- As Political Bigwigs Storm The Event In LAGOS
The 3rd edition of the City People Political Awards was held at Balmoral Event Centre, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun-Ikeja, Lagos, on Sunday, 26th November, 2017. And as usual, top politicians from across the country were present, fully represented, at the award event which has become the benchmark for measuring politicians’ performance in Nigeria. Music was by Sir Shina Peters. In this report, SAHEED OJUBANIRE brings you the blow-by-blow account of the awards that brought top political players from opposing political parties under the same roof, for hours, without the atmosphere getting heated, but rather; they remained seated around one another all through enjoying presentation of every award at the ceremony. Please read on:
SEUN JEWEL AS
PERFECT HOST
On-Air-Personality, Seun Oyedeji, better known as Seun Jewel was the host of the award. And the buxom lady was like a 2-in-1 host as she gave all the right ingredients that a top-notched event deserves at the appropriate time.
While she spoke English mainly, she kept spicing it up with a bit of Yoruba which further took her to infusing some words in Egba, her native dialect into her expressions when the occasion demanded all that. And again, her sense of humour was very commendable, while the event lasted. She really achieved what two hosts would have struggled to bring to the table all alone. She looked so glam in her long wine colour ensemble.
BUKOLA SRARAKI WINS SENATOR
OF THE YEAR AWARD
Without further ado, the awards presentation started immediately after the publisher’s welcome address. And the first award of the evening which was for Senator of the Year was presented by Dr. Seye Kehinde and it went to Dr. Bukola Saraki, Nigeria Senate President! And it was said to be in recognition of his outstanding performance at the Senate.
To pick the award for Dr. Bukola Saraki, Senator Lanre Tejuosho was on hand, and in responding to the honour done the Senate President with the award, Senator Tejuosho asserted that it was the “first time the senators would have our independent President in Nigeria.” And added that, there was no way that would have happened without it being turbulent, but happily, they were still on 2 years after. He concluded by thanking the management of City People Magazine on behalf of the Senate President for the recognition.
ATIKU WINS POLITICIAN
OF THE YEAR AWARD
Still presented by Dr. Seye Kehinde, the next award was for The Politician of the Year, which went to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, One of his sons, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar, came to pick the award for him. And he dedicated it to Nigerians.
GOV. AREGBESOLA WINS GRASSROOT FRIENDLY GOVERNOR OF THE YEAR AWARD
The third award of the evening also presented by City People Magazine’s publisher was for The Grassroots Politician of the Year and it went to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Governor of Osun State. To receive on his behalf his Senior Special Assistant, Dr. Adeleke Ipaye, was present.
And after receiving the plaque for his principal, Dr. Ipaye said the governor himself would have loved to come in person, but they were in the thick of celebrating the governor’s 7th year in office in Oshogbo and the governor was tied down with the event.
SPECIAL AWARDS
FOR LAGOS COMMISSIONER, PHARMACIST UZAMAT
For her commendable performance in politics, a Special Recognition Award in Politics was presented by Dr. Seye Kehinde to Phar. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Welfare in Lagos State, who is sensationally referred to as “Moremi” by her political followers in Alimosho was present to pick her award. And to them, “Moremi” is said to mean the woman who has come to liberate them. She dedicated the award to her people.
LAGOS APC CHAIRMAN WINS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
After SSP’s performance, presentation of awards resumed with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Otunba Henry Ajomale, who was represented by Com. Ayodele Adewale, a former chairman of Amuwo-Odofin LCDA. The award was presented by Princess Abisoye Adedipe, the Regent of Osolo in Isola, Akure.
SENATOR
GOS HONOURED
The next award was a Special Recognition Award in Politics for Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon. The Senator, who received it himself from the Regent said he had received many awards from City People in the past, but the one he came to receive on the day was in another category. He dedicated it to the people of Lagos.
ORILE AGEGE LCDA’S BOSS PICKS LG BOSS OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Orile Agege Local Council Development Area Executive Chairman, Hon. Johnson Sunday Babatunde emerged as the LG Boss of the Year. He was on hand amid a retinue of his people to pick his award which was presented by the Regent of Osolo in Isolo in Akure.
HON. ONYESOH IS SOUTH-SOUTH GRASSROOT POLITICIAN OF THE YEAR
The South-South Politician of the Year Award went to Hon. Allwell Onyesoh. The award, which he picked up personally was also presented by the Regent. He said if he was occupying a political office at the moment, he would have thought the organizers wanted something from him. But since he was not in office and the organizers did not ask for a dime from him before giving the award, he so much appreciated it.
MAGNUS ABE WINS SOUTH-SOUTH POLICITIAN OF THE
YEAR AWARD
The next award for South-South Politician of the Year which went to Senator Magnus Abe and presented by the Regent was picked up on his behalf by Hon. Allwell Onyiasoh. They are both politicians from Rivers State. It was also presented by the Regent.
KWARA GOV. WINS BEST NORTH-CENTRAL GOVERNOR
OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatai Ahmed, emerged the North-Central Governor of the Year. And his award, which was presented by the Regent was picked up for him by a representative.
SSP thrilled
SSP was at his best. The ageless musician dazzled, as he eulogized top politicians in the audience some of whom went on stage to dance with him and tucked crisp Naira notes in his pocket for his commendable efforts.
TUNDE BURAIMOH WINS SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Hon. Tunde Braimoh was presented with a Special Recognition Award, which was handed to him by Dr. Seye Kehinde. In his response, he said it was special because he was not asked for a dime for the award despite the fact that they spent money to put the event together, he also thanked the organizers for the honour.
LAGOS SPEAKER
WINS SPEAKER
OF THE YEAR
The award for Speaker of the Year was won by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, and the plaque, which was presented by the City People Magazine’s publisher was picked on his behalf by Hon. Tunde Braimoh. Responding on behalf of the Speaker, Hon. Tunde Braimoh said the Speaker won the same award last year. So, this year’s award made it back to back for him. He added that the Speaker would have come himself but was out of Lagos on the day.
KWARA STATE GOV. AHMED ABDULFATAH REPRESENTED
Kwara State governor, Ahmed Abdulfatah, also emerged at the Best North-Central Governor of The Year. The award was picked up on his behalf by Kwara State’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Mahmud Babatunde Ajeigbe who thanked City People for recognizing and Honouring his principal, Governor Ahmed Abdulfatah for the good job he’s doing in the state.
PRINCESS ADEBOWALE WINS SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
IN POLITICS
The next award of the evening was a Special Recognition Award in Politics, which was presented to Princess Aderemi Adebowale. She received the award herself and dedicated it to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. She was one of the LGA Sole Administrators in Lagos given the opportunity by the governor.
HON. BIODUN FALEKE
IS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE MEMBER OF THE YEAR
Represented by Mr. Bayo Ayo, Hon. Abiodun Faleke won the award of House of Representative Member of the Year. His representative thanked the organizers on behalf of the Honourable Member for the recognition.
OGD PICKS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD IN POLITICS
Former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD), got a Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Dr. Seye Kehinde, which OGD came to pick up personally. After the plaque was presented to the former governor who is currently in the running for the position of National Chairman of PDP, he thanked the people who went on stage with him to receive the award, especially, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who he referred to as the incoming governor of Osun State, as well as Rt. Hon. Titi Oseni Gomez, a former Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly and her husband. He also thanked the organizers for the honour before dedicating the award to “all struggling politicians, who want to change the change in 2019.”
SENATOR IYIOLA OMISORE DAZZLES @ THE AWARD
Immediately after OGD, the next award to be presented was a Special Recognition Award in Politics for Senator Iyiola Omisore which was handed to him by the publisher of City People Magazine. And as OGD and co joined him on stage to identify with him over his award, the ex deputy governor of Osun State sensationally referred to OGD as the incoming National Chairman of PDP, which drew sound of approval from the supportive section of the audience. He thanked the organizers of the event for the honour done to him before leaving the stage.
AKALA’S SON OLAMIJU PICKS FATHER’S AWARD
The last award of the evening went to Chief Adebayo Alao Akala, a former governor of Oyo State and it was for Lifetime Achievement in Politics which was picked up on his behalf by his son, Olamiju Akala, who is the Chairman of Oyo’s biggest Local Govt.
SSP BROUGHT THE EVENT TO A CLOSE
After all the awards for the evening had been presented, SSP returned to the stage for the third time to round off the event with a fantastic performance as guests took their leave.
