Sir: If there is any recent evidence that placed the Osun State Governor, Narudeen Ademola Jackson Adeleke, among the few public office holders in the country that their sense of nationhood is stronger than their tribal loyalty, it is the recent news report that Adeleke appointed Honourable Goddey Olije, an indigene of Ika nation of Delta State as his Special Adviser on Local Government Affairs. 
 
Also heartening is the accompanying narrative that he (the Governor) is re-writing Osun State narrative from a state that has suffered protracted infrastructural deficit to a hyper-modern society characterised by democratised infrastructural provision. 
 
Going by reports of why Adeleke’s demonstration qualifies as both exemplary and legendary, Olije, the new Special Adviser on Local Government Affairs to the Governor explained that he hails from Alefekide and his mother, a native of Omumu both in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State. None of his parents had historial, cultural or biological relationship traceable to the state. Yet, the governor overlooked all these considerations and appointed him into a cardinal position such as the Special Adviser on Local Government Affairs. 

The Accounting graduate turned politician, giving insight, said in the year 2007, he contested for councillorship position in the state (Osun) on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and won and was consequently sworn in the year 2008. He meritoriously served in that capacity till December 2010 when new administration comes into power

While he expressed gratitude to Adeleke, for finding him worthy of this latest appointment, the Alefekide born politician scored the governor high on infrastructural provision, but outlined some sterling achievements and ongoing examples that have made Adeleke the darling of all well meaning and good people of Osun State.  On youth development, job creation and empowerment, he insisted that the governor is working on those aspects. 
  
For me, there are ingrained lessons for public office holders in the country to draw from Adeleke’s exemplary demonstration of leadership that is above parochial and other mundane considerations but consists of broad based public service qualities devoid of sentiments, tribal inclinations and ill feelings.
 
Above all, like Adeleke, we must collectively as a nation recognise, and position Nigeria to be a society of equal citizens where opportunities are equal and personal contribution is recognised and rewarded on merit regardless of language, culture, religion or political affiliations. 

Utomi Jerome-Mario is the programme coordinator (Media and Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos.