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FIFTY YEARS OF GRACE: A CALL TO LEGACY AND LEADERSHIP
BY DR FELIX ALE
As Ondo State marks its golden jubilee in the new week, I join the government and the good people of this resilient land in celebration—not merely of time passed, but of the journey, the triumphs, the trials, and the promise of tomorrow.
Having served as Chief Press Secretary in the administration of late Governor Adebayo Adefarati and as a member of the press teams under two military administrators—Colonel Ahmed Usman and Navy Captain Anthony Ibe Onyearugbulem—I have witnessed firsthand the evolving tapestry of leadership in our dear state.
This milestone is not just a ceremonial marker; it is a mirror. A mirror that reflects what we have built, what we have neglected, and what we must now become.
The philosopher Marcus Aurelius once wrote, “Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.” This is the charge to every principal actor in the present administration. Power is transient, but impact is eternal.
The Qur’an reminds us in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286, “Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear.” Leadership is a divine trust, not a personal privilege.
In the Bible, Proverbs 29:2 declares, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Let this anniversary be a moment of rejoicing, not just for festivities, but for the fruits of good governance.
Good governance is not a slogan—it is a moral obligation.
It is the ability to make life more meaningful for the people through justice, equity, and visionary development.
The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said, “The greatest glory of a nation lies in its ability to uplift the welfare of its people.”
Let the present administration remember: roads may fade, buildings may crumble, but the dignity restored to a people lasts forever.
To the Governor and his team, this is your moment in history. You are stewards of a legacy that will be judged not by tenure, but by transformation.
Let your names be etched not on plaques, but in the hearts of market women, farmers, students, and artisans whose lives you uplift.
Let your policies echo the wisdom of the ages and the compassion of the prophets. Let your governance be a bridge between the dreams of our founding fathers and the aspirations of our youth.
You are the soul of this celebration. Your resilience, creativity, and faith have sustained this state through seasons of change. Demand accountability, but also offer partnership.
Celebrate your heritage, but also shape your future.
Fifty years is a covenant moment. It is a time to renew our collective vow to build a state where leadership is service, and governance is grace.
Let us rejoice, yes—but let us also reflect, recommit, and rise.
May Ondo State continue to shine as a beacon of hope, wisdom, and progress. And may those who lead today be remembered tomorrow—not for the power they held, but for the lives they touched.
Happy 50th Anniversary, Ondo State. The journey continues.
Dr. Felix Ale is the Director of Media and Corporate Communications, National Space Research and Development Agency
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