Video: Tinubu bestows new humorous titles on Ogun gov
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Abdullateef Fowewe
In a light-hearted moment during the solemn eighth-day Fidau prayer for the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, President Bola Tinubu humorously crowned Governor Dapo Abiodun with fresh, witty titles, including the now-famous moniker “Okanlomo Eleyi Oyinbo Poju of Ogun State.”
The occasion, held at the Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, gathered dignitaries including Governor Abiodun, Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and Lagos Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat, among others, to honour the late monarch’s legacy of unity and peace.
Tinubu, who arrived via a Nigerian Air Force Airbus jet, also paid tribute at the late Awujale’s burial site, underscoring his respect for the revered traditional ruler.
The humorous renaming of Governor Abiodun builds upon previous playful political banter in which Tinubu had referred to him as the “Eleyi of Ogun State,” a nickname that caught widespread attention for its tongue-in-cheek tone.
At a separate event, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi further popularised the title by officially introducing Abiodun with it during an APC rally, describing him almost affectionately using the Yoruba word “eleyi,” meaning “this one,” which humorously acknowledged Abiodun’s political journey under Tinubu’s mentorship.
At the Fidau prayer event, President Tinubu’s playful spirit shone again as he infused respect with levity, dubbing Governor Abiodun “Okanlomo Eleyi Oyinbo Poju,” a title that both amused attendees and highlighted the rapport between the two leaders.
While meaning “the only son of this one, too much English” in a mix of Yoruba and English, the phrase symbolically marks Abiodun’s uniqueness and prominence in Ogun State politics under Tinubu’s influence.
Governor Abiodun responded with a warm smile and gratitude, later commending the president for honoring the late Awujale and reflecting on the enduring legacy left behind by the monarch, as well as reflecting on the political partnership that has shaped Ogun State’s governance.
