Buhari Named “Omowale” & Other Gists From President’s 1-Day Visit To Ogun State

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari is in Ogun State.

The one-day visit is to commission five major projects undertaken by the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration as well as to interact with stakeholders on issues that have pitched leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state into different factions.

A reception was held in honor of the President with selected political leaders, investors, and royal fathers in attendance.

Here are some of the short takes from the reception.

…..President Muhammadu Buhari was given a new name, Omowale (the child has returned home), and an honorary indigenous status of Ogun state by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The Governor made the announcement and commemorated it with the gift of a key to the gate of Ogun state to the President.

….The southwest governors showed up to identify with Governor Abiodun – except Seyi Maknde, the Governor of Oyo State.

Makinde who is a member of the rival People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was represented by his deputy Rauf Olaniyan.

The Governor was reportedly absent because he is in mourning over the death of former Governor Adebayo Alao Akala.

Akala was Governor of Oyo State on the platform of the PDP died as chieftain of the APC.

….Ibikunle Amosun, the former Governor of Ogun State was at the reception to honor President Muhammad Buhari.

The Senator representing Ogun Central put aside political differences with Governor Abiodun to honor the leader of the country and his party.

And he was in turn honored by Governor Abiodun during the recognition of dignitaries in attendance.

…..Governor Abiodun and his wife, Bamidele wore the same indigenous Adire fabric for the occasion.

The same worn by President Buhari – blue with dints of white.

But they differed on the color of facemasks.

The Governor chose black, his wife went with blue.

….The Awujale of Ijebuland- Oba Sikiru Adetona – was “unrecognized” in the names of royalty reeled out by the Governor.

He started with Akarigbo of Remoland and chairman of the council of traditional rulers in Ogun State -Oba Babatunde Ajayi, followed by the Olu of Ilaro – Oba Kehinde Olugbele and Alake of Egbaland – Oba Adedotun Gbadebo.

It is not sure whether Governor Abiodun “skipped” Awujale because he was not present or represented.

…..”Feel free to clap” Governor Abiodun encouraged after making what he deemed a fantastic revelation.

D.A (Dapo Abiodun) as friends hail him declared that Ogun state recorded an internally generated revenue of N100Billion in 2019.

“A Covid(19) year” – he stressed for emphasis to smattering applause which he encouraged to be stronger with “feel free to clap”.

….A reconciliation committee has been set up by the National Headquarter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to reconcile disputing factions in Ogun state and come up with a consensus list of who is who in the party hierarchy.

The reconciliation team met the two factions separately and is expected to announce a binding announcement.

President Buhari’s visit was also scheduled to meet with stakeholders as a form of intervention on another front.

But Governor Abiodun ahead of the reconciliation team and meeting with the president announced while recognizing dignitaries present “the chairman of the APC in Ogun State Yemi Sanusi”.

Sanusi is the party chairman elected at the factional congress headed by Governor Abiodun while Derin Adebiyi emerged APC chairman in Ogun State at the congress backed by Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

….Ask and it will be given sayeth the Holy Book – which was what played out for Governor Abiodun.

He requested a special status for Ogun as the state with the highest concentration of federal roads and the President not only promised the attention of the Federal Government but named those the ones interventions should be expected such as Sango to Abeokuta and Ota to Idiroko and others.

….The person who designed and constructed the gate to Ogun state has been unveiled.

He is Gbenga Onabanjo, founder and managing partner at GYB Consult Limited as well as the founder Go-Forte Foundation.

….Aliko Dangote, the chairman of Dangote Group dubbed “son of the soil” based on his investments in Ogun state, Tunde Lemo former Central Bank Governor, Segun Ogunsanay the managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Airtel Nigeria and Segun Awolowo the former Chief Executive Officer at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council were some of the dignitaries that were in attendance.

….With Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the seat, the Governor of Ogun state corrected what is best tagged as a misrepresentation.

without mentioning Lagos state, Governor Abiodun told President Buhari in his welcome address that Ogun state is rated the number one investment destination not just in Nigeria but the whole of West Africa.

A status Lagos state has always laid claim to year in, year out.

…..the “transformational projects” commissioned by President Buhari in Ogun state include – the 42km Sagamu Interchange – Abeokuta dual carriageway, the new Kobape Housing Estate, located on the Sagamu Abeokuta Interchange, and the first phase of Kings Court Estate, Abeokuta, developed by the Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC) .