IT was a moment of joy for the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs.) Oluwaseun Alaba Lawson, on Monday as she narrated how she narrowly escaped death during the administration of ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel.
Daniel ruled the Gateway State for two terms on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) between 2003 to 2007 and 2007 to 2011.
Lawson, who is also the Iyalode of Egbaland, said at a church service to mark her 65th birthday that Daniel was after her because of her bluntness in saying it the way it was, which was displeasing to the ruling government.
She said at the thanksgiving held at St. James Cathedral Church, Idi-Ape, Abeokuta, in an emotional tone, that after escaping the assassination attempt she fled Abeokuta into hiding, and did not return until two years after.
GatewayMail recalled that unknown gunmen on Monday night of December 22, 2008, about eight years ago, invaded Lawson’s residence along Quarry Road, Abeokuta, but while she escaped the alleged assassination attempt, her security guard was killed, as the attackers sliced the man’s throat.
While narrating her ordeal in the presence of clerics and guests, Lawson declared: “My offence was because I am blunt in telling the truth. An attempt was made on my life, and with God’s grace I escaped assassins’ bullet.
“I had to go into exile because they wanted my life at all cost. I cannot come into my hometown for some years. Even when I clocked 60 I can’t celebrate my birthday in my home.”
While appreciating God for sparing her life, Lawson, who is the Proprietress of Lawson Group of Schools, enjoined everyone to do good at all time.
According to her, doing good would enable God to always protect such individual against his or her enemies, as “God would not abandon such person.”
She said: “I would have been assassinated if not because of God’s intervention. It was sad that I had to be on exile, it was a turbulent period. The past government (Daniel administration) wanted me dead at all cost.”
Lawson further lamented: “They used everything to attack me. They attempted to remove me as Iyalode of Egba, but Alafin of Oyo made me Iyalode of Yorubaland. Why won’t I be grateful to God?
“At a point, they asked all civil servants to withdraw their children from my school,” Lawson, who is the Chairman, Governing Council of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta stressed.
Earlier, the Provost of the church, Samuel Adeyemi, explained that giving of thanks to God was the fastest means to receiving blessings from God, and the people.
Adeyemi, in his sermon, said that whenever human beings are faced with challenges of life, thanksgiving would be appropriate when prayer and fasting failed.
The Provost stressed on the need for the people to always examine their lives and ensure they act in line with Bible’s teachings.
