- as friends, political associates celebrate ex-Deputy Governor at 69
By John Dike, Osogbo
The Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. John Akinkunmi Oyejola, has charged former Deputy Governor of Osun State and former Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore to make the next chapter of his life a period of mentorship, wise counsel and moral leadership, urging him to become an unmistakable voice of conscience in Nigeria’s political space.
He gave the charge on Tuesday while speaking at a colourful ceremony organised to mark Omisore’s 69th birthday in Osogbo, where friends, political associates, family members and supporters gathered to celebrate the veteran politician whom they described as a “political titan.”
The celebration, held at Omisore’s campaign office in Osogbo, attracted people from different political, religious and social backgrounds, who came to honour the former senator and former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
.
The event featured music, dancing, prayers, goodwill messages, tributes and the cutting of the birthday cake, as guests reflected on Omisore’s decades of involvement in public service and politics.
The presence of Bishop Oyejola added a strong spiritual dimension to the celebration, with the Catholic prelate using the occasion to reflect on Omisore’s journey through professional life, public service, political struggles, victories and setbacks.
Describing Omisore’s life as a story of “dedicated service, sacrifice and faith,” Oyejola said the 69th birthday was not merely an occasion to celebrate age but an opportunity to acknowledge God’s faithfulness and reflect on the responsibility that comes with years of experience.
“Today we thank God for the gift of life to Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore, a man whose outstanding years in public service have written a story of commitment, sacrifice and faith,” the Bishop said.
Oyejola said Omisore had spent a significant part of his life in the public square, advocating for the people and offering leadership at both state and national levels.
He said the former senator’s journey from engineering to politics and public administration demonstrated that excellence could be expressed through different forms of service to God, humanity and country.
Omisore, he recalled, rose from the engineering profession to become Deputy Governor of Osun State and subsequently served in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, giving him decades of experience in governance, politics and public administration.
The Bishop, however, said Omisore’s legacy should not be assessed only by the political offices he had occupied, elections he had contested or positions he had held.
Rather, he said, his life should also be measured by his commitment to people, support for the Church, humanitarian activities, relationships and sacrifices made in the course of his journey.
Oyejola acknowledged that Omisore had experienced difficult moments in his political career, including court cases, political battles, defeats and victories, but urged him to see those experiences as opportunities through which character, wisdom and resilience had been developed.
Drawing from the biblical account of Joseph, who was rejected by his brothers and sold into Egypt before eventually rising to prominence, the Bishop urged Omisore not to regard political disappointment as the end of his relevance.
He said God’s delays were not necessarily denials, adding that a closed political door could sometimes be part of a divine plan to prepare an individual for a different and more meaningful form of influence.
“Many win elections and lose their soul. You are keeping both your faith and commitment to service. That is rare in Nigeria of our time,” Oyejola said.
The Bishop stressed that politics should be treated as a vocation of service rather than merely a struggle for power, position and personal advantage.
He urged Omisore to use his accumulated experience to guide younger politicians and help shape a new generation of leaders committed to integrity, service and the common good.
“At this stage of life, God is calling you not just to do more, but to be more of a mentor to the younger generation of leaders,” he said.
Oyejola urged Omisore to become an “unmistakable voice of wisdom” at a time when political values were increasingly being challenged by personal interests, intolerance and unhealthy competition.
He said Omisore’s continued engagement in public affairs could demonstrate that it was possible to participate actively in politics without abandoning Christian values or the fear of God.
According to him, political influence should not always be measured by occupying an elective office, as an experienced statesman could have an even greater impact through mentorship, counselling, institution-building and moral guidance.
The Bishop also commended Omisore for his support for the Church, charitable activities and humanitarian causes.
He said some sacrifices made in the service of humanity might not receive immediate public recognition, but would remain significant before God.
Oyejola, however, advised the celebrant to guard his heart against bitterness, pride and destructive political rivalry.
He urged Omisore to forgive those who might have betrayed him and bless those who defeated him politically, stressing the importance of forgiveness in sustaining a meaningful legacy.
“We are proud of you. The Church is praying for you, and God is not finished with you yet,” he declared.
The Bishop also recalled Omisore’s early connection with the Catholic faith, noting that during his days at St. John’s Grammar School, Ile-Ife, he served as an altar server.
Oyejola said a person formed around the altar would understand the meaning of sacrifice, while Omisore’s background in a royal household should also have taught him the importance of responsibility.
Quoting Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given, much is required,” the Bishop urged Omisore to continue to deploy his experience and resources for the benefit of society.
He further called on political leaders across Nigeria to place the common good above sectional, ethnic, personal and partisan interests.
Oyejola warned against what he described as “our people only” politics, stressing that good leadership should produce policies capable of improving the lives of all citizens, irrespective of their economic, political or social status.
He challenged Christian politicians to remain actively involved in politics without compromising their faith through corruption, violence or other practices capable of weakening democratic institutions.
According to him, Christians in politics should bring the values of the Gospel into political institutions instead of allowing the negative values of politics to compromise their convictions.
The Bishop said a God-fearing politician could occupy the cabinet, legislature, local government or other positions of authority and still refuse to participate in corruption and violence.
He urged Christian political leaders to ensure that the presence of God was reflected in their decisions, conduct and commitment to justice.
Reflecting on Omisore’s age, Oyejola described 69 as a significant period of transition, coming close to the biblical “three score and ten.”
He said the age should not represent retirement from purpose but a period in which accumulated experience could be transformed into mentorship, counsel, prayer and enduring legacy.
He cited biblical figures including Moses, Caleb and Anna as examples of people whose advancing age did not diminish their relevance or usefulness to God and humanity.
The Bishop said Omisore had passed through different seasons of life, including youth, professional development, political struggle, leadership, disappointment, loss and grace, adding that those experiences had given him a perspective that could benefit the younger generation.
He described the milestone as “completion leading to a new beginning,” urging Omisore to look back with gratitude and forward with hope.
Meanwhile, friends and political associates at the ceremony described Omisore as a politician of considerable experience, strategic understanding and resilience.
They said his decades of involvement in Osun politics and national political affairs had exposed him to different dimensions of governance and political leadership.
According to them, Omisore’s ability to remain relevant across different political seasons was evidence of his deep understanding of political organisation, relationships and leadership.
The speakers also praised his ability to maintain relationships across political divides, describing him as a bridge-builder whose network extended beyond partisan boundaries.
They said his contributions to society should not be viewed solely through the prism of political appointments and elective offices, stressing that his humanitarian activities and personal relationships had also formed an important part of his public identity.
The celebrants said the 69th birthday provided an opportunity to appreciate Omisore’s journey, the challenges he had overcome, the relationships he had built and the contributions he had made to Osun State and Nigeria.
As the celebration continued, guests sang, danced and exchanged goodwill messages, creating an atmosphere of joy and thanksgiving.
The cutting of the birthday cake became one of the major highlights of the event, with Omisore joined by Bishop Oyejola and other dignitaries to mark the milestone.
Prayers were offered for God’s continued protection, wisdom, strength and good health for the former senator, while guests wished him many more years of fruitful service.
The celebration ended with renewed calls for Omisore to continue deploying his experience, influence and relationships toward mentoring younger leaders and contributing to the development of Osun State and Nigeria.
For his friends and political associates, however, the celebration was about more than turning 69.
It was a tribute to a political journey that has spanned decades, a recognition of resilience in the face of adversity and an appreciation of a man they described as a political titan, strategist, bridge-builder and humanitarian.
And for Bishop Oyejola, the message was unmistakable: Omisore’s most important chapter may not necessarily be behind him.
Rather, his 69th year should herald a new season in which experience gives birth to wisdom, political battles give way to mentorship, and influence is transformed into a lasting legacy for generations yet unborn.
The Bishop therefore prayed that God would turn Omisore’s years into wisdom for younger leaders, his scars into testimonies of grace and his influence into seeds that would continue to bear fruit.
Earlier Senator iyola Omisore while speaking with journalists said “I give all glory to Almighty God for keeping me alive and seeing the happen of today before the people.
” I thank God because i see every year as a year, what you should expect depends on God’s plan for me, whatever he wants me to do I will do.
