OBJ in Ibadan, declines comments on state of the nation

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Saturday, declined to speak on the state of the nation when newsmen cornered him at two different venues in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Obasanjo graced the installation of one of his loyalists and former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Chief Layiwola Olakojo, as the Mayegun of Ibadanland by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

When approached by newsmen, Obasanjo said the occasion was not one for comment on any national or other issues apart from the ceremony he came for.

Reminded that he is an international figure who should be ready to speak on any subject at any occasion, Obasanjo said “You don’t have to remind me of that. I am not speaking on anything today.”

The Owu chief was later driven from the Olubadan palace in a black Lexus Jeep marked Lagos APP 769 BD, with another of his loyalists and former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to the residence of Olakojo where guests were entertained.

After lunch, Obasanjo, Oyinlola, Olakojo, and Chief Oyewole Fasawe, who joined them at the reception, went into a closed-door meeting that lasted about 40 minutes.

A source privy to the discussion said the subject of the closed-door sessions varied from social to “a bit of political.”

The source, however, said nothing was mentioned about the state of health of President Muhammadu Buhari or anything about national politics.

Emerging from the meeting, Obasanjo, who maintained his refusal to speak with journalists, chose to shovel his feet to the rhythm of a trumpet band which intoned his ancestral songs.

While speaking with newsmen, Olakojo, who is from Oyo township, said the honorary chieftaincy title was to be given to Obasanjo who said he had had too many and prevailed on the Olubadan to give it to one of his (Obasanjo’s) loyalists.

“The Olubadan wanted to give a chieftaincy title to Baba Obasanjo. But Baba said he had got so many chieftaincy titles from across the country. He told Olubadan to give it to me because I have served Ibadanland.

“This was why Baba put in everything. In fact, he ought to have travelled to Italy this morning [yesterday], but shifted his travel till evening. I feel very happy and fulfilled. It is God’s doing and not my making. There is the divine hand of God in the affairs of men.

“Now, I should be more loyal to Ibadan people. Secondly, I should be doubly loyal to Obasanjo. I will serve Ibadan more loyally and contribute to its progress as well as the progress of the Olubadan. Within the next two weeks, you will see what I will do in the Olubadan palace,” he said.

Asked if it was a case of a prophet getting honour outside his homestead, he said “it could be so because I have not been made a chief in my home town.”