It was expected; I mean the mammoth crowd that thronged the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos venue of the inauguration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, as the brand new governor and deputy governor of Lagos State respectively.
They had besieged the venue as early as 6am for the inauguration that was billed to kick -off at 10am. They came from all parts of the state to catch a glimpse of the new governor, the 15th in the history of the state and the fifth as the democratically elected chief executive of the state; simply put, governor of the people, by the people. They came from all parts of the state to witness the oath- taking of the twosome. Go hear Hamzat tell them.publicly that he will be loyal to his boss and the state. To also listen to Sanwo-Olu tell them that he will deal with all manner of people without fear or favour in his desire to usher in a greater Lagos and prayed God to help him.
Aside the introduction of the very important persons that further made the occasion colorful by time tested broadcaster Niyi Ojemakinde_ who was supported by a female broadcaster from Lagos Television (LTV), the show took off properly with a prayer from Dr. D.K. Olukoya and a chief Imam. Their supplications to God were followed by a welcome address by the State’s Head of Service (HOS), Mr. Muri Okunola.
Done with all that, the main business of the day started with the reading of the citation
of the deputy governor who was immediately invited to the podium to take his oath of office as administered by the state chief judge, Justice Oyeyemi Oke.
Shortly after, the man of the moment; the big masquerade, the governor, was invited to step out to take his oath of office after his profile had been read. That done, he was driven round the venue in a police motorcade to the acknowledgement of cheers from the crowd. After that, he read his speech and just then, the heavens opened to bless the day.
However, while all these happened, there was a mild drama as one of the police officers’ from MOPOL 20 that was billed for the ceremonial parade slumped and was taken away. That was just immediately after the citation of the deputy governor had been read. Same thing happened after that of the governor. A female police officer collapsed and was rushed into a waiting ambulance.
As expected, the immediate past governor and his wife, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, were conspicuously missing, making him the first governor in the history of the state to stay away from the swearing – in ceremony of his successor.
Though, Mr. Raji Fashola (SAN), a former governor of the state was equally absent, his wife, Abimbola, was in attendance. Senator Oluremi Tinubu represented her husband, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who, as the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), was at the swearing in of President Muhammadu Buhari. Others who were present were the former deputy governors, Idiat Adebule, Sarah Sosan, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Femi Pedro, traditional rulers led by the Oba of Lagos ,Oba Rilwan Akiolu and others too numerous to mention.
However no former governor of the state, whether military or civilian, graced the occasion.
