Indigenes of Lagos State have expressed gratitude to the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for nominating one of them, Ambassador Musiliu Olatunde Obanikoro, as a minister.
Obanikoro and 11 others eminent Nigerians are awaiting clearance by the Senate for confirmation as minister.
The Lagos State indigenes, under the aegis of the Association of Lagos State Indigenes, told Jonathan that the people of the state are always willing to serve the government at the centre and have done so creditably in the past.
The letter to Jonathan, signed by the ALS’s President, Engineer Layi Ajayi-Bembe, and Secretary, Chief Emmanuel Olakunle Cole, reads in part: “On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Officers and Members of the Association of Lagos State Indigenes (ALS), we hereby express out heart-felt gratitude to Your Excellency for the commendable action in the nomination of our son Ambassador Senator Musiliu Obanikoro an indigene of Lagos State to serve as a Minister of the Federal Republic in your Cabinet.
“Many of our illustrious Sons and Daughters like late Prof Teslim Olawale Elias, first as Attorney General and later Chief Justice of the Federation; Mr. Ajose Adeogun, first FCT Minister; Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Minister of Works; Alhaji Femi Okunnu, SAN, CON, Commissioner for Works and Housing; late Senator Dr. Wahab Dosunmu, Minister for Works and Housing to mention a few have served Nigeria meritoriously and represented her abroad with accolades.”
The ALS, in the letter dated January 22, 2014, said it has been following the giant strides of the Jonathan government and expressed satisfaction with what has been achieved so far.
It added: “Obviously, we can see the hand of God working on you for the betterment of the people of this great Country.
“Thus, we pledge our continued support for the Country and your Administration.
“In doing so, we shall be working for a peaceful and progressive Country.”