Date: 2011-05-26

The valedictory session of the Kwara State Executive Council presided over by Governor Bukola Saraki was held on Wednesday at the Government House, Ilorin.

The valedictory session which was characterized by display of emotions by the out-going members of the council, saw them pouring encomiums on the out-going governor for his leadership qualities during his eight-year tenure.

The governor, who disclosed at the meeting that all his actions within the last eight years were based on the need to fast track the socio-economic development of the State.

"If I had stepped on toes in my eight years as governor, I did it in the interest of the state and the overall benefit of the people", Saraki said.

While thanking members of his cabinet and the entire people of the state for their support to him in the last eighty years, he expressed satisfaction that he is leaving the state better than he had met it in 2003.

The governor also praised members of the executive council for their contributions and enjoined the in-coming cabinet members to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, dedication and commitment to duty.

He then assured that he would continue to work for the development of the state, urging the people to extend the same hands of fellowship to the in-coming administration of Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Dr Saraki specifically commended his deputy, Chief Joel Ogundeji for his loyalty and dedication to duty, noting that his eight years of working together with him had been fruitful and rewarding.

In his own view, Chief Ogundeji, who recalled his first encounter with the governor said the people of the state would never forget him for all he has done to turn around the fortunes of the State.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Ben Duntoye thanked Dr Saraki for rejuvenating the information sector to meet contemporary challenges.

Duntoye specifically commended him for repositioning the State Broadcasting Corporation to become a World Class Broadcast Station.

Other members of the cabinet who spoke at the valedictory session described the governor as a dedicated, tolerant, caring, honest and a listening leader who had transformed the state to an enviable position.

Meanwhile, Dr Saraki has commissioned the new 12-man office extension of the Kwara State House of Assembly which gulped the state government about 96.2million Naira.

The office extension was built purposely to address the problem of office accommodation among the legislators in order to enhance effective legislation.

Mas’ud Adebimpe
Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
26/05/2011