I Instituted Annual Birthday Lecture Series To Promote National Unity-Babs Oduyoye
A former two-term member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Babs Oduyoye, has disclosed that he instituted the Babatunde Oduyoye Annual Birthday Lecture Series as his own contribution to national unity and development.
He made the disclosure in his welcome address at the 7th Babatunde Oduyoye Annual Birthday Lecture Series, themed “Security and National Unity in Difficult Times”, and held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Honourable Oduyoye recalled that the journey of the annual lecture series started in 2003, a year after his election into the National Assembly as the member representing Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West Federal Constituency.
“The conceptualisation of this event, which has become a veritable platform for the discussion of critical national issues and an avenue for seeking solutions to the challenges that bedevil of our darling country, came from the realisation of Yoruba saying: “Omo onilu o ni fe o tu…” and the popular line of the epic song by King Sunny Ade, “Nigeria yi, ti gbogbo wa ni, ko ma gbodo baje,” he said.
Oduyoye said the passion for taking such a step was borne out of the fact that he shares same birthday with Nigeria, having been born on October 1, same day the country gained national independence.
“The passion to serve and the dedication to the call of duty have always been topmost in my heart. That passion to contribute my quota to the development of the country made me take a small corner from which I felt I could change the world.
“That passion defines my life as a Students’ Union Leader, a politician or from whatever prism anyone chooses to view me.
“That passion made my path cross with the governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, ‘Seyi Makinde, a man who has done so much in a short while to reposition Oyo State and move it from poverty to prosperity,” he said.
The former federal lawmaker however expressed regrets that the challenges of insecurity and threat to national oneness have proven to be hydra-headed and seemingly intractable.
“Never in the life of the nation have we had the divisive tendencies and insecurity challenges assail us so badly,” Oduyoye said.
He said the country have had innumerable challenges and threats to national unity, adding that, on a daily basis, stories of terrorism, banditry, violence, killings and other insecurity challenges continue to weaken the hearts.
“Agitations for restructuring, national dialogue or whatever name anyone chooses to call it, continue to ring loud, while threats to peace and continued existence of the nation continue to rankle.
“It was in the midst of this cacophony, this confusion that a still small voice whispered in the ears of the Babatunde Oduyoye Annual Birthday Lecture Committee that we should yield the platform for discussions on unity, peace and order in our dear nation,” he said.
Oduyoye said the theme of the 2021 edition of the annual lecture, “Security and National Unity in Difficult Times”, is a topic that sums up the entire challenges facing the nation.
“One thing is certain, through this platform today, we will contribute to the national discourse on our unity and oneness and I am also certain that the journey towards our collective triumph as a nation will experience the much-needed boost,” he added.
