Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, on Friday in Abeokuta turned the funeral church service for the late mother of the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, to a forum for testing their political popularity among their people.

The venue was St. John’s Anglican Church, Isale Igbein, Abeokuta. It all started when the officiating minister and Bishop of Egba Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Adekunle, invited the son of the deceased to the pulpit to deliver his speech.


Abati, in the course of his speech, recognised the dignitaries who were present in the church, including the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; Chief of Staff to President Jonathan, Mike Oghiadomhe; Ibikunle Amosun and former Governor Daniel.

When Abati recognised the former Ogun State governor, a deafening applause rented the church’s atmosphere. The applause for Daniel went on for some minutes and Abati had to pause for a while to allow it to subside before he could proceed with his speech. Shouts of “OGD, OGD, OGD” in the church hall also followed the applause.

Immediately after Abati’s speech, Amosun, who took over the pulpit, vehemently expressed his disgust at the loud ovation that greeted the church’s atmosphere when Daniel’s name was mentioned.

Amosun, who did not recognise Daniel while acknowledging dignitaries in the church, however, drew Abati’s attention to what he described as “politics in the church.”

The governor wondered why supporters of politicians would turn the church into a campaign ground.
http://www.tundeola.com/2013/07/amosun-blasts-gbenga-daniel-over-church.html