On June 3, 2022, then presidential aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, set the social media on fire with a prophetic declaration of “Emilokan” (It’s my turn). He did that in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Tinubu, as the story was told then, was being frustrated by an alleged “Aso Rock cabal” in his quest to succeed former President Muhammadu Buhari. The cabal was not disposed to a President Tinubu at Aso Rock, it was alleged. To stop him, many obstacles were being erected on his pathway. And they were quite formidable.
At a meeting with APC delegates, while campaigning to secure the candidacy of the party, Tinubu apparently responded to his traducers. He said he was instrumental to the installation of President Buhari after he had failed thrice in his bid for the Aso Rock Villa. “It is my time. I’m educated. I’m experienced. I have been serving people for a long time. Bring me the presidency, it is my turn,” Tinubu had said.
Then, on January 27, 2023, during his campaign proper, Tinubu, now presidential candidate, went back to the Gateway State with another bombastic statement: ‘A ma di’bo, a ma wo’le’ (we will vote and we will win). It was during the Naira scarcity, following the currency swap policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), just few months to the general elections.
The currency swap and the accompanying fuel scarcity were viewed as an attempt to sabotage Tinubu, who had by then become the frontrunner in the presidential race. The two pronouncements in the Gateway State were seen as divine. “Emilokan”, it was alleged, rattled the so-called cabal while the other assertion won Tinubu more sympathetic votes, which propelled him to the Presidency on May 29.
And so President Tinubu on Thursday, June 29, touched down in Ogun State on a ‘thank you’ visit, having realised the pivotal role the state played in his ascendancy. The visit, the first by the President to any state in the country (aside Lagos, his home state, where he always celebrates Eid-el-Kabir), is indicative of the eminent position of Ogun State in the country.
Ijebu Ode and Abeokuta played host to the august visitor and his entourage, including his Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu. On hand to welcome the President was the host governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, accompanied by his Deputy, Engr. (Mrs) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, Deputy Chief of Staff, Dr. Oluwatoyin Taiwo and a retinue of government officials.
At every moment, excitement ruled the air as the people thronged the venues of the visit, with the president and his entourage relishing the peaceful, welcoming aura of the state under a progressive APC administration that many openly declared had, with a legislature also controlled by the same party, made a massive change in their lives.
Speaking at the palace of Awujale of Ijebuland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Adetona, President Tinubu was effusive with praises for the loyalty and commitment of the people of Ogun State before and during the elections. He told Oba Adetona that he was in the state to redeem his pledge of winning the presidential election. “I have redeemed my pledge that I will come back with victory and the crown,” Tinubu said. The President, who recalled his declarations in the state during the difficult period of the campaigns, acknowledged that “these spirits had been the driving force” propelling him.
“Our monies were confiscated. The cashless policy didn’t work; it was terrible then. I realised that I came to this palace to invoke the spirit of freedom, which we are noted for. I invoked that spirit twice. The spirit of Baba Emilokan. That’s Baba (Awujale), being blunt, being decisive, that’s him, he will tell you. And the second spirit is that of money (Naira scarcity). ‘A ma di’bo a ma wo’le’ (we will vote and we will win) even if there is no money. And that, ever since, has been the spirit that is driving me to serve.” The President described his visit to Ijebu Ode as a homecoming, saying, “The way you have taken me, the way you have responded to me, all I can say is thank you. May you live long and may you witness a prosperous Nigeria.”
The President also visited Abeokuta, where he described the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, as a great leader.
“I have redeemed my pledge that I will come back with victory and the crown. The hope is recharged; the hope is here. That hope will never fail. That hope will recharge your lives in a positive manner. By the grace of Almighty God, we shall reap the fruits of our labour, Nigeria will see positive change, just endure these baby steps of pain. This country is the only one we have. I have been a refugee and I know what it means to be a refugee and my green passport is what I still have now,” the President told the Egba paramount ruler.
Governor Abiodun, speaking at the Awujale’s palace, described Tinubu as a man with uncommon grace, a living testimony to resilience, determination, and a man who in the last one month had changed the face of governance in Nigeria.
According to him, the President had started to walk the talk. “During the campaign, you preached the ‘Renewed Hope’ gospel. Within the first 24 hours in office, you began to give Nigerians, indeed, that renewed hope, Mr. President, on behalf of your Royal Majesty, the entire people, government of this great state, it is my pleasure to welcome you to Ogun State, to welcome you to Ijebu Ode, to welcome you to our revered Kabiyesi’s palace on this very private visit.
“Your Excellency, we want to thank you because you are indeed an Omoluabi. You are an experienced politician. I remember when we were in Paris, one of your colleague President said this is indeed a renewed dawn for Nigeria.
“Kabiyesi called you and expressed the desire to come and visit you. He said he would like to come and see you either in Lagos or Abuja. But of course, in your usual self, you said to Kabiyesi, I would rather come and see you. And within 48 hours, sir, you decided despite your hectic schedule today, that Kabiyesi is your Kabiyesi. You fondly speak about him. You cherished the memories when you were in the trenches and Kaybiyesi was there with you. I must tell you, Kabiyesi always reminds us of that journey. It is indeed to the glory of God that you are here today, following hectic campaigns as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Kabiyesi is here, alive to witness a day like this.
“We in Ogun State are proud to host you today because this is your first to any state as the President of Nigeria. Of course, this is the state where ‘olule’ was coined. This is the state where ‘eleyi’ was coined. This is the state where ‘emilokan’ was also coined. So, we deserve to be the number one state as we are always the number one in many instances,” Abiodun said.
Akaraigbo of Remoland, who is also the Chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, commended the President for starting his administration exceptionally well, adding, however, that the government had a lot to do. He called for urgent palliatives to cushion the effect of some of the government policies, which he described as bold steps. He lauded the wise decisions so far taken by the administration, reminding the President of his promise to bring development to Remo.
”I remember when you came to the palace and all we said is: “our dream is for you to go and win the primaries, and that once you win the primaries, I’m sure that God will take us there. I’m glad that God took us there. I want to remind you of what you said when you came to Remo. You said with the proximity of Sagamu to Lagos, you were surprised at the level of development in Remo. This is the time, Mr. President, to walk that talk,” he said.
Speaking, Oba Adetona recalled his roles during the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, saying he was even nicknamed ‘Baba NADECO.’ He said the President has brought hope to Nigeria with some of the policies already introduced. The Awujale said he was proud of Tinubu becoming the president of Nigeria, saying he is the one to take the country to the Promised Land. Oba Gbadebo also prayed for the success of the Tinubu administration.
Eminent indigenes of the state, including Otunba Mike Adenuga, Chief Sunny Kuku, and former governors of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, and Olusegun Osoba, among others, were at the two venues.
• Lekan Adeniran, the Editor of Western Post, lives at Arepo, Ogun State
