Behind the Scene
Just as guests were arriving, most of them took to the high table, perhaps because they felt they belonged there. But one person that did not have it funny was the former protem national chairman of the party, Ambassador Yusuf Mamman. Immediately Mamman arrived the venue, he made for the high table like every dignitary. Unknown to him, majority of the seats on the front row had been tagged with names on them. But innocently, he just made for one of them. And no sooner had he sat down than one of the organisers (who appeared not quite familiar with him) asked him to leave the seat. At first, Mamman could not figure what the man was saying, but when he noticed the man was dead serious, Mamman had to quickly assert his authority and told him who he was and why he was entitled to the seat.He argued that as a former national chairman of the party he was qualified to sit where he sat. However, on a lighter note, Mamman told the man that "this is not Afenifere's meeting".
Ironically, something close to what happened to Mamman also happened to the Lagos Deputy Governor, Mr. Olufemi Pedro who was displaced when some guests arrived. Though, the arrival of the guests actually required that some persons be displaced.But roll call on the front row of the high table was indeed intimating with all the former AD governors and the octgenerian leaders like Pa. Fasanmi. Or how would it look like when someone like Pa Enahoro takes a back seat and a young Pedro remains on the front row? Even Yoruba tradition forbids such. However anyone looks at it, the number two man in Lagos was at the convention displaced for other guests to be accommodated.
Directly opposite the high table on the far end of the convention ground was the Akinrogun himself, former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba having a swell time with the drummers and trumpeters, giving the best of his dance steps. Osoba who usually steal such showsobviously had his fun. The former governor at a point warned the drummers not to stop beating their drums.
No sooner had Aremo took his seat than Tinubu joined them up. And immediately, the governor with his usual Lagos boy style started to ask for quick snaps from the array of photographers who graced the occasion. Hear him: "E wa yawa'n foto now" (come take us photographs now) and when he was not sure whether the photographers were done, he retorted; "S'e ti yawa tan?" (Are you done with us?). With that, he opened up the photo session. But just a few minutes later, Tinubu was noticed expressing his displeasure with something vehemently. But at least, it took some pat on the back by Osoba and some others before his nerves were calmed. And so, the fun continued.
Wait a minute! Could anyone believe that as old as Pa Anthony Enahoro is, he still reads, at times, without his pair of glasses? THISDAY saw the elder statesman going through the prepared speech of Chief Koleoso, without his glasses.
Yet, Tinubu and Osoba would not stop flaunting their closeness. First, Osoba, while it was still heavily raining promised to blow the rain away, this time the Egba way. Though, on a lighter note, his actions however attracted laughter from people around. And indeed, he stood up to catch his fun, taking one of the beads around his neck and blew it round in the air, displaying the usual manner characteristic of such rites. He was joking any way. But when he was about to move a motion adopting the results of the elections, Tinubu looked round and discovered that the man could still not do anything about the rain. When he left the high table, rather than refer to him as Akinrogun, the Lagos governor thought it was only better to call him Akinrojo. And Osoba who had already burst into laughter quickly mounted the podium to discharge the assignment given him.
Soon afterwards, the Lagos State Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola and a few people came to specially pay homage and hail Tinubu. But it appeared the governor was not quite impressed because it sounded more like the usual sycophancy in government. But all the same, he still acknowledged their cheers.
Of all that played out at the unity convention of the AD, one thing stood out. Three politicians conspicuously tested their popularity, apparently ahead of 2007 gubernatorial election in Lagos state. These are Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Mr. Femi Pedro and Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
Pedro, the state deputy governor came to the convention ground about the time Osoba did. And by the time Osoba got to the high table, the two of them danced to attract attention and Pedro in particular knew it was important if the speculations about his gubernatorial ambition were to be considered genuine. Obanikoro, on his part, arrived the venue in an open roof Jeep acknowledging cheers from the crowd.
For Afikuyomi, his arrival was well timed. As at the time the senator got to the venue, voting was already in progress. The crowd that accompanied him to the venue attracted people's attention. To further steal the show, Afikuyomi went to the high table to greet all the eminent personalities there. Several of them also commiserated with him on the death of his mother. He did not stop at that, he also went round the entire field acknowledging cheers and greetings from people. He did however not stay long apparently to continue with the burial activities of his mother which had been on since Monday. One thing that was clear was that the three politicians came to show and test their popularity. With such development, Lagos 2007 promises to be interesting.
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