President Bola Tinubu has congratulated  Olusola Oke, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, on his 70th birthday.

The president lauded Mr Oke’s contributions to the legal profession, politics and public service.

In a statement issued on Monday by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Mr Tinubu said Mr Oke’s career reflects a blend of legal excellence and political engagement. 

He said Mr Oke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, turned politician, has successfully combined his legal practice with active participation in politics, noting that his professional standing provided a platform for broader national impact.

The Ondo-born politician was elected a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency, in 1992. In 2000, the federal government appointed him to the pioneer board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). 

He also served as national legal adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 2008 and 2012 before joining the APC, where he played a role in the 2023 Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation as Deputy Director of Legal Affairs.

Mr Tinubu acknowledged Mr Oke’s contributions to the state, including his tenure as Executive Chairman of the Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) in 2004.

Despite his unsuccessful bids for the Ondo governorship, the president said Mr Oke has remained committed to public service.

“Oke’s professional practice as a lawyer of high reputation provided the platform that gifted him the opportunity to blossom in politics and to join others in efforts to impact his people positively.

“Though Oke has twice unsuccessfully contested for the governorship of Ondo State, he has served the state in many capacities, including being the Executive Chairman of the Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC), an intervention agency, in 2004,” Mr Tinubu said. 

The president prayed for more years, good health, and wisdom for the celebrant.