It was the first time in memorable history that nearly all living former governors of Ogun State were gathered at the very spot from where they had at various times dictated the pace and pattern of governance of the state. Even more remarkable last Monday was the presence of the first governor of the state, Major General Seidu Balogun who governed the state at the same time that the then Lt. Col. Muhammadu Buhari was also called upon to become governor of the then Northeast State.
The other subsequent governors including Oladipo Diya, Oladayo Popoola, Oladehinde Joseph, Daniel Akintonde, Sam Ewang and Kayode Olofinmoyin were gathered at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta for a special State Executive Council meeting to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the creation of the state on February 3, 1976.
Not too much surprise especially given the political hues, there were two notable abstentions, Aremo Segun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, the two immediate predecessors to the incumbent governor of the state, Senator Ibukunle Amosun. No reason was provided for the absence of the two men who remarkably, remain political factors in the state. The activities marking the 40th anniversary of the state were weaved into a special programme that also included the commissioning of 40 special legacy projects achieved by the Amosun administration that is now into its sixth year.
The special guest of honour for the anniversary celebration was President Muhammadu Buhari. Remarkably, Amosun has turned into what many assume as one of the president’s most loyal confidants in the Southwest. Apart from Amosun’s party affiliation, the intimate relationship between him and the President was an added advantage.
Both men were regional pillars in the former All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Amosun having made a strong showing in the 2007 governorship election on the platform of the party, the last year that Buhari also contested the presidency on the platform of the same party. Also, recall that the incumbent minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, who served as Amosun’s commissioner of finance in his first term, and had been re-nominated for a second stint, is believed to have been ‘donated’ to Buhari by Amosun.
The anniversary activities which had been kicked off the previous weekend with religious outing took a life of its own with the arrival of Buhari on Monday evening. He touched base in the state after being flown into the Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode in a chopper. As planned by the state government, President Buhari was billed to visit the Awujale, the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona and the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, two of the four paramount rulers in the state.
Buhari’s visit to Adetona was, however, not surprising given the not too public knowledge of the strong relationship between both men. However, the exclusion of a visit to the two other paramount rulers in the state largely on account of the president’s tight schedule raised some dust that, however, settled. The President, on his arrival, held a closed-door meeting with the Awujale at his palace in Ijebu-Ode and later met with notable personalities in the state, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
After his about 20 minutes closed-door meeting with the Awujale , Buhari was hosted to a banquet where he briefly addressed eminent personalities and monarchs in Ijebuland. President Buhari, who was expected to inaugurate a flyover named after Oba Adetona along Mobalufon/Ibadan Road and some projects in Ogun East Senatorial district, could not inaugurate them due to time constraints.
On getting to Abeokuta, he also paid a courtesy call on the Alake in his palace. Oba Gbadebo threw his weight behind Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, noting the president’s war against the “national cankerworm” had been acclaimed nationally and internationally. He added that the anti-corruption crusade shouldn’t be “just a flash but a process that will last forever. I believe strongly that those who did not understand your messianic mission at your first coming, are today singing hosanna. “Your vision and mission in 1983-1985 were unequivocal, unambiguous and clear-headed. This was to give Nigerians a corrupt-free nation where greed, gluttony and avarice would have no place.”
Ogun West protests
The Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle speaking at the luncheon organised in honour of the president appealed to him to look into the development of infrastructure in the country’s border towns. Oba Olugbenle whose domain shares borders with the neighbouring Benin Republic bemoaned the decrepit state of infrastructure in such communities. He, however, assured the president of the support of the traditional rulers in the state for his ongoing anti-corruption crusade. While reacting to the failure of the President to visit their monarch during the two-day visit, the Yewa Awori Youth Agenda Forum said the state by its natural creation has four divisions that include Egba, Ijebu, Remo and Egbado now called Yewa.
YAYAF coordinator, Kayode Oni said “what we see as celebration at 40 years is to me a frontal display of the official assault on the fourth child which is Yewa of the state that naturally accommodates the Yewa- Awori people.
Buhari commissions four projects
Buhari commenced the activities the following day with the inauguration of some projects to the admiration of thousands of residents of Abeokuta, the state capital who turned out in large numbers to cheer his convoy. Some of the residents who lined the streets and roads through which the president’s convoy drove to inaugurate the various projects chanted “Sai Buhari! Sai Baba!!! Sai Buhari!!!”
Traders in the various markets left their wares to join school children and workers observing the one-day public holiday declared by the State Government, to stand by the roadside to applaud the president. President Buhari inaugurated the Ultra-Modern Market, Omida, Abeokuta, Itoku-Sapon Flyover named after the late mother of late afro-beat king, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti and the Ultra-Modern Market, Sapon, Abeokuta.
He also performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the Judiciary Complex at Kobape, Abeokuta, inaugurated the Femi and Dotun Oyewole Model School, Kobape, Abeokuta and the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate, Kobape, Abeokuta. At all places he commended the efforts of the present administration in building on the legacies of previous regimes. A minute silence was observed in honour of the late ex-governors of the state, including Brigadier Harris Eghagha, Navy Captain Mohammed Lawal and the first executive governor of the state , Chief Olabisi Onabanjo.
Also, in attendance were Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, as well as senators representing Ogun Central and West senatorial districts, Lanre Tejuoso and Gbolahan Dada. In his remarks, Amosun commended the former governors for their contributions to the state, saying he would not relent in building on the foundation they laid.
He later decorated his predecessors with state crest and plaque. The state’s 40th Anniversary Special Recognition Award was given to Prof . Biyi Afonja, former INEC Commissioner for Lagos and Rivers State, Olori Yetunde Gbadebo; Chief Kessington Adebutu. Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka who left before the programme commenced was also conferred with the award in absentia. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was given the “Icon of all Time” award by the state government.
Obasanjo, Awujale clash over proposed Ijebu State
One of the highlights of the visit was the clash between former President Obasanjo and Awujale over the age-long agitation for the creation of Ijebu State out of Ogun State. Both Obasanjo and Awujale spoke in the presence of President Buhari, some governors and other dignitaries at the luncheon held for the President. Obasanjo while reacting to an earlier statement by the Awujale said he would only support the creation of Ijebu State, if the people of the senatorial district would agree and reach a consensus on the choice of Ikenne as the capital of the proposed state.
According to him, “I’ll support the creation of Ijebu State if and if only the capital will be Ikenne.” The Awujale, earlier in his goodwill message had enjoined Obasanjo to throw his weight behind them over the agitation for the creation of Ijebu State. The monarch reiterated his relentless demand for the creation of Ijebu State, stressing that Obasanjo’s support was crucial. He, however, urged President Buhari to grant the request of the people of Ijebuland for a state of their own.
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