APC Chieftain Hails Former Ekiti Governor Segun Oni on His 72nd Birthday

Senator Ayo Arise has praised former Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni as a leader whose public service should serve as an example to Nigerian politicians.

In a congratulatory message made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, Arise said Oni had shown that leadership was about service, not personal enrichment. He described Oni as an icon of good governance and called his tenure as governor exceptional and a reference point for purposeful leadership, infrastructure development and people-centred government.

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Beyond politics, Engr. Oni has demonstrated that leadership is about service.

Arise also praised Oni’s character and temperament, describing him as gentle, calm, brilliant and articulate. He said Oni’s wisdom and intellect continued to inspire people across party lines, and wished him good health, strength and greater wisdom to keep contributing to Ekiti State and Nigeria.

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Chief Oni is an icon of good governance. His tenure as governor of Ekiti State remains exceptional, unparalleled and clinical.

Oni served as Ekiti governor from 2007 to 2010. His tenure ended after a Court of Appeal ruling ordered a rerun in parts of the state over the disputed 2007 governorship election. A trained engineer and politician, he later remained active in state and national politics, serving as national vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party before becoming an All Progressives Congress chieftain.

His birthday drew tributes from political leaders and other stakeholders, including Ekiti Governor Biodun Oyebanji and APC members, who praised his contribution to the state’s development and political evolution.

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He has shown, by example, that politics is a call to service and not an avenue for self-enrichment.