For Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, last weekend’s trip to the ancient town of Ogbomoso, Oyo State and Bayelsa State was a fulfilling one as residents in both parts of the country demonstrated their love for him through a rousing welcome. MURITALA AYINLA writes.

Although Professor Yemi Osinbajo was in the ancient town of Ogbomoso some weeks earlier, his last Friday’s visit was indeed another fulfilling one laced with soul-lifting messages of tribute to the late Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, the former Governor of Oyo State, whom he described as a simple and humble man who practised politics with an open mind.

At the funeral service of the late former governor, which was also attended by state governors, including Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, among other dignitaries, Prof Osinbajo said that the late Alao-Akala practically demonstrated what is possible when creativity and compassion are brought into governance, adding that the testimonies of many associates of the former police officer, recalling his political sojourn, was evidence that the late governor was a politician who knew how to be a political opponent without being a sworn enemy.

The VP said: “Alao-Akala served the people and country all his life; from a career in the police force, to the chairmanship of the Ogbomoso North Local government, to Deputy Governor and then Governor of Oyo State. He put everything into public service.

This is why today the people of Ogbomosho, Oyo State, and the nation gather to pay him the respect due to such a well-regarded patriot and faithful servant of the people.

The good people of Ogbomosho and the nation will miss the kindness, compassion, and love of a trusted and revered leader… whose political influence and reach went beyond party affiliation and multi-partisanship. “

He described the late governor as an illustrious political actor from Ogbomosoland who was able to strike and sustain a deep connection with the people. It was not surprising that, in any political calculation, everyone knew that wherever Alao-Akala pitched his tent was where Ogbomosho would go because he was that highly regarded.

“His wide network is a solid reflection of the goodwill he enjoyed across political divides, ethnicities, and faiths,” he said.

According to the VP, the late Alao- Akala was one of those he sought advice from after becoming the APC’s Vice- Presidential candidate in 2014.

He added that Alao-Akala never disappointed him as he always offered useful advice till his last breath. “Being a battle-hardened veteran of the game himself, he must have been wondering if I had the stamina to cope.

So, he went on to give me some unforgettable advice about what he thought I should do.

Till he drew his last breath, Alao-Akala never ceased to avail me of his quality counsel and words of encouragement, by way of phone calls or pep talks whenever our paths crossed. “Everywhere he went in those days as Governor of Oyo State, you would hear chants of ‘Oyato gomina! Oyato!’

For the benefit of non-speakers of Yoruba, they meant ‘Governor with a difference!’ “Of course, there were a couple of things Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala did differently on assumption of office (from Jan. 2006 to December that year, and then again from May 2007 to May 2011),” the VP recalled.

The VP stated that as governor, the late Alao-Akala was able to significantly improve the state’s “internally generated revenue” (from a paltry N300 million to a record N1 billion) within eight months of becoming governor). Prof. Osinbajo noted that Alao-Akala also instituted impactful programmes like the home-grown empowerment scheme known as the Community Link Advancement Programme (CLAP), adding that a common refrain running through the glowing tributes paid to his memory was the attestation of his uncommon generosity.

“There is undoubtedly a lot more to be said about his generosity in material terms and in things money cannot buy. At a personal level, I can attest to his generosity with time and counsel. I met him many years ago through his nephew, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo (SAN), currently Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State,” he recalled.

Thereafter, the Vice President, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, the government and people of Nigeria, however, expressed condolences to the Alao-Akala family, while praying that God will comfort and uphold them.

Other dignitaries at the event included the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimat Salako-Oyedele; her Oyo State counterpart, Chief Rauf Olaniyan; members of the National Assembly; Youths and Sports Development Minister, Chief Sunday Dare; the President of the Nigeria Baptist Convention, Dr. Israel Akanji, who delivered the sermon at the service, and Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN). Similarly, the Bayelsa trip, which took place 24 hours later, was like a home-coming for the Vice President, where he was not only adorned in the traditional attire of the oil-rich state but also conferred with the traditional title of “Ebi-akubo-owei of Agia-Ibe” (“one who brings glory to the land of Agia-Ibe).

He was described as a good man of the people and someone Bayelsans are expecting to succeed President Buhari, having demonstrated the sterling qualities of a good vice president.

So, from the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road to Angiama-Oporoma Bridge, the venue of the project flag-off ceremony; from the inner city road to the major road of Yenagoa, the chants of “Osinbajo” were heard loud and clear.

From the airport road to the venue of the Traditional Rulers Council in the state, where the VP had gone to pay a courtesy call to the monarchs ahead of the flag-off ceremony, the tempo of activities was unusually high for Prof. Osinbajo, who was described as the man of the moment.

The VP, who was accompanied by the state Governor, Senator Douye Diri, acknowledged cheers from thousands of Bayelsans who had come from far and near to welcome him.

Speaking at the construction flag-off of the Angiama-Oporoma Bridge, on the Yen- agoa-Oporoma-Ukubie road, Prof. Osinbajo said that Niger Delta communities such as Oporoma, Angiama, where the bridge is now being constructed, and others across the region, are home to vast amounts of mineral wealth and natural resources, so they deserve to have considerable developmental gains to show for it.

According to the Vice President, the Angiama-Oporoma Bridge construction is a symbol of development in the region and will have a far-reaching impact on the lives of the people in the communities. He added that by facilitating easier access to places like Yenagoa and beyond with this bridge, he would be laying a foundation for development that would deepen commerce and create individual and collective opportunities for the people of these communities.

According to him, one of the key objectives of the Buhari administration is to ensure inclusive prosperity, which is why the Federal Government is collaborating with state governments and increasing efforts towards ensuring the wholesome development of communities in the Niger Delta region and across the country.

The Vice President added that for a country with the population and geographical span of Nigeria, guaranteeing inclusive prosperity is a mandate for the government. He added that this is especially so with “the rapid urbanisation of the last two decades, the consequent pressure on cities, and the difficulties in allocating scarce resources faced by governments at all levels and across the country”.

Highlighting the importance of such infrastructure projects to a nation’s development, the VP said: “We must always find the commitment, innovation, and persistence to put in place the quality and scale of infrastructure needed to give our people the productive and competitive edge to better their lives, and we need to do it as fast as possible.”

He reiterated President Buhari’s commitment to the wholesome development of the Niger Delta region through the Niger Delta New Vision initiative, adding that as a matter of urgency: “We are well on our way towards correcting historical lapses in this respect through the collaborative efforts of the federal, state, and local governments, each one putting aside personal interests and doing the best they can for the communities that have undeservedly suffered for so long.”

The VP also assured the people of the “Federal government’s full support and collaboration in every way possible,” saying, “You have not been forgotten, and this milestone is only the beginning of greater things to come.

Under the Buhari administration’s New Vision initiative, the region has witnessed significant development strides and projects, such as the ongoing Ogoni clean up in Rivers State; the take-off of the Nigeria Maritime University; the establishment of modular refineries across states in the region; and infrastructure projects, including the 34-km Bonny-Bodo Road and Bridge project and the Warri-Itakpe railway line, among others.

On the significance of the Angiama- Oporoma Bridge and Yenagoa-Oporoma- Ukubie roads, Prof. Osinbajo observed that there can be no inclusive prosperity without the effective linkages of communities and the effective facilitation of trade that roads like these provide.

On how to ensure inclusive prosperity, the Vice President disclosed that: “Our ability to create an environment that allows each and every person, in each and every corner of the country, to get a fair chance at maximising their potential is one of the surest routes to sustainable economic development.” He stated that the project’s launch and completion will generate a lot of commercial activity in Oporoma and the surrounding communities