Politics
Before Ajimobi decides on successor || By Toye Arulogun
THE Oyo State political landscape is swarming with an unprecedented number of aspirants to the number one seat in the state. This is a good development because never in the history of the pace setter state has there been such a plethora of individuals interested in governing the state.
It is worthy of emphasis here to state that the current scenario in Oyo State politics reinforces the popular saying that “True leaders don’t create followers; they create more leaders”. Coming on the heels of the first administration to win a second term in the state, it is obvious that the outgoing governor has raised the bar of politics and governance high enough to attract serious contenders from the political class as well as technocrats.
This appeal is further confirmed by the good quality of aspirants in terms of educational background, professional career, record of achievements, private and public sector leadership experience. While some may aver that the availability of quality aspirants is weighted more in the ruling party, such claim does not obliterate the fact that from a drone view of the current Oyo State political panorama, the camera is capturing multiple dots of quality aspirants which will naturally and forever change the configurations and equations in the political capital of South West Nigeria.
Convincingly, this turn of a new page in this fresh chapter of the Oyo State history books is a bequest of the current governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who has provided a strong allure for the abundant aspirants.
So, where does Oyo State go from here? What does this really mean and how does the state derive benefit from this elevation of quality standards in its leadership? Governor Ajimobi is at the twilight of his eight-year “Koseleri” term. Every great leader, either in the public or private sector, endeavours to succeed himself.
John C. Maxwell, the management expert, puts it succinctly when he says “There is no success without a successor”, while leadership coach, Bill Bliss, puts it very pointedly as a key leadership function by stating categorically that “The number one role of any leader is to identify and prepare their successor”.
The clock is ticking. Time is short. The list is long. Aspirants are in excess. Options are many. It is now a matter of choice. Governor Ajimobi must weigh the options and narrow down his choices and ultimately make the choice of a successor. The die is cast. Time for decision is now.
As the longest serving governor of Oyo State, for a historic eight years, it goes without saying that the choice of a successor is one of the hardest decisions Governor Ajimobi needs to take for the sake of Oyo State.
While Governor Ajimobi is reputed for being a principle-centred leader who is bold and courageous to take strong and hard decisions for the sake of development, I am convinced that taking this decision will not be a walk in the park. Certainly, it will not be not as easy as the resolve to curtail the insecurity he met in May 2011, ban street trading, cancel automatic promotion in schools, engage stakeholders in the management of secondary schools with the establishment of the School Governing Boards, relocate butchers to a new central abattoir, enforce environmental sanitation laws, elevate traditional rulers to Obaship positions, embark on the reform of the civil and public service amongst many others.
That strength of character to take decisions in the overall interest and development of the state is the singular and most important quality Governor Ajimobi’s successor must possess. Bravura must be in the DNA of the next ‘constituted authority’.
In our largely traditional and conservative state with a deeply rooted culture of impunity and condonation, Governor Ajimobi needs a successor with strong moral fibre; an individual who understands, appreciates and values the position of the governor; an individual who can take hard decisions for the sake of development, no matter whose ox is gored. That successor must be a dauntless leader with spunk, who can differentiate between merit and expediency.
Governor Ajimobi’s successor must be ready to build on the foundation his predecessor has laid in building a modern Oyo State. In taking the baton from “the builder”, he or she must be prepared and work hard to move Oyo State upwards from the current 4th investment-friendly state in Nigeria, uphold its four-star rating in facilitating foreign and domestic investment by the Nigerian Investment Promotions Council, sustain the renaissance of the night economy, improve on the 147 per cent increase in key players in the hospitality and tourism sector, surpass the best West African Senior School Certificate result in 18 years, continue with the Geographic Information System project and implementation of the Ibadan Master Plan as well as other master plans, advance to phase 2 of e-governance beyond pay roll system automation, add to the Ajumose fleet of 100 mass transit buses provided for both the general public and those dedicated to civil servants.
The next ‘constituted authority’ will be required to manage the N50bn Health Endowment Fund, Oyo State Education Trust Fund, Oyo State Security Trust Fund as well as the first state health insurance scheme in Nigeria. The next Mr Governor must position Oyo State in taking advantage of the completion of the Lagos — Ibadan Expressway and the Federal Government’s rail project; open up the state to more Agric investors beyond the Dangote Group, Friesland Campina and others; grow Oyo State Pace Setter Integrated organic Farm, Songhai Model, Awe and provide additional farm land for them beyond the current 250 hectares.
The next occupant of the governor’s lodge in Ibadan needs to reduce the time frame for the processing of the electronic C of O from the current 60 days, deploy the data from the land and house enumeration across the state for better planning, continue the infrastructural revolution with the rehabilitation, expansion, and completion of road networks like the 110km Ibadan Circular Road.
Listing where we are in Oyo State in some sectors is germane to the issue at hand because a. call to leadership is a call to advance the current situation a call to move things forward, a call to make a positive difference by improving the status quo. Do we have that individual who can make the difference? Of course. Even Governor Ajimobi agrees that there are “eminently qualified” aspirants to the Governor’s Office. With a lot of sound curriculum vitae in the air, what then should determine the choice?
One thing is as sure as death. Great leaders are not those who aspire to be leaders but those who set out to make a difference. Governor Ajimobi’s successor must be the one that is hungry and thirsty for making a difference, one that is passionate about success; living and breathing excellence with a rare commitment to developing Oyo State just like his predecessor. That is only when that individual will make a difference…. the difference that will mould the building blocks on the foundation and pillars of a modern Oyo State.
Toye Arulogun is the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday held a high-level strategic meeting with the Oyo State chapter of the party as part of efforts to reposition the APC for victory and prevent internal crisis ahead of the polls.
The development was first scooped by OYOINSIGHT.COM which quoted multiple party sources familiar with the closed-door deliberations.
Sources disclosed that the meeting, held in Abuja, focused largely on a consensus arrangement being considered by stakeholders of the party in Oyo State, in line with political templates reportedly being adopted in Lagos and Ogun states ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Party insiders said the move was aimed at strengthening unity within the fold of the opposition party in the state, minimising rancour during the primaries and presenting a formidable front against rival parties in 2027.
It was further gathered that some members of the state executive committee may have been subtly informed about preferred consensus candidates being considered for elective positions across the state.
Though details of the deliberations were still sketchy as of press time, sources hinted that the national leadership stressed the need for cohesion, discipline and strategic alignment among stakeholders to improve the party’s electoral fortunes in Oyo.
Those at the meeting included the Oyo APC Chairman, Moses Alake Adeyemo; the state secretary, Fatai Adesina Adeniyi; the Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare; the Organising Secretary, Aderemi Adepoju; and the Legal Adviser, Sunday Aborisade.
Others were the Women Leader, Adekemi Opatunde; the Youth Leader, Olalekan Oladejo; Joshua Oyebamiji; Tunde Oloyede; Sunday Babalola; Joseph Omoniyi; and Mojeed Adebayo.
As of the time of filing this report, the party had yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the meeting.
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, on Monday assured aspirants and party members that the party would conduct transparent, peaceful and credible direct primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo declared that no aspirant would be victimised or denied a level playing field, stressing that the party leadership remained committed to internal democracy and progressive ideals.
The former deputy governor spoke while receiving members of the APC Screening and Appeal Committees deployed from the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja at the APC Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
He disclosed that although the party initially explored consensus arrangements across elective positions, prevailing realities indicated that direct primaries would be conducted in some areas, including the governorship contest.
Adeyemo said the party had already put necessary structures in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise capable of strengthening unity within the APC.
He said: “We set machineries in motion for us to achieve the aim of consensus across board but reports available to me indicate that we would have to go by the second option which is direct primary in certain cases including the governorship ticket.
“To this end, we shall work towards organising free, fair and credible exercise in all the affected areas even as we cannot rule out the possibility of some aspirants having a rethink and supporting the consensus arrangement as necessary.
“Where we have more than an aspirant, Abuja would send people to conduct primaries and we at the state level would provide the required support to make everything work out in the interest of our great party.”
The APC chairman explained that all registered party members would participate fully in the exercise at their respective wards on dates to be announced by the National Secretariat.
According to him, affirmation would be adopted in areas where consensus candidates emerge, while voting would be conducted wherever direct primaries become necessary.
“For consensus, members will lend their voices for affirmation while voting will be done in the cases of direct primary,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the Screening Committee and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Taofiq AbdusSalam, assured party faithful that the committee would carry out a thorough, transparent and unbiased screening process.
He said only eligible aspirants would be cleared to participate in the primaries and eventually fly the APC flag in the forthcoming elections.
Other members of the Screening Committee are Kamal Sanusi (Secretary), Smart Oluwole, Tunde Kolade and Olabamiji Agunloye.
Members of the Screening Appeal Committee are Jibola Oduwole (Chairman), Abimbola Jack (Secretary) and Jelil Jimoh.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Saturday zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria, declaring that the party’s candidate would serve a single four-year term if elected.
The decision was reached during the party’s national convention held in Abuja amid growing momentum within the opposition platform following a wave of high-profile defections from other political parties.
Announcing the development on its official social media handle, the party stated, “NDC presidential ticket is zoned to the South!!”
The party also resolved that its 2031 presidential ticket would be ceded to Northern Nigeria as part of efforts to maintain regional balance and internal equity.
The convention comes as key opposition figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former New Nigeria People’s Party presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, joined party leaders and delegates at the Abuja gathering.
Saturday’s convention is expected to ratify several recent decisions taken by the party’s National Executive Committee, including zoning arrangements, amendments to the party constitution, and the election of new national executives.
According to the convention agenda obtained by journalists, discussions centred on zoning, ratification of the amended constitution, and leadership restructuring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The NDC has in recent weeks witnessed a surge in defections from rival opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
On Tuesday, no fewer than 17 members of the House of Representatives defected from the ADC to the NDC.
Their defections were formally announced during plenary at the House of Representatives.
The lawmakers include Yusuf Datti, Uchenna Okonkwo, Adamu Wakili, Thaddeus Attah, George Ozodinobi, Lilian Orogbu, Oluwaseyi Sowunmi, Peter Aniekwe, Mukhtar Zakari, George Oluwande and Munachim Umezuruike.
Others are Emeka Idu, Jesse Onuakalusi, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Afam Ogene, Murphy Omoruyi and Abdulhakeem Ado.
The defections came barely two days after Obi and Kwankwaso formally joined the NDC from the ADC.
The duo were presented with the party’s membership cards last Sunday shortly after a closed-door meeting with party leaders.
A former Governor of Bayelsa State and NDC national leader, Seriake Dickson, officially welcomed the opposition figures into the party.
Obi had attributed his exit from the ADC to worsening internal crises, external interference and what he described as increasing hostility within party structures.
The former Anambra State governor said Nigeria’s political environment had become increasingly toxic, marked by intimidation, insecurity and sustained scrutiny of opposition figures.
He also lamented that institutions meant to protect citizens were now often deployed against them, while individuals committed to genuine public service faced mounting pressure both publicly and privately.
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