… No animosity, I was there, says Akeredolu’s aide
Although the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo made a mistake not recognising the APC Presidential Flagbearer during protocols recognition over the weekend in Owo, the incident was greeted with good humour and courteous banters as the VP corrected himself moments after the oversight.
This generated buzz over the social media space after video of the incident circulated.
In the video, the Vice President, at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church [venue of the funeral] in Owo, acknowledged the presence of Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti, as well as Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dapo Abiodun, governors of Lagos and Ogun, respectively.
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He also recognised the presence of notable politicians and personalities present including, party chieftains, former governors, lawmakers, ministers, senators and captains of industry amongst others.
Professor Osinbajo during his speech acknowledged the presence of Tinubu.
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“Before I go on, I have made a very big error. I have left out the presidential candidate of our great party, the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
“The Emilokan. Asiwaju, I’m sorry. He was sitting right next to me. Not just sitting right next to me, but right in front of me, but I honour you and welcome you to this event.”
Recall that Osinbajo earlier on October 26, got his audience rolling in laughter, after he jovially revisited the drama between himself and Tinubu’s running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, that played out just before the APC presidential primary election in June.
Osinbajo labeled Shettima “the Chairman and majority shareholder of his ice-cream-producing company.”
An eye witness, who is a top official of the Ondo State Government, Dr. Oladoyin Odebowale, took to his Facebook account to say “I was in Owo. There is nothing like animosity. They all joked and laughed together throughout the programme. The VP was given the protocol list already prepared. Asiwaju Tinubu came after the list has been prepared. The error came from the protocol people. He quickly corrected himself. They all joked outside the church… Nobody saw a serious breach. Asiwaju came later than others.”
One commentator said the buzz over the event that the whole thing was purely exaggerated. She said “The people shouting will be alright. The pictures taken at the event tell a different story. Besides, didn’t Tinubu ‘ignore’ His Excellency after the presidential primaries at Eagle Square and Gbajabiamila had to correct him? If anything, they will want this to be a distraction from the drug story making the rounds.
Another commentator, Imran U. Wakili, took to Twitter to say “So Osinbajo did not mention Tinubu in his observance of protocol before his speech at an event. He was reminded and he stopped what he was saying and apologized. He even blamed himself saying ‘and you are even sitting in front of me and I was looking at you, I am sorry’”.
Olayemi, another Twitter commentator, said “Pls leave Prof. Yemi Osinbajo alone. He lost the primaries to BAT and he has moved on. Lists was given to him before d arrival of Bola Tinubu. The organizers might not know BAT will be at d event. May God forgive us as we give judgement on what we know little or nothing about.”
Susan Henshaw, on her part wondered why anyone will think Osinbajo would have deliberately ignored Tinubu. She tweeted “WHY would anyone believe Osinbajo would deliberately not acknowledge someone…anyone in church. Thats not who he his. No history of vindictiveness or malicious behavior, except in the hearts of those making the accusations.”