Buhari, who was represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital, at the 20th memorial service of the first female industrialist in Nigeria and third Iyalode of Egbaland, late (Mrs) Esther Bisoye Tejuoso.
The memorial Service and Symposium at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, was organised by the Tejuoso Royal Family in conjunction with Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.
Calling on Nigerians to be committed to the “unity, security and progress” of the country, the president said the enduring and honest legacies of the nation’s past heroes should inspire the rest of the living to be dedicated to progress and salvage Nigeria from the current economic recession.
Describing the late Chief Mrs Bisoye Tejuoso as a “mentor and shinning light” to many, he said if the nation’s past leaders had had the kind of “foresight, uprightness and managerial skills” of the late female industrialist, Nigeria probably would not be having the current economic trauma.
Buhari said: “If our leaders had demonstrated the foresight, uprightness and managerial skills of Chief Bisoye Tejuoso our economy would have been better. Our past leaders refused to save and diversify the economy. Chief Bisoye Tejuoso’s success story in business can serve as a roadmap on how we can come out of recession.”
“She rewarded excellence and merit. She was a true heroine and a woman of courage. Her life should propel us to dedicate our lives more to the unity, progress and security of our country,” the President said.
Also speaking at the occasion, Vice – President Yemi Osibanjo made case for state or community police to tackle the internal security challenges facing the country.
Osibanjo said the Nigerian Police have not been able to “resolve” the puzzle behind the murder of the matriarch of Tejuoso dynasty 20 years after her killing.
Chief (Mrs) Esther Bisoye Tejuoso, mother of a prominent Egba traditional ruler, Oba(Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso, was reportedly assassinated by 10 gunmen in her Lagos home on the 19th of September, 1996.
The Vice – President who recalled how the late industrialist gave him N12,000 in 1984 when his rented apartment in Lagos was gutted by fire, said Nigeria with a population of about 170million people cannot be adequately policed from Abuja Central Command.
Source: vanguardngr
