Veteran Labour Leader, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu has opined that Governor Gboyega Oyetola is the most qualified for the topmost seat in the State of Osun he is presently occupying, given his rich academic credentials, wealth of experience, unprecedented intellectual prowess and profound administrative acumen.
Comrade Sunmonu stated this on Friday at the dinner organized by the State Government of Osun in his honour in commemoration of his recent conferment with Honourary of Doctorate Degree of Letters by the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for his immense contribution to the economic and human development of the nation.
Pa Sunmonu said Governor Gboyega Oyetola is down to heart, cool, calm, calculated and beyond all according to him, the Governor is committed to take the state to an enviable height, calling for the support of the good people of Osun for him to succeed in office.
The founding President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) between the years 1978 and 1984 told the gathering that himself and other elders of Osogbo under the leadership of Chief Hammed Omidiran invited top contenders for the Office of the Governor of Osun for some questioning, an activity which informed the decision and standing of the elders and by extension the Oshogbo community.
Comrade Sunmonu who equally served as the Secretary General of the Organisation of Africa Trade Unions Unity (OATUU) commended Governor Oyetola for the present industrial peace in the state which he said was as a result of the Governor’s commitment to the welfare of workers under the employment of the state as evident with the payment of full salaries to workers, enjoining the state workforce to support the Governor by giving their best to the service of the State Government of Osun through blockade of leakages and commitment to increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state to be in a good stead to meet all its financial obligations, and focus less on the monthly federal allocation from Abuja.
In his remarks at the event, the Governor, State of Osun, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola appreciated Almighty God for the eventful and phenomenal life of Comrade Hassan Sunmonu who he regarded as a gift not only to the State, but also to Nigeria and the African continent at large.
The Governor who went down memory lane to the period when the revered trade unionist was appointed by the immediate past administration which he was part of as its Chief of Staff, to intervene in the then disagreement between the state government and the organized labour, an intervention which he said led to the amicable resolution of the crisis within the shortest possible time.
Governor Oyetola opined that Comrade Sunmonu will not sacrifice his credibility for anything whatsoever, stressing that little wonder he has carved a niche for himself in trade unionism in Nigeria and Africa at large.
The Governor who congratulated Pa Sunmonu, wished him Almighty Allah’s continued blessings and accomplishments in the land of the living, commended his wife, Alhaja Wasilat Sunmonu for taking good care of the legendary labour leader, most especially for taking care of the home front whenever her husband was away for labour movement operations across the globe.
In his welcome address at the event, the State Head of Service, Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade said there are three Nigerians who are recognized globally by their first names who according to him are Wole Soyinka, Gani Fawehinmi and Hassan Sunmonu.
Dr. Oyebade said when he got to Israel a number of years back and was talking to an israeli labour leader, telling him he was from Nigeria, he said the man was excited to the extent of inviting people around to come and meet someone from Sunmonu’s country.
The State Head of Service congratulated Comrade Sunmonu on the laudable feat attained by him, maintaining that he will continue to be a profound reference point in the history of labour movement in Nigeria and Africa at large.
In their separate goodwill messages, the National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, the State Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Rufus Adeyemi, State Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Comrade Bayo Adejumo, the State Chairman Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Comrade Amitolu Shittu and Pa Olagoke Olatidoye who spoke on behalf of Pa Sunmonu’s class mates, the 1954 set of All Saints School, Owo ope, Oshogbo all paid glowing tributes on the iconic labour leader who they all affirmed has paid his dues in trade unionism in Africa and even the global space at large.
They all celebrated the septuagenarian on the honour bestowed on him alongside eminent personalities like a business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote at the recently held 41st Convocation Ceremony of the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State of Nigeria.
