By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Governor Abiola Ajimobi has declared that he is not ready to impose his puppet as successor as the next governor of Oyo State come 2019.
The governor who stated this in Ibadan on Thursday at the inauguration of the Oyo State Market Leaders Council held at the state Secretariat, Agodi,
said rather than imposing a successor, his major concern will be that the next governor of Oyo state will be a person that will be committed to raising the bar of governance from its current point in the state.
According to Governor Ajimobi,
“the truth is whether you impose or not, that person, may after a while, no more do one’s bidding.”, saying,
” what I am concerned about is having a successor who will do well for the state. Even a child, at some point, may not always take heed to his or her parents. Moreover, when the child gets married, he or she may begin to take heed to only the stance of his or her hubby”
“We have done well and should pray that whoever emerges next governor will continue to promote trade and investment, peace and security, social and physical infrastructure.. This administration still has till May 2019. However, in politics, we have just about a year to go. This means that by this December, we will be in the thick of politics and would have begun campaigning for votes for my successor. Though some will say that my concern when I begin canvassing for votes for a successor is that I want to impose someone who will be my puppet upon the people. But the truth is whether you impose or not, that person, may after a while, no more do one’s bidding.”he said.
Governor Ajimobi maintained that “what the people of Oyo state should pray for is that the next governor should be someone who will be committed to doing well for the state. The person may decide not to do exactly things our own way and do it as dictated by his own closest people. So, our prayer should be that whoever emerges should mean well for the people”.
Inaugurating the 18-member councils, the governor stressed that Oyo state government will continue to support the association with funds to enhance their businesses, adding that Oyo state government had given out about N470 million interest-free loans with about N730 million awaiting distribution .
Emphasizing that the inauguration was to have a structured association to regularly interface with the state government, he added that the council is to help in the development of markets, development of infrastructure, constant dialogue with traders, coordinate the distribution of interest-free loans to tradesmen and artisans.
The new council will be led by Mrs Iyaduni Lawal, with other members as Amuzat Yisau and Labake Lawal, Vice-Chairpersons; Najimdeen Azeez, Public Relations Officer; Mrs Stella Olabode, Financial Secretary; Dauda Oladapo, Ex-Officio.
