IF truly the voice of men is the voice of God, the Ekiti State governor, Engr. Segun Oni may become the President of the country very soon.

An Islamic cleric, who is the Chief Imam of Offa in Kwara State, Alhaji Muhiydeen Salman, who delivered the sermon at the turbanning ceremony of Ekiti State deputy governor, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, as the first Baba Adini of Ekitiland described Governor Oni as a leader capable of holding higher offices and eventually become the President of Nigeria.

Urging other governors in the country to emulate Governor Segun Oni, the cleric charged Nigerian leaders to remember that they met some people in politics and as such, should make themselves subservient to God.
 His words, "Relax the exercise of that position of yours, because one day, you will leave that position and eventually go into the grave. Anybody, no matter their position, can fall victim of misfortune. You must ensure that people do not condemn you.
 

"I will admonish our new Baba Adini to ensure that he does not force people to do things. He should not seek to be known, because God has already known and recognised him.

 "I want Governor Oni to hear this, because he is a humble governor who will get to greater heights; he will be president of this country; the Holy Prophet Mohammed said whoever takes life simple would be able to do the will of God.

 "God wants people to allow others to come near them. It is good that Governor Oni is doing this. Leaders should know that those poor people they   see all over the places will be the ones to dig the graves of influential people.
 

"It is the poor that will see the nakedness of the rich last. Their family members will cry and stop along the way; they won't dig the grave; they won't wash the dead body for burial. It's the poor that do those.

 "Children of professors don't vote; it is the children of the poor that take the risk of campaigning and voting. It is the poor that vote the rich people into governments. Why then do you neglect the poor?
 

"However, a governor like Oni is scarce in Nigeria. As we were coming here, he was extending his hand to the people to greet them. Continue that way; it is the people that put you there and they must not be forgotten," the cleric said.

 Alhaji Salman, who also extolled the virtues of Dr. Lawal, said the deputy governor did not betray his boss, adding that was why the governor identified with him on the day he (Lawal) was being honoured. He said any deputy that betrayed his or her boss should know that he or she was planting "a nail on the seat he or she will also mount one day."
End.