Yar’Adua, Mark, governors watch as OBJ, Bankole embrace

Olayinka Olukoya, Abeokuta - 10.02.2008

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Oladimeji Bankole, for the first time since the latter assumed office publicly embraced each other, dispelling rumours of animosity between them.

The event was at the wedding of Chief Obasanjo’s son, Major Adeboye Obasanjo, to former Miss Daisy Nyada in Abeokuta yesterday. The memorable event was witnessed by President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and his counterparts from Niger, Osun, Ekiti, Katsina, Kano, Akwa-Ibom and Imo states.

While appreciating the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo for his support towards his administration, President Yar’Adua said he made the visit to display his level of gratitude to the monarch for the blessings he gave to him during the electioneering campaign.

“I will not let the nation down,” the president promised. At the occasion, the first class royal father had urged the president no to relent in his determination to promote the well-being of all Nigerians, especially the common people. Oba Gbadebo charged the president to give Egbaland all the necessary support in the implementation of his administration’s programmes.

He also noted that Egbaland did not in any way benefit from the eight years rule of the former president because the policy then was others before us”.

“This is the moment of recompense for the Egbas. We trust you would not let us down. We assure your administration of our unflinching support and the maintenance of peace at all times”, the royal father said.