2019: Only health status can stop Buhari — Amosun

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunla Amosun, yesterday, said only health status can stop President Muhammadu Buhari from seeking re-election in 2019.


 Amosun noted that without the Buhari administration, Nigeria would have gone into extinction. He spoke to newsmen in Abeokuta on the sidelines of a Book Launch and Scholarship Scheme in commemoration of the first anniversary of the death of the educationist, Chief Lamidi Sofenwa.

The programme was jointly organised by the Egba Science Education Foundation, Abeokuta Club, Ogun State Cricket Foundation, Old Student Associations Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro and Methodist Boys High School, Lagos. Amosun berated the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Jummai Alhassan, who declared her support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential bid. “The only thing that can probably prevent Mr. President from contesting is on health grounds because if not for this administration of President Muhammad Buhari only God knows where Nigeria would have been”, the governor said.

“The only thing that can stop Mr President is his health status but as we can see today Mr President is back and very soon it would be clear for everybody to see that Mr. President is so well.” Speaking on the action of Alhassan, Amosun said the Minister should have been courageous enough to quit, saying you “cannot blow hot and cold at the same time.” He said “She is entitled to her opinion but I would have saluted her if she had honourably resigned her appointment because you can not blow both hot and cold at the same time.

“Yes, I would have saluted her if she had resigned but falling short of resigning has taken everything away from what she had said. well, I am not Mr President and I know that at the appropriate time he will review things. “For somebody to have come out and say such thing means clearly she is even working against the government and she will not want that government to succeed yes, that is my own believe although I may be wrong but if I am in her shoes she should have done that and resigned.

“I don’t think there is a sabotage in that government because she is just an individual and unfortunately am not from that region so I won’t be able to say more than what she said but she should have followed it up with a resignation from that organisation where clearly you do not believe in.” He however, described Sofenwa as a detrilabised Nigerian, sportsman and a renowned educationist who had contributed in no small measure to development of education sector in Nigeria. The governor promised to facilitate post-humous National Honour for the late elder statesman.

The Book Reviewer, Dr Taofiq Salisu said “The book was well put together in very simple, clear and intelligence language. “This book is well published one on a man of honour and distinction, an educationist of great stature, a trainer, a great mentor, a Loco parentis, an excellent sportsman, a great communicator and motivator, an Omoluabi in its pure sense, Chief Lamidii Ayinla Sofenwa whose life is worthy of emulation both by the young and old.” The book entitled “Lamidi Ayinla Sofenwa: Quintessential Gentleman and Educationist: A Biography”, was written by Olasumbo Martins; ‘Dele Sogbesan and ‘Biodun Odetoyin