• Abiodun, Obaseki, Dickson, others pay glowing tributes for meritorious eight-year service
By Oluwafemi Popoola
The immediate past Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, has been celebrated by his kinsmen and a host of political leaders across the country for his successful stint serving as Nigeria’s Vice President for eight years.
They congratulated the former Vice President for his successful two-term eight-year service to the country and humanity.
The tributes flooded in at a public thanksgiving and appreciation reception held on Sunday, July 9, 2023, in honour of the former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for his unblemished service to his fatherland.
The well-attended event, which was organised by the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee members of an ethnocultural group, Ikenne Development Association, in honour of Prof. Osinbajo, who is the “son of the soil,” took place at Obafemi Awolowo Square, Ikenne, Remo, Ogun State.
The chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas, Akarigbo of Remoland and paramount ruler of Remo Kingdom, Oba (Dr) Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, spoke glowingly of the former VP, declaring that Osinbajo represented them very well.
Attesting to Osinbajo’s integrity, the monarch recalled the unfounded allegations against Osinbajo during the first term of his tenure, saying he went to inquire from the former VP about what happened and Osinbajo told him he was Innocent.
He said, “I recall when he was at the helm of affairs, I had to gather eminent sons and daughters of Remo, we went to see him in Lagos. We asked him Mr Vice President all these things we are hearing are they true that you took this, you took that.
“He looked me right in the eyes and said Kabiyesi, I know where I am coming from before I became the Vice President, I knew who I was with all the opportunities I now have, I won’t take anybody’s kobo.
“Immediately he told us that, we went on the offensive saying it is not possible, It can’t happen because we believed what he told us. Osinbajo is a man of integrity and he has represented us well,’ His Royal Majesty concluded.
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The Chairman of the group, Otunba Adedoyin Adesina, the Aare Asoludero of Ikenne land, in his welcome address, thanked the former VP for the numerous projects he spearheaded in his hometown throughout his tenure as VP for eight years while he began to mention several of the projects to the amazement of the audience.
He also mentioned that it was Osinbajo who commissioned the foundation of the edifice used for the thanksgiving and appreciation event in his honour.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is remarkable to highlight that the foundation laying ceremony of the edifice that we are in today was done by our former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on 7th November 2015,” Otunba said.
He added, “And today we are hosting the thanksgiving and appreciation procession in his honour under this roof.”
“At this juncture, we want to accord honour to whom such is due as a mark of reciprocation of the good gesture of His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo towards elevating the status of Ikenne-Remo.
“On behalf of the good people of God’s own city of joy, the mega and Jerusalem of Nigeria’s politics, the city of joy and the town set of a high hill that cannot be hidden, the famous Ikenne Ereke, where money grows and the entire Remonians.”
“I want to welcome Professor Yemi Osinbajo and his amiable wife (Dolapo) back home after those eight years of sojourn at Abuja on the hot seat of power under intense pressure, unimaginable risks and unavoidable experiences in and at the receiving end of different banters in the political sphere,” he concluded.
Thank you for your service to Nigeria — Gov Dapo Abiodun
In his tribute, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, thanked the former VP, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, for showing the Omoluabi ethos in his handling of public office.
He said, “To our very own immediate past Vice President, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, we thank you for your extraordinary leadership, remarkable accomplishment and unwavering dedication to service of our great country.”
“On behalf of the entire government and the people of Ogun state, I want to thank God for the strength and wisdom He has given you through which you’ve been able to sail through the murky waters of politics in a heterogeneous country like Nigeria.”
Osinbajo gave his all to his people — Seriake Dickson
Former Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, who also attended the programme personally in his tribute said, “We are here because we see in the former Vice President a man of character, a man who served this country meritoriously.”
“We are also here in the reciprocity of whom the former Vice president has been to our state in his official capacity as Vice President of this country,” Dickson said.
According to him, “He has visited Bayelsa before me and even when I was a governor not less than five times officially. At any time that we called upon him to do one thing or the other, he has always been there. He has done a lot for our state, Bayelsa.”
He added, “He has elevated our sons and daughters in the course of his duties as Vice President of this country and so we want to say on behalf of the people of Bayelsa State, a very big thank you to the former Vice President and also join the people of Ikenne in congratulating him and welcome him back home and this is how it should be at the end of service for a man who has given his all to his people.”
Working with Osinbajo was a unique experience — Gov Obaseki
Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki said working with Osinbajo as Vice President was a special experience for him and he was eternally grateful for the opportunity.
“Working with a man who had a vision, a man who is committed to this country, a man who has character and a man who has integrity, for me was a unique experience,” Obaseki said.
“During our National Economic Council (NEC) session, we see an intellectual, who worked through all the papers presented to us. I know Ikenne people are known for hard work and diligence. He brought those characteristics to us in NEC. Your Excellency, we say thank you.
The high-profile gathering was well attended by eminent Nigerians cutting across different segments of the society, which include Governor Diri Duoye of Bayelsa State, former Osun State governor and immediate Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and former Ekiti State governor and immediate past Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, among others.
More photos from the event:
