Oyo 2019: I won’t impose or handpick my successor – Ajimobi By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.

0
1095

Oyo 2019: I won’t impose or handpick my successor – Ajimobi
By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi Monday declared that he will not impose or handpick whoever would succeed him as the next Oyo State governor after the expiration of his second term in office in 2019.
New Nigerian reliably gathered that Governor Ajimobi’s position might not be unconnected with the on-going scrambling for which one of the 6 zones in the state would produce the next governor come 2019.
Speaking at a reception organized for him by Ibadan Elders’ Forum (IEF) to celebrate his historic reelection for a second term held at the Ibadan House, Governor Ajimobi said his successor would emerge naturally.
The governor assured the Ibadan Elders Forum that he is ready to deviate from the old norm by providing an enabling environment and level playing ground to facilitate the emergence of his successor, rather than handpick a successor.
Governor Ajimobi while responding to an advice by a Chieftain of the Forum Ambassador Olu Sanu, who in his speech asked the governor to start the process of grooming his successor to enhance the sustenance of his landmark achievements, said he was not ready to impose or handpick anyone.
“Although the norm is for the incumbent to anoint a successor, but I will deviate from that path. I will not impose anybody on the good people of Oyo State, whom I trust to make informed decision during the election. My conviction that imposition of successor is sometimes counter-productive stems from the fact that I’m not a product of imposition neither during my first tenure nor now that God made it possible for me to break the second term jinx,” he said.
Governor Ajimobi added “I’m confident that my successor will emerge naturally through his vision, track record achievements, courage and commitment to the course of the masses. We have many efficient, hardworking and competent people across the state capable of succeeding me on personal merits.”
The governor urged eminent citizens in the state to distance themselves from politics to have a rethink, especially now that violence, brigandage and bloodletting that characterized the politics of the state had become history.
He then lauded the role the Ibadan elders played in his emergence as governor in 2011, with a revelation that their decision to throw their weight behind him was reached after a thorough screening of all the contestants across the political parties.
“They were painstaking in their desire to see the best candidate becoming the governor in 2011. They invited all of us to a rigorous screening exercise. Among those that featured at the exercise, some could not even articulate their thoughts and vision for the state, while others were simply lost on the blueprint for the actualization of their campaign promises. It was after the screening that the elders, all of whom were essentially non-partisan, decided unanimously to throw their weight behind me. This honour bestowed on me today has put a lie to the saying that a prophet has no honour in his home.”
He then advocated attitudinal change among the people of the state, saying sanity would be restored to every nook and cranny of the state as from January, next year, as far as sanitation and the environment were concerned.
A former President of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Adebayo Oyero, stated that the IEF was formed with the original aim of returning Senator Rashidi Ladoja to office, stemming from his unsavory impeachment saga, saying,“but when it was clear that his political party (Peoples Democratic Party) would not give him the governorship ticket, IEF scouted for candidates from other political parties.
“After a painstaking analysis of other candidates, including their platform, grassroots spread, prospects of making impact during the election, IEF decided to back Senator Ajimobi who was in the All Nigeria Peoples Party. Although he lost at the 2007 poll, in circumstances very well known to everybody, IEF felt gratified that he won in nine out of the 11 local governments in Ibadan,’’ he said.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Sanu said, “for 20 years before Ajimobi’s emergence, we observed that there was no tangible improvement in the socio-economic wellbeing of Oyo State”.
“The city was very dirty. That was part of the rot Ajimobi inherited. He cleaned everywhere up. I want the governor to start the process of cleaning up the state again, because we are gradually returning to the old ways. The elders would want the governor to do everything possible to minimize corruption. He should also be courageous to inform the people of the state that free education is no longer feasible because of the poor state of the economy.”
The programme was attended by dignitaries including Governor Ajimobi’s wife, Mrs  Florence Ajimobi; renowned industrialist, Chief Kola Daisi; Chairman, Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Dr. Lekan Are; Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN; a former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Nurudeen Adekola; a Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Adelabu and a former Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun. Former Head of Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi; an Ibadan-based industrialist, Chief Bode Amoo; a retired diplomat and President of IEF, Ambassador Olusola Sanu; founder of Splash FM, Ibadan, Chief Adebayo Akande; Prof. Kunle Adeniran; Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Adeyemo; and the Majority Leader, Mr. Kehinde Subair.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here