•To Gauge What His Kinsmen Think About Him
Not many people know that VP Yemi Osinbajo is very popular in his hometown, Ikenne, Remo. That was one of the things City People Magazine discovered when it visited a few days ago. It was a trip that took days to plan. City People wanted to dig up, on the roots of Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo who is from the sleepy town of Ikenne-Remo. We had wanted to know what his kinsmen think about him. We wanted to know, first-hand, what the V.P had done to positively affect the indigenes of the town. This is a town that has produced many Greats, like the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and big families like the Sofolas, many of whom are eminent lawyers, and many other big names.
Ikenne is an ancient town in Ogun State, with a cumulative population of 120,000 people. It is a town connected to so many Great men in the Southwest who have influenced developments at various points in Nigeria’s history. The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo lived in Ikenne till he died. Popular Education advocate, late Tai Solarin’s School, Mayflower is also in Ikenne. The late real estate and Property guru, Femi Osibona (Fourscore) is also from Ikenne, Also, the internationally recognized Professor of Political Science, the late Prof. Adeoye Akinsanya came from Ikenne. And of course Prof. Osinbajo & his wife, Dolly have Ikenne as their native town.
City People gathered that shortly after Prof. Osinbajo declared, Ikenne Youths held a rally, tagged: Ikenne Solidarity Walk for Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) for Nigeria Presidency 2023. It was held at an Open Ground by Ikenne Security Council Office, Ereke Square Junction, Ikenne.
Over the last 3 years, Ikenne has worn a new look due to the efforts of Gov. Dapo Abiodun. There is this ongoing reconstruction of Sagamu-Ikenne Road, being done by the Ogun State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. It is for a 6-month duration. In the course of the visit, the City People team visited the Oba-elect, HRH Oba Ademola Oluwayomi Odeneye-Adeyiga. (Ilufemiloye 1). He is the Alakenne of Ikene (Elect). He narrated the history of the town and facts about Osinbajo that most people don’t know. The team also visited the Association of Tricycle riders, who expressed their excitement about the decision of VP Osinbajo to contest. The Okada Riders Association are also excited to hear the news and vowed to support Osinbajo in the move to become the President.
Pushing more, City People drove down to the family residence of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, where the youths were waiting for the team. They took turns in expressing themselves, as to how apt the choice of Osinbajo is.
Otunba Olusegun Akanji Adediran (Adex) is a Block construction expert. He spoke to City People extensively on the need to allow VP Osinbajo to succeed President Buhari to actualize the long-awaited dream of Ijebu State.
They also revealed that Osinbajo is always supportive of community events, like the Annual Ereke Day celebrations. The last one took place from Friday 29th October 2021 to Saturday 6th November 2021. That was the 45th Annual Ereke Day Celebrations organised by Ikenne Development Association (IDA). The celebration is held every November. City People gathered that Prof. Osinbajo also supports an annual revival, usually held in Ikenne.
The City People team drove into town from the Sagamu-Benin Expressway and passed through the Arch welcoming visitors into Obafemi Awolowo Avenue and as we hit the T junction, we parked and began to talk to Ikenne people. At that intersection, we met hundreds of Okada Riders & Maruwa Tricycle Riders. The main road is called Tai Solarin Way, which runs across Obafemi Awolowo Avenue & Ayo Akinsanya (which leads to Aiyepe). So, it is a junction that leads to Odogbolu, Ilisan, Sagamu & Aiyepe.
The trip afforded us the opportunity of conducting an Opinion Poll with residents of Ikenne, from the Okada drivers to Maruwa Riders. We found out that in Ikenne, Okada is Big business. And the business is operated by indigenes & non-indigenes (in the main, by Northerners). We interviewed the food sellers, artisans like Mechanics, Carpenters, and Traders to paraga sellers, all in a bid to get to know how they feel about VP Osinbajo. The team met with the old and young, with men & women.
One striking thing is the fact that they are all aware that VP Osinbajo has declared. His posters litter all the walls of the length and breadth of the town. All the major streets in the town have posters of the VP. Many Okada & Marwa riders also have the PYO 2023 stickers on their motorcycles & tricycles.
All those who spoke to City People are in support of VP Osinbajo. They are happy that the Presidency is coming to Ikenne. They feel his choice will bring forth, Growth & Development to their town. They were all of the opinions that he will perform if voted to power.
We asked them what VP Osinbajo has attracted to the town so far, and they pointed at a few Federal Government projects here and there. There is a Solar Tank erected beside his family house, it is part of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources Penasit Programme. It involves the provision of a Solar-powered Borehole on Oropo Street, Ikenne. There is also the dredging of the Uren River in Ikenne. It was done by the Nigeria Erosion & Watershed Management Project. It is a World Bank Assisted Project. They all confirmed that the V.P usually contributes his own quota to activities in the town like the annual Ereke Day and the annual Revival that takes place in the town.
City People also visited VP Osinbajo’s father’s house which has just been repainted on Agbadebo Onabajo Street, by Alhaja Oropo Street. We met a family member and a lot of youths gathered to talk to City People. Many of them prayed for him to win. They commended the personal attributes of PYO as standing him in good stead for the job. There was also the view that his becoming President will intensify the agitation for Ijebu State and that he is likely to help actualise that agitation.
Who is Prof. Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo who was born on 8th March 1957? He is a lawyer, and politician. He is the 14th and current Vice President of Nigeria since 2015. A member of the All Progressives Congress, he previously served as Attorney General of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 and holds the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. In April 2022, he announced his intention to run for the APC nomination for President of Nigeria in the 2023 presidential election.
Born in Lagos in 1957, Osinbajo is a graduate of the University of Lagos and the London School of Economics. Shortly thereafter, he started lecturing at the University of Lagos while practising law until 1999. That year, Osinbajo was appointed Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the cabinet of Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu. After serving during both of Tinubu’s four-year terms, Osinbajo left government in 2007 and returned to law and lecturing along with preaching in the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Prior to the 2015 presidential election, Osinbajo was chosen as the running mate to APC nominee Muhammadu Buhari. Their ticket went on to defeat the then-incumbent duo of President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo. Four years later, the ticket was re-elected over the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. Osinbajo’s tenure has been marked by his rising profile, especially when he took power as Acting President while Buhari went abroad. Vice President Osinbajo has officially declared to run as president under the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and support groups from various regions are already mobilizing to support him.
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