Embattled Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, was visibly absent at the 11th Bola Tinubu Colloquium, which held in Abuja on Thursday. He was the only governor from the South West who didn’t attend the colloquium, which is held yearly in commemoration of Tinubu’s birthday.
The Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari, called out the names of all the governors present, as protocol demands. They are: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, his Ekiti State counterpart, Governor Kayode Fayemi; and Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola. Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu; Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State; his Bauchi State counterparty, Mohammed Abubakaar; Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu; former Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Lagos State Governor-elect, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The presence of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; service chiefs and several monarchs were also acknowledged.
However, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who has been suspended by the APC, was not acknowledged by the Vice-President despite being present ditto for Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.
Amosun, had personally attended the last three Bola Tinubu colloquiums
The Ogun governor, who has been suspended by the APC, has been at loggerheads with Tinubu and other party stalwarts after denying him the opportunity of handpicking his successor.
Amosun, who is now a senator-elect, described Tinubu as a “Capo Di Tutti” of Lagos at the height of the crisis. The tension reached a climax when Tinubu and others were humiliated at the APC Presidential rally in Abeokuta last month.