Ogun 2019: Gov. Amosun Endorses ‘Whiz Kid’ As Successor

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Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has predicted that a female governor would emerge in the state after his own successor may have completed two terms of four years by 2027.
According to him, a ‘whiz kid’ will succeed him in 2019.

Amosun also declared that his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), would hold the reins of government in the state for a very long time to come.

The governor spoke on Tuesday evening in Abeokuta while fielding questions from journalists during a press conference to herald the 2018 African Drums Festival.

The festival, which will hold from April 19 to 21, will be hosted by the Ogun State government in collaboration with a team of consultants led by Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.

Twenty states of the federation and about 70 private troupes locally and internationally are said to have indicated interest in participating in this year’s edition.

The governor expressed confidence that his successors would sustain the annual festival, stressing that he had put in place a system-driven environment to enhance sustainability of his administration’s programmes.
He also stated that he had invested in human capital such that the current programmes would be continued after his exit from power.
Amosun, who enthused that he had transformed the state through infrastructural provision, hinted that a “whiz kid” would succeed him in 2019.

He said: “What we are trying to do is to have a system-driven environment and that is why we are investing heavily in this human capital such that whether we are here or not, this has come to stay. It is not what Mr B will come and say I’m not doing.

“I’m sorry I’m going political now; I’m not boasting that we would be here 100 years but I can simply tell you… this Ogun State. Let me say I’m finishing my term; that whiz kid is going to spend his own eight years.”

“After this whiz kid, I can tell you, the one that is coming, if you people say you don’t want a woman now that one definitely is going to be a woman. I’m not joking.

“All our drums festival, investors’ forum, will only benefit whoever is there. It is not about Amosun, it’s about Ogun State and people would come to know us for it.”

Amosun noted that his government was hungry for development and promised to intensify efforts in providing infrastructure to attract investments and stimulate the socio-economic development of the state.

The governor also stressed the imperative of promoting cultural heritage of the state as a way of boosting its tourism potential.

He recalled how he used to follow masquerades and wear their costumes during his youthful age, adding that his experience then had always made him to appreciate Yoruba culture and tradition.

He said: “Why do you think I’m local like this? Yes, I took part in different masquerades. If I get to Igbale (masquerade shrine) now and change voice for you, you will not believe it’s me.

“So, it’s part of our growing up. My own kids don’t even know about it; big shame! I know about it. I know the Egungun (masquerade) in our family despite the fact that we are Muslims, it doesn’t matter. So, it is our culture, it doesn’t mean anything. Any time I’m going out, when I see them I give them money. I know why; they are protecting our culture.”

Amosun, who said the African drums festival would showcase and discover talents, commended Soyinka’s professional input to the event.

Speaking earlier, Soyinka, who was represented by cultural advocate and arts aficionado, Jahman Anikulapo, said the festival would feature exhibition, conference, workshop and road shows to enrich it.