MEANWHILE… Buhari hosts Amosun in Aso Rock as Osinbajo lands in Lagos

President Muhammadu Buhari hosted Ibikunle Amosun, governor of Ogun state, at the presidential villa in Abuja on Monday, just as Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was inaugurating projects in Lagos state.

Buhari was to pay a working visit to the state – the first of a sitting president in 14 years – but the visit was curiously cancelled at the last minute, with Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, saying Buhari had “scheduling difficulties”.

“The president is faced with scheduling difficulties and that is the reason for the postponement of the visit. He needs more time for Lagos and for Edo which had earlier been stepped down,” Shehu told state house correspondents on Sunday.

“As a result of this, the visit has been scaled down and he is being represented by His Excellency the vice-president, who is going to Lagos to commission a few projects, leaving the rest for  Mr. President.

“The president will undertake these visits after the Ramadan.”

Prior to the cancellation, major streets in Lagos had banners and billboards welcoming the president.

The suspension of the trip came as a shock to officials of the Lagos state government, who were looking forward to hosting the nation’s number one citizen.

Meanwhile, Osinbajo has inaugurated the Lagos State Emergency Management (LASEMA) Park in Cappa, near Oshodi, security equipment, and attended a programme at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), as part of the visit.

Osinbajo was accompanied by Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi state; Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos and minister of works power and housing; Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, among others.

The rumour is town is that there is a political tone to the last-minute change of mind by Buhari.

Amosun, after all, is not in the corner of the godfather of Lagos politics, Bola Tinubu.