Ambode gets new title and it was given him by Governor Rauf Aregbesola (photos)

- Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state was in Osun on Thursday, July 20 where he met with Rauf Aregbesola

- His host presented him with gifts and showered praises on him for his effort at uniting the entire south-west

Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state is now the governor-general of Nigeria and this was the title he received from his counterpart in Osun, Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday, July 20, 2017.

Ambode was in Osun where he paid a courtesy visit on Aregbesola, who said the position of Lagos as the economic nerve-centre of the country and the brilliant performance of the former could not be downplayed.

Aregbesola noted that the economy of Lagos was about the summation of economies of thirty states in Nigeria.

He said it would be self-deceit to deny the obvious not to recognize the vantage position of the state and its governor in the scheme of affairs in the country.

“I recognise the governor of Lagos state who by my own assessment is the governor-general of Nigeria.

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“I say so for a very good reason. It is not a question of age of the occupant of that office or his tenure.

“It is simply an attestation to the fact that the economy of Lagos is about the summation of the economies of thirty states in Nigeria. One will be deceiving himself not to recognize that fact,” Aregbesola said.

According to Aregbesola, Governor Ambode’s visit was historic and apt coming at a time when the Osun state lost some illustrious indigenes and in the wake of democratic assault which he recently suffered.

Aregbesola said he had been greatly encouraged, motivated and given calm disposition by the visit while commending Ambode for his interest in the economic integration and development of south-west.

“The only state with the clout and the muzzle to shun collaboration and integration superficially is Lagos and that too will be to its eternal regret because if the adjoining states to Lagos are underdeveloped, the consequence on Lagos is tragic.

“If it requires trekking from any part of the region to get to Lagos, people will do it and Lagos will have a huge number of internally displaced people who you cannot send away because they speak the same language with you anyway.

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“Even going national, there is no tribe or section of the country that is not properly represented in Lagos.”

Speaking earlier, Ambode said: “I am here to say that I want to further the economic partnership that should exist between the state of Osun and Lagos state.

“Yes, we have Lake Rice, yes we have a partnership with Kebbi state but the economic integration and food security of the south west remains in the vineyard of Osun and other states that surround Lagos.

"Obviously, we have the consumer strength of the market, we have the commerce but we must integrate backward towards the south-west and ensure that the economic prowess of the regional integration that we set out to achieve is put in place for generations yet unborn.

“We have a historic duty and which Governor Aregbesola has continued to champion that we must stand up for the regional integration of the south west because therein lies the future prosperity of the Yoruba nation.

“I commit myself to that vision. I also commit myself to the vision of the south west governors to the effect that time has come for us to stand up as leaders for our people.”

NAIJ.com also reported earlier that that the Lagos state government has finally commenced the awaited road project which will connect Agric area of Ikorodu to the Arepo area of Ogun state.

This was made known at a stakeholders’ meeting held to sensitize the relevant stakeholders and community leaders on the need for their support and cooperation on the project.