Politics
Ajimobi @ 68: The Making of A godfather in Oyo State politics
TODAY, Saturday, December 16, 2017 is a watershed in Oyo state’s political history as the die hard political juggernauts of the conservative party are being formally welcomed into the progressive fold. One man, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, the executive governor of Oyo State, is the focal point of this rare marriage and incidentally he is celebrating his birthday today.
HAZEEZ AYANSOLA examines the man who is fast becoming a deciding factor in Oyo state’s politics in this piece titled: AJIMOBI @ 68: THE MAKING OF A GOD-FATHER.
Loathe him or like him, one thing that you cannot take away from the present governor of Oyo state, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, is his ability to fashion out successes from what his contemporary see as unachievable tasks. Sen. Abiola Ajimobi in his characteristic manner has been creating paths where his peers see dead end. Yes, some might argue that his achievements so far have coloration of luck but to say these achievements are totally luck-dependent is to say a farmer does not need to produce any sweat on his farmland before he could have bountiful harvest since he has got fertile land and viable seedlings.
No it doesn’t work that way, God in His infinite mercy has given each individual the intellectual capacity to bend his immediate environment to his caprice but in His bizarre wisdom He has also made each individual a stumbling block to his own achievement. What I am saying is not a scientific jargon nor is it a philosophical expression, it is what the nature has woven arround the success’ secret; to lay hands on the success, one must first of all conquer himself before he can think of conquering others, the vital ingredient that any serious achiever needs to be on top of his game- success creation-.
The ability to discover self, understand the nature of oneself and then playing to the strengths and weaknesses of that self is what Abiola Ajimobi has consistently done, thus, making consistent nonsense of his political opponents in Oyo State each time there is need for political contest. Their failure to neutralise his moves before its inevitable result unfolds in their very eyes is a testament of his superior smartness over all of them put together.
In his room of wisdom, he has mastered keenly the tricks and flicks of these gladiators during contests such that he has always been several steps ahead of them anytime there is need for them to square up with him inside a political ring. It is not as if his opponent enter the ring unprepared, they do not, but what they fail to do each time when they are face to face with him in a ring is to adapt themselves to his technical jabbings, the very tools he uses to wear them out before he descends on them his sucker punches which ultimately send them to their canvass.
In the run-off to 2011 gubernatorial election in Oyo State, he recognized that there were three individuals who held the ace to his becoming the number one citizen in Oyo state, he ensured that he did not mend fences with them, he also railroaded himself into their good books thus earning their endorsement at the expense of the Ankara crusader. While the two of them are now late, Aare Musulumi, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola and former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina, the remaining person, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi is still being managed up till today. While he was plotting his victory even before they go to electoral field, his opponents felt their raw power was enough to make them emerge the winner in the royal rumble of Oyo State politics.
As 2015 gubernatorial election was approaching, he knew he needed more than the magic hand of the last-man standing Alaafin of Oyo, instead, he rather campaigned as if his life depended on it. Being a man that covets ‘the first’, Abiola Ajimobi went back to his political magic mirror once more and with it, he was able to discover that his victory key was hidden in Oke-Ogun part of Oyo State. For days he combed the entire senatorial district while his opponents, once again, was battling with supremacy battle in the highly damaged and ruptured Peoples Democratic Party, PDP then at the same time he was liaising with power brokers in that part of the town.
At the end, he ensured that he did not leave the zone without the electoral key in his pocket, he left Ogbomoso zone (his weak area) for Akala, but instead concentrating vigorously on his strong and highly populated areas of Ibadan land. Although the fight was intense as his opponents gave him a good fight but when they all got to the doorstep of power chamber; all he needed to do was to reach out to the key inside his pocket which ensured his passage into the highly coveted seat at Agodi governor’s lodge, he was there seated when the Accord Party but who is not in accord with his words were fighting a lost cause in the court of law. To him, it was a political abracadabra, which left him marveled. Having crossed the path his predecessors failed to do, this time, he has resulted to the victorial tactic (electoral alliance) that was right there infront of his opponents during the run off to his second term election but which pride prevented from making use of.
With the formal defection of the hitherto power blocks (Akala, Teslim Folarin, Arapaja) of the PDP today into All Progressives Congress (APC), the 2019 electoral contest in Oyo state can be regarded as a game-over for PDP remnants as far as common sense is concerned. With this bizarre marriage with his erstwhile political foes, Abiola Ajimobi must have peeped into the playbook of his political mentor, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu which plotted the strategy that catapulted APC into Aso-rock’s throne.
They say Abiola Ajimobi is proud but yet he has never allowed his pride to get in the way of achieving result anytime the need arises. It is ironical to say that what Akanji is accused of (arrogance) is the very thing that has eluded them when these people need to breast the tape of electoral victory. They have failed to realise that pride to Ajimobi is a mere tool with which he uses to construe hate hole in their minds, thus, thinking in their wildest imagination that eventually he would be consumed with it. The present hate hole they have dug now is the Olubadan chieftaincy issue but Ajimobi being a smart person that he is will ensure that they are the ones that will be used to fill their self dug hole.
What surprises me is their difficulty to decode that they are all pawns in Ajimobi political chess game. Upon being voted into power in 2011 he found a perfect pawn in Ladoja’s Accord Party members in the Oyo State House of Assembly when he used them to the maximum to stabilise his government. It was Akala’s turn in 2015 as he used his boys to ensure that the leadership of the legislative remains firmly in his grip. He has now gone a step further in his quest to add another first to his plethora of several firsts- not only is he the first to become a senator before being elected as a governor, he is also the first to get elected twice by the ever critical Oyo State electorate as well as being the first to implement the dreaded and sacred Olubadan Chieftaincy Review.
As proud as Ajimobi appears to be, he always been found a perfect ally when the need arises for political alliances in Oyo state. His man management and the ability to hop into the same bed with those that can be regarded as strange bed fellows speaks volume of the emotional intelligence of ‘Mr. Dependable’.
He has taken his time to select his ‘wise men’ in different parts of the state whose views are sacred to him. Where his tentacles could not penetrate yet, he results to alliance using his suaveness to keep them under his wings. If his anointed candidate eventually becomes the number one citizen in Oyo State come May 29, 2019, another godfather can be said to have emerged in the murky and ever tidal of Oyo State political Island except that this one is devoid of political brigandage and crude tactical political warfare of the Late Ibadan strong politician, Alhaji Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, rather, is a suave, smart and socially intelligent political godfather.
Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo South Senatorial District have endorsed a member of the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.
The endorsement was announced on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at Alice Hall, Ibadan, with party leaders, stakeholders, local government chairmen and state executive members from the nine local government areas in attendance.
The councils represented at the meeting are Ibadan North, Ibadan North-East, Ibadan North-West, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan South-West, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North and Ido.
The stakeholders expressed satisfaction with Oseni’s aspiration, describing it as timely, credible and anchored on tested leadership and grassroots appeal.
Those present at the meeting included Chief Timothy Jolaoso (Ibarapa East); Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe (Ido); Chief Abdulrauf Bello (Ido); Alhaji Muili Oluokun (Ibadan North-West); Alhaji Mufutau Adisa (Ibadan South-East); Alhaji Bello Oladeji (Ibadan North); Prince Gbade Lana (Ibadan North-East); Engr. Olatunji (Ibadan South-West); Comrade Wale Gbadamosi (Ibarapa North); and Alhaja Moji Adetona (Ibarapa Central).
Other party officials in attendance were the senatorial chairman, Alhaji Mojeed Adebayo; the secretary, Fatai Adesina; Welfare Officer, Sunday Babalola; Deputy Women Leader, Alhaja Fatimah Hassan; Auditor, Alhaja Tinu Adigun; Youth Leader, Lekan Adebayo; Ex-Officio member, Kola Amoo; Treasurer, Lateef Ajiboye; and Senatorial Youth Leader, Olalekan Olowe.
A chieftain of the party in Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Shina Alabi, moved the motion for the lawmaker’s endorsement, which was seconded and unanimously adopted by the stakeholders.
Alabi said Oseni’s decision to abide by President Bola Tinubu’s directive to step down his governorship ambition for the senatorial race underscored his loyalty and commitment to party unity.
He said, “Hon. Oseni has demonstrated uncommon commitment to the welfare of the people. His leadership style is inclusive, responsive and development-driven. We are convinced that his emergence as the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District will strengthen the party’s chances and guarantee effective representation.”
He also urged party members to remain united and rally behind credible aspirants with proven capacity and electoral value.
In his remarks, Hon. Aderemi Oseni said his decision to pursue the senatorial seat followed the presidential directives, noting that he accepted the decision in the interest of party cohesion, progress and stability. He recalled that he had earlier prepared for the Oyo South senatorial race in the 2023 general elections, having already purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms as part of an arrangement reached, before stepping down following appeals by party leaders.
The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said the party must close ranks to reclaim political dominance in the senatorial district.
According to him, “There is a huge task ahead, especially with several House of Representatives seats in the district currently held by the opposition. We must work together, mobilise effectively and secure victory for our party and leader, President Bola Tinubu”.
Oseni thanked party leaders and stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and assured them of his commitment to advancing the interests of Oyo South Senatorial District.
The meeting also had representatives from all nine local government areas, with about 10 leaders from each council in attendance.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of violence at the All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat, describing claims that he assaulted a party member as false and politically motivated.
An online platform, IMPARTNEWSNETWORK, had alleged that Akinmoyede assaulted one Gafar Oyebade during a meeting convened by the state chairman of the party, Alake Adeyemo, to resolve issues surrounding the executive list of the APC in Lagelu Local Government Area.
However, Akinmoyede, in a statement on Tuesday, said the meeting was peaceful and attended by key members of the state executive, including the chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary, who witnessed the proceedings.
He clarified that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the state leadership recognised him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to the lawmaker, following the clarification, the state executive directed the Lagelu Local Government chairman, Fatai Awoyoola, to proceed with the swearing-in of other party officials.
Akinmoyede also faulted attempts to link the incident with the 2019 killing of a former federal lawmaker, noting that a court of competent jurisdiction had already ruled on the matter.
He said, “In Suit No. I/70c/2019, delivered by Justice Mufutau Adegbola on January 23, 2020, all those accused were discharged and acquitted.”
The lawmaker expressed concern over what he described as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, alleging that Oyebade, a public school teacher under the Oyo State Government, should not be involved in partisan politics.
He described the allegation as a “recycled script” aimed at tarnishing his image ahead of political activities, urging constituents to remain calm.
Akinmoyede also called on journalists to verify information before publication and urged security agencies to take action against individuals who file false reports.
“These tactics surface every election cycle. Those behind them should learn to accept the outcomes of political processes. They failed before and will fail again. Power comes from God,” he added.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of assault levelled against him by a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagelu Local Government Area, Mr. Gafar Oyebade.
Akinmoyede described the allegation as “false” and “a lie taken too far,” insisting that no physical altercation occurred.
The denial was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his Legislative Aide, Dr. Isiaq Akintunde.
Oyebade had alleged that he was hospitalised following a confrontation during a meeting held at the office of the state party chairman in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, convened to resolve a leadership dispute in the local government.
But the federal lawmaker maintained that the meeting was peaceful and attended by top party officials.
“The meeting was convened to clarify Mr. Oyebade’s position within the local executive, and it was attended by the State Party Chairman, his deputy, the secretary, the publicity secretary, and other key state executives, all of whom witnessed the peaceful proceedings,” the statement read.
He added that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the Lagelu Local Government Party Chairman, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, identified him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to Akinmoyede, the state executive thereafter directed Awoyoola to proceed with the swearing-in of the remaining members of the local government executive.
The lawmaker accused Oyebade of fabricating the allegation to advance political interests.
“I wonder why Mr. Gafar Oyebade, a secondary school teacher, would claim he was assaulted in the presence of the State Executive. This is an attempt to justify money allegedly collected from an aspirant to tarnish my image,” he said.
Akinmoyede further claimed that Oyebade was seen walking freely after the meeting and was not hospitalised as alleged.
He also raised concerns over Oyebade’s involvement in partisan politics, noting that civil servants are restricted from active participation in political activities.
The lawmaker called on security agencies and the media to investigate the incident at the party’s Oke-Ado office to ascertain the veracity of the claims.
Efforts to reach Oyebade for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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