Buhari Arrives Edo To Bid Oshiomhole Goodbye

MICHAEL AKINOLA with agency reports

President Buhari on arrival in Benin Monday morning

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday arrived Benin airport to begin a two-day working visit to Edo State.

President Buhari, who arrived at about 10: 43 a.m aboard Air Force flight 5N-FGW, was received by outgoing governor Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

The visit will end Tuesday, just in time before Governor Oshiomhole ends his tenure on 12 November.

He inspected a guard of honour mounted by military personnel before proceeding to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare N’gidigan II, on a courtesy visit.

It is the President’s first visit to the monarch’s palace since his coronation as the Oba of Benin Kingdom on 20 October 2016.

While welcoming the President, Oba Ewuare appealed to him to create a sea port in the state.

From the palace, Buhari is expected proceed to commission some key projects carried out by the state governor, Oshiomhole.

The projects include the newly-constructed 5-Star Central Hospital, the Siluko road, as well as the gully erosion reclamation project at the Queen Ede Agbor road, and the New Era Secondary School now renamed Samuel Ogbemudia Secondary School.

President Buhari will also commission the Edo University, Iyamho and the Ugbegun-Ujiogba-Ebudin-Igueben-Ewohinmi road.

Party leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, public servants, market women, civil society groups, students, youth organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and the general public have joined to warmly receive the President as he commissions the projects as part of the “Finishing Strong, finishing Well” agenda of Comrade Oshiomhole.

This is coming shortly after the valedictory session held for Oshiomhole.

It is also the last time Oshiomhole will be hosting President Buhari in that capacity as Governor of Edo State.

The last time President Buhari was in Benin, was to campaign for the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the state governorship election in Edo state, that saw Governor-Elect, Godwin Obaseki emerged as winner.

Oshiomhole, who became governor eight years ago will hand over to his protege, Godwin Obaseki on 12 November.

Oshiomhole, who is already thinking of life after retirement in a recent interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN spoke about his legacy:

“I want to be remembered as a factory worker who worked and laboured as a daily paid worker in the most subordinates post in textile mill.

“Rising to become leader of the textile union and eventually spending eight years as NLC president, then going back home to confront the most feared and vicious godfathers that monopolised Edo state.

“I fought godfathers, which is essential to make way for liberal democracy”.

Some of the dignitaries at the airport to receive Mr President included the APC National Chairman, John Oyegun, Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, the state governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki, service commanders, lawmakers, and other party leaders.