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| Obasanjo |
A mild drama played out during the Armed Forces
Remembrance Day celebration in Abeokuta on Tuesday as a former President
Olusegun Obasanjo declined Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s request to lay a
wreath at the Arcade in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo vehemently resisted the governor’s persuasion to be part of the dignitaries to perform the ceremony.
This put a temporary stop to the programme as other
dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor Segun Adesegun and the
Iyalode of Egbaland, Chief Alaba Lawson, unsuccessfully begged him to do
so.
Our correspondent learnt that the former Head of
State refused the request to lay a wreath because he was not initially
listed as one of those to perform the function on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Ondo State Government said on Tuesday that
241 widows of Nigerian soldiers, who died during war situations, had
benefitted from its N20m interest free revolving loan instituted for
them since last year.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko stated this at the military
parade and laying of wreaths during the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance
Day celebration held at the Government Cenotaph, Alagbaka, Akure.
Mimiko, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Ali
Olanusi, said the state government initiated the scheme in order to
cushion the effects of the hardship occasioned by the sudden loss of
their husbands.
He said, “As part of the state government’s caring
heart programmes, we gave out cheques of various sums to the widows last
year.”
PUNCH
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