Somewhere between Oke Mosan and Aso Rock, Governor Ibikunle Amosun confused his office and job specification. The Ogun state governor, according to his critics, does not know if he should remain governor or quit the State House to play man Friday and side-kick to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Prominent citizens and groups within the state are complaining bitterly about Governor Amosun’s incessant desertion of the State House and his office to spend time with President Buhari in the presidential villa in Abuja. According to his critics, Amosun hardly stays in Abeokuta to work.
According to them, Governor Amosun imagines various reasons and excuses to be with the president thus he is always with Buhari. During Aisha Buhari’s birthday flew to the presidential villa to celebrate with the Buharis. If he appoints a new staff, Amosun will take the next flight to Abuja to celebrate with him. Even if Buhari enters a new month, Amosun will fly to Abuja to celebrate with him. In response, Amosun’s loyalists argued that the governor’s closeness to Buhari go way back.
According to them, Amosun and Buhari’s relationship date the past 15 years. Both have been close since their days in the All Nigeria People’s party (ANPP), when they were struggling for political office. Buhari had wanted to be President on ANPP’s platform, Amosun too had tried all his best to win the governorship seat in Ogun State but they were both unsuccessful in their attempts. Thus it is understandable that Governor Amosun would spend a lot of time in Buhari’s company following their victory at the polls.
Since May 2015 when Buhari became President, Amosun has spent a lot of time in Abuja giving support to Buhari’s administration. He has registered his presence at most occasions in the presidential villa in Aso Rock, Abuja. He has also been involved in all the various trips that the President made abroad. President Buhari in turn, likes Amosun’s toughness and candour. And the fact that they are both Muslims who deeply value their faith endear them to each other, according to very close sources to the duo. Buhari who is not quick to trust, believes so much in Amosun and trusts him. That is why Buhari feels comfortable putting up in Amosun’s house in London. Anytime Buhari visits London for medical checkups, Buhari stays with Amosun and the Ogun governor makes his stay comfortable.
It can be recalled that when Buhari set up his cabinet, Amosun made great impact as some of his candidates were made Ministers to the chagrin of certain power blocs within the APC. Amosun nominated occupants of some very key positions thus emphasizing his closeness to Buhari. For instance, it was Amosun that suggested Kemi Adeosun as the Finance Minister. Adeosun had earlier served as Finance Commissioner in Ogun state during Amosun’s first term as governor. Let’s hope Amosun will exploit his closeness with President Buhari to add value to the lives of the people of Ogun State.
