How Adelabu became my choice 12 hours before APC primaries ―Ajimobi

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on Monday, disclosed how he still remained undecided about which governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support as the party’s candidate 12 hours before the party’s primaries.

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony for the Abiola Ajimobi auditorium at Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, Ajimobi attributed his dilemma to the fact that many aspirants were qualified in their various fields, looked well-to-do, while advice also seemed to show religious biases.

Dropping details of the steps he took before arriving at the party’s governorship candidate, Ajimobi said he sought direction from God in the final hours preceding the primaries until he was struck with the divine message to support Adebayo Adelabu’s candidature.

Ajimobi, however, urged all who are aggrieved at his decision to support Adelabu to forgive him, noting that Adelabu’s choice was God’s will.

“I asked various groups of people, traditional rulers, elders, but they said it was difficult for them to chose for me, that they will support whoever I choose. At a point, I withdrew from everybody.

“I then asked my wife to meet with Christians, and she returned with the name of a Christian. Similarly, I asked someone to meet with the Muslims to give me their choice of candidate and he also returned with the name of a Muslim. So, the confusion remained.

“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.

“I pray that Adelabu will not be misled by some politicians. All those who opposed and supported you (Adelabu) are now one. I beg everyone that might have been offended in the course of my decision to support Adelabu to forgive me. I didn’t choose Adelabu but God did. God only used me to chose Adelabu, he is God’s will. Moreover, he (Adelabu) is eminently qualified. He has similar characteristics like mine,” Ajimobi said.

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Meanwhile, Ajimobi again avowed that Adelabu will emerge his successor and had no choice than improve upon his strides in Education, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and Security.

“I will like to be remembered as the father of modern Oyo State. We promised to leave Oyo State better than we met it and I can boldly say that we are leaving it better than we met it. We are leaving Oyo state better than we met it from Education to Health, Infrastructure (Social and Physical), security. In education, we recorded the best result in the Senior School Certificate Examination in 18 years. School Governing Boards is the best thing that has happened to education,” Ajimobi added.

Monday also saw Ajimobi commission the Closed Circuit Televisions sited in 10 crime-prone areas of Ibadan, the state capital.

Speaking with TribuneOnline, Executive Secretary, Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSSTF), Mr Femi Oyedipe disclosed over N300 million had been expended in installing CCTVs across the state.

He added that following the installation of CCTVs in 10 sites in Ibadan, 10 more are to be sited in Oyo, Ogbomoso and Saki areas of the state.

Oyedipe harped on the need for individuals and organisations in the state to pay their security levy, though he noted that the response had been commendable since OYSSTF began security levy collection in July.