Barring the Ogbomoso zone, the campaign train of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the past weeks, toured other zones of Ibadan, Oyo, Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun. At every stop of the train at Temidire, Apata, Aleshinloye, Lalupon, Bodija, Yemetu, Oyo, Igboora, Saki, Igboho and Eruwa, the driver of the train, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, canvassed for support for all candidates of the APC in the coming elections. Central in Ajimobi’s message has been his call for re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari to take the nation to the next level in terms of infrastructural development, security and fighting corruption. His campaigns have also included his call for election of himself as senator among other senatorial candidates like Teslim Folarin (Oyo Central) and Fatai Buhari (Oyo North). Though he served as Ssenator between 2003 and 2007, Ajimobi premised his intention to return to the Senate on the need for experienced and vibrant representatives that are bold to contribute at plenary and command the aura to attract meaningful projects to the state. Canvassing for his election, he asked the electorate to question what motions had the current senator, Soji Akanbi, sponsored or contributed to at plenary after more than three and a half years. “Soji Akanbi has not offended me but we should ask if he had moved motions or spoken on motions or issues on the floor. We need experienced people like me. We need vibrant people, people who are bold to speak and can attract meaningful projects to the state,” Ajimobi said at an Ibadan rally.
Compared to his senatorial ambition, Ajimobi has been more vocal in asking residents of the state to vote for Adebayo Adelabu for continuity of his agenda to transform the state to a modern one. The “constituted authority” in Oyo State has glowingly sang praises of his unalloyed achievements, in the history of the state, to include, ensuring peace and security, particularly engendering the reformation of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) which used to be a harbinger of violence; constructing network of high quality roads; guaranteeing welfare of traders and artisans by providing millions of loan credit; reforming traditional institutions in the state, and impacting upon the education sector, by instituting School Governing Boards. “If anyone says we have not achieved, we have, at least, achieved peace and security which is the primary responsibility of government. But, in fact, no administration in the history of the state has done as much as we have in road construction, I mean constructing quality roads,” Ajimobi said during an Ibadan campaign.
Day and night, Ajimobi has, in hands-held-up fashion, had to present his anointed governorship candidate, Adelabu, to traditional rulers, community leaders, traders, artisans, business persons, family heads, for their vote. To buttress his call for continuity, Ajimobi has severally pointed to the Lagos State example where there had being continuity on the path of development laid down by former Govenor Bola Tinubu since 1999 till date. Ajimobi avowed that the state was poised to witness rapid development if the APC candidate, Adelabu, wins and continues on the current path of governance. According to Ajimobi, his decision to support Adelabu’s emergence as the party’s candidate was divinely inspired and came about 12 hours before the party’s primaries held on September 30, 2018.
With Joseph Tegbe, Adebayo Adelabu and Olusola Ayandele making the final list of three aspirants he could support as the party’s candidate, Ajimobi had on December 11, 2018, at Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, revealed how he arrived at the choice of Adelabu. He said, “I looked at their credentials, I saw that three had First Class, one in accountancy, the other in engineering and another in economics. In terms of stature, I looked at the candidates, several of them looked well fed, even pot bellied in like manner. So, I remained undecided on whom to support. About 12 hours before the primaries, I went to God for direction in my room and something hit me that Adelabu was the right choice. He will become the next governor.”
Aside from the divine inspiration, Ajimobi has pointed to the fact that Adelabu is eminently qualified and accomplished going by his success in his profession, having risen to become deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and successfully running various private enterprises. Ajimobi argued that Adelabu is not out to embezzle public funds or amass wealth, but to genuinely improve the well-being of residents of the state. “We met Oyo State in a dilapidated form; we have done well and laid the foundation for development which Adelabu will consolidate. No one else will come to take us off the current path of development we have laid. Adelabu is from a great family. His grandfather worked for Ibadan. No other candidate can boast of better education, family bringing, and accomplishment than Adelabu. He is not hungry; he fears God; he is accomplished and is not going there to embezzle public funds,” Ajimobi said.
According to Oyo APC chairman, Chief Akin Oke, the party is also cashing in on the “Penkelemesi” legacy of an articulate grassroots politician of pre-independence Nigeria, the late Chief Adegoke Adelabu, which he said resonates with Adebayo who is a grandson of Adelabu. The late Adelabu was renowned as a smart individual with literate qualities which he put to use in his several agitations and opposition against perceived societal disorders. “In politics, your background, history matters, family connection and name matters. During the days of Penkelemesi, he shook Ibadan, even the South West region and stood against the Action Group then. He died at a young age and was brilliant; he was a leader of conscience known in Oyo State and Nigeria at large,” Oke said.
APC will therefore expect bloc votes from Ibadan indigenes from one of their own from a renowned family in Ibadan. Suffice it to say, however, that there are several other Ibadan indigenes in the gubernatorial race like Olufemi Lanlehin, Sharafadeen Alli and Seyi Makinde. With Ibadan zone commanding over 50 per cent of votes that are up for grabs, observers would be keen on who among the major candidates would get the support of most of Ibadan indigenes.
Meanwhile, Adelabu has at campaigns and road shows, maintained that though he is campaigning for continuity, he will not hesitate to review existing government policies, if circumstances demand such. The 48-year old Adelabu speaks of consolidating and upgrading the blueprint of development created by the incumbent Ajimobi government in security, agriculture, health, education, housing, transportation and environment. On security, he preaches adopting a preventive and combative approach while providing employment for youths through investment in agriculture and sports. Speaking at a debate organised by BBC News Yoruba, Adelabu said his commitment to health would be in form of focus on primary health care as well as repairing hospitals, dispensaries and maternity centres across local government areas in the state. As regards education, Adelabu, if elected, promised to renovate schools, give teachers incentives, provide modern teaching equipments while ensuring that teachers and all civil and public service workers are paid their salaries by 25th of every month. On the challenges facing Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Adelabu assured of working to ensure that the university is solely owned by Oyo State and that it becomes the best state-owned university. His manifesto also includes his intent to run a digital government driven by courage, knowledge and vision to accomplish set targets. The Jericho Businessmen Club member also talks about being humble, youthful and resolved to replicate his managerial experience in private business in public governance.
“We are not going to be dogmatic; we will be responsible and flexible. As things change, we will review our existing policies and see where we can amend, in the best interest of the people. We are not starting from the scratch. We have a blueprint, standard plan that will see to the utmost development of Oyo State. There has been a foundation created by the incumbent administration that I will work upon. It cuts across the critical sectors from economy to security mechanized agriculture, housing, health, education, transport management system, environment, job creation and internally generated revenue. We are working to upgrade the blueprint. I am not a copycat, but we have a blueprint and we have a plan to upgrade it. Some decisions may be right, correct and applicable at a particular point in time but as times go on, the circumstances or environment may not remain the same such that we have to review policies, programmes or action plan,” Adelabu said after a meeting with artisans in Ibadan.
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