Obasanjo gets hero's welcome in Abeokuta

By Kolade Larewaju
Posted to the Web: Wednesday, May 30, 2007

ABEOKUTA — FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo arrived Abeokuta, his home town, yesterday, to a tumultuous welcome with the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, telling him that his tenure ended with unprecedented achievements.

Chief Obasanjo, whose presence at the inauguration of Governor Olugbenga Daniel for a second term added colour to the event, uttered no word.
On hand to welcome him at the MKO Stadium were traditional rulers, chiefs, members of his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and school children.

Accompanied by his daughter, Iyabo; Chief James Ibori, former governor of Delta State; Chief Wale Babalakin among others, Obasanjo arrived in a Presidential helicopter at the Navy Secondary School, Onikoko, Abeokuta at about 4.00 p.m. and was received by Governor Daniel and other dignitaries.
He was driven to the MKO Abiola Stadium, venue of the inauguration of Governor Daniel, at about 4.12 p.m. and then driven round the stadium with Governor Daniel in an open-roof Land Rover.

Dressed in a white agbada like his host, Governor Gbenga, former President Obasanjo wore a green Aso-Oke cap said to be that of his alma mater, Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta.
Not one word was uttered by the former President who sat in the air-conditioned State Box of the stadium throughout the inauguration programme which lasted over two hours.

The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo, eulogising Obasanjo in his speech on the occasion described him as an illustrious son who has done both the Egba and the state proud.

According to him, his tenure ended with unprecedented achievements which he listed to include the introduction of GSM, the payment of Nigeria’s foreign debt, removal of the nation from the status of pariah states and making it a united and stable country.

He said: “Nigeria is no longer a debtor nation as you met it. You have done your best. You cannot please everybody. We should take solace in the fact that you cannot please the world. You have done your best and we shall continue to be proud of you.”

At about 4.55 p.m., Governor Daniel took his Oath of Office just after his Deputy, Alhaja Salimot Badru.
In his address, Governor Daniel said during his first tenure he had recreated the state from what used to be called a “civil service” state into an emerging industrial centre. “We have brought hitherto unimaginable development in agriculture, education, healthcare delivery, infrastructure development, road construction and maintenance, employment generation etc.

“We shall not be fettered or hindered by any tradition that has not allowed our state to take full advantage of its potentials. We are committed to breaking all the rules that will not allow us to fully actualise our dream of recreating Ogun State for better, but this will be without compromising the virtues of fairness, equity, accountability and transparency,” he said.