* I imbibed principles of hard work, honesty, fear of God, contentment and tenacity from the training I got from Daddy – Gov
By John Odunjo
About 40 years after leaving school, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on Monday re-united with his former secondary school principal, Chief Daniel Ogboja and his wife, Mrs Dorcas Ogboja who was also his English and Literature teacher at Christ Apostolic Church Grammar School, (CAPOSTO), Efon Alaaye.
The governor who had earlier during his Town hall meeting at Usi Ekiti seen the former English teacher directed the event’s Master of ceremony to recognize and invite her to the high table.
Oyebanji, after the town hall meeting accompanied her home to visit her husband, who was the governor’s secondary school principal.
Oyebanji, during the visit, described the nonagenarian as his mentor, saying he imbibed the principles of hard work, honesty, fear of God, contentment and tenacity from the training he got from the old man during his days as principal of CAC Grammar School, Efon Alaaye.
Oyebanji, who engaged his former principal and teacher with old memories, recalled how the old man took time, during morning devotions, to give them lectures which the governor said had really helped in shaping the lives of all the old students.
While appreciating him for being so good to him and for his selfless labour on all his students, Oyebanji prayed God to grant him long life as he continue to eat the fruit of his labour.
“I still recall vividly my sojourn at CAPOSTO, Daddy was a disciplinarian, but daddy will discipline you in love. Most of the things I leant about hard work, about being truthful, about fear of God, about contentment, l learnt from daddy because at every morning devotion, daddy will take his time to lecture us. Daddy took each and every one of us as his child and that is why every old student of CAPOSTO will refer to daddy and mummy as parents”.
The governor promised to organise a visit by the old students of the school to Chief Ogboja, saying, “We will come and spend an afternoon with you one of these days. Just to appreciate you Sir”.
Responding with nostalgia, the former principal, Chief Daniel Ogboja, who expressed his profound gratitude to Oyebanji for remembering him and for deeming it fit to visit him, saying he is very proud of the governor and his achievements in less than one year in office as governor, saying Ekiti has never had it so well.
Mrs Dorcas Ogboja narrated how she rolled on the floor in excitement when she heard the news of Oyebanji’s election as Governor of the state in June 2022, saying she was happy and grateful to God to meet face to face with the governor who was once her student.
She expressed happiness that the governor is exhibiting those qualities he imbibed early in life.
