Rousing welcome for Akeredolu

By Adekola Afolabi
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In a scenario similar to that of his inauguration which was greeted by mammoth crowd, the atmosphere was charged and the Sun was scorching; still the people remained undaunted and stood still patiently waiting to see their governor arrive.

 Although the day of his arrival was not formally announced, the enthusiastic people of Ondo State got wind of it, and in high spirits stormed the Akure Airport to give their governor a rousing home coming and identify with Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who had been on working leave at the Governor’s Lodge Abuja, the nation’s Federal capital.

It was like a triumphant entry for the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The cheerful crowd of members of the State Executive Council led by the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, members of the Ondo State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, the leadership of All Progressives Congress, APC, led by the state chairman, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, other top government officials and party faithful, traditional rulers led by the state Chairman, Ondo State Council of Obas, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, motorcyclists, members of the NURTW, youth groups, students groups,  women groups and various associations trooped out to the Akure Airport to welcome the governor back to the state.

 Also present at the Airport was the governor’s wife, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu. Various cultural groups decked in different costumes with their acrobatic dance also added glamours to the rousing home coming of the number one citizen of the state, and entertained the visibly happy crowd.

At exactly 5:25pm an aircraft landed and the waiting jubilant people of Ondo State stood up from every corner and rushed toward the tarmac, but that was not the one carrying the governor. So, they rushed back and still remained undeterred but a bit anxious to see their governor. However, a plane marked N664C took a dramatic touch down at exactly 5:30 in the evening, this time nobody needed any soothsayer to say Arakunrin had finally arrived. Then the wide jubilation began and sounds of trumpets and the drums became louder at every point at the airport.

The security details of the governor and the combined security personnel deployed to the airport had a herculean task controlling the visibly happy crowd  who had been waiting from morning to welcome the governor. After acknowledging cheers from the people after alighting from the aircraft, governor Akeredolu later rode in an open roof jeep on a waiting long convoy.

The train moved from the airport through to Oba-Ile, Oja Oba, Cathedral junction, and Arakale through NEPA roundabout acknowledging cheers from the people of the state before proceeding to the Alagbaka Government House where he was equally welcomed  by government house staff amidst pomp and pageantry.

During his working leave in Abuja, the governor also took his time to attend to some state assignments. He received an award of the African Innovative Governor of The Year. Arakunrin Akeredolu was also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Medicus International, Germany. Apart from this, Akeredolu also attended the Nigeria Governors’ Forum meeting and hosted the Southwest Governors’ Forum meeting at the state Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

Governor Akeredolu equally attended the monthly National Economic Council Meeting, met with the new country director of the World Bank, received the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and some members of the National Working Committee of the APC.

While addressing journalists on his arrival, governor appreciated the people for the mammoth crowd and their unwavering support for his administration.

Hebexplained that his absence was to enable him take a vacation at the nation’s capital. However, noted that despite taking some time to rest, he still attended to state matters, and participated at the National Economic Council meeting as well as the Governor’s Forum meeting.

Another very important state assignment performed while in Abuja according to the governor signing of a one billion naira deal with Medicus International which he noted would give a major boost to the healthcare delivery in the state.

 Akeredolu said he was always available for the serve of the people of the state, adding that he is back refreshed and better with full vigour to better serve the state.

He revealed that he needed to take some rest based on medical advice.