The newly-appointed Minister of Communication, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, has been advised to maintain his uprightness and honesty by imbibing the fear of God and refusing to accept gifts from contractors, individuals and corporate firms in the discharge of his duties.
Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and the Chairman of Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Dr. Lekan Are, gave the advice on Saturday during a reception organised for the minister by a committee of friends at KICC, Ibadan.
Among the dignitaries that attended the event were a former governor in the state, Omololu Olunloyo, Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadan land, High Chief Kola Daisi, Are Alasa of Ibadan land, High Chief Lekan Alabi, Are’s wife, Olabisi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman in the state, Akin Oke, deputy governor of the state, Moses Alake, President-General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rafiu Ladipo, monarchs from Oke-Ogun area of the state and a large number of APC supporters from the Oke-Ogun area and other zones in the state.
Are, who was chairman of the occasion, said he had a great respect for the minister, and warned that he was inheriting myriads of problems in the mobile telephone industry.
While urging the minister to work with an open mind, Are called on Shittu to beware of people who would approach him with gifts and bribes in order to have their ways.
He said, “Let me remind you that as the Minister of Communication, you are inheriting problems in the telecommunications industry. Don’t bend the rules to please anyone, be fair at all times and keep an open mind.
“Most people will come to you because of what they can gain from you. Do not accept bribes or gifts from them because only your true friends will remain with you when you leave office. You must work hard and follow the path of due diligence”.
In his remarks on the occasion, Gov. Ajimobi said he was satisfied with the choice of Shittu even though it generated debate among party members when he was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, “Shittu is my good friend but after he was nominated, I had a meeting with him in my house and that was when we settled all differences”.
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