Ambassador-designate of Federal Republic of Nigeria to Mexico, Hon. Adejare Bello has revealed how the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, influenced his appointment.
Bello spoke at a Civic Reception/Dinner organised in his honour by the 1984 set of Ede Muslim Grammar School, held on Saturday in Ede. He used the medium to appreciate his colleagues, calling on everyone to come together to contribute towards the development of their alma mater.
Bello said, “I got to know Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in 2018. He sent Musiliu Obanikoro to me and we sat together and discussed in a room. Four of us including Folashade Ahmed, the daughter of Asiwaju and one of our set. That was how my journey to the All Progressives Congress started.
“Since then, the last time I saw Tinubu was in February 2019 when he came with Buhari for 2019 presidential election. For 15 months, I didn’t hear anything from him nor saw him.
“I don’t like to bother people, I enjoy people bothering me. So, for fifteen months, we do didn’t see and he (Tinubu) made a promise to me.
“One day, in the month of May 2020, the Chief of Staff to the President, whom I have called severally that he did pick my calls, called me. He (CoS) said Baba (President Muhammadu Buhari) said you should send your Curriculum Vitae, which I sent immediately and he acknowledged its receipt.
“The second day, Governor Gboyega Oyetola called me and said Asiwaju said he should asked me that the position he (Tinubu) wants to give me is that of an Ambassador. I told him I don’t want that. I don’t like living abroad. After dragging it for few minutes, the governor in his wisdom said we should leave it and come back to it the second day.
READ ALSO: Osun Govt commences deworming for primary school pupils
“Immediately I left the lodge, I called some of my people who advised me to accept the offer. They said I would meet a new set of people. The second day, when I got to the Governor, he said maybe he should give me chairmanship of Osun State University or that of Iree Polytechnic but I told him that my people have advised me to accept the ambassadorial offer.
“Former Governor Rauf Aregbesola also called me and said the same thing.” Bello narrated.
Earlier, the Chairman of EMGS ’84, Otunba Majeed Aremu, extolled virtues of Bello, describing him as a humble man.
“Adejare has remained humble despite all his achievements. No member of our set enters his house with a challenge and leave without a solution
He has been a helper to several individuals and we are here to celebrate him. This is something we think we can do to appreciate his person.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the event, Professor Siyan Oyeweso described the feat achieved by Bello as another plus for the Ede community. He said in the whole of Osun west senatorial district, no one has served as ambassador of the federal republic.
Oyeweso pray to God to guide and guard the paths of the Ambassador as he move to Mexico.
Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal Laminisa 1, who expressed his concerns over the state of Ede Muslim Grammar School. The monarch called on ex-students to always visit their alma mater to see how best to tackle challenges facing the school.
“Although the challenges are not limited to Ede or Osun state, it’s a national. But ex-students must come to rescue their Alma mater. I want to urge you to always visit the school to motivate them and find lasting solution to the challenges facing the students.” The Monarch said.
Earlier, Guest lecturer, Professor Vincent Balogun spoke on the role of Alma Mater and the society in the making of an individual role model.
