious- minded federalist and advocate of rule of law who wanted the best for his people and country.

Amosun argued that politicians who claimed to be adherent of Awolowo’s ideals should demonstrate that they are true followers of the sage and mere lip service disciples to living and demonstrating his ideals.

He said: “Papa Awo played politics of commitment, principle and ideology and those issues that papa raised several decades ago still remain very burning issues in the country today. There are several people today who claimed or pretended to be adherent of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s ideals. The question is how many of them have the moral ethos, principles and commitment to positive ideological norms like Chief  Awolowo?

Also speaking, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who urged political leaders to live a life of public service, contended that political leaders should not be dogmatic of Awo’s ideology but rather improve on them.

According to him, leaders must know what they stood for and not be “wish-wash in their politics; there must be clear direction of where a political leader is going.”

He added that Awolowo’s politics was clear, conscience and dictated by the needs of the people.

Dignitaries at the event included former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; Lt-Gen. Oladipo Diya; Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola; former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, among others.