Festus Adedayo, Ajimobi’s sycophant or government’s dissident?

Festus Adedayo, a former journalist and former Special Adviser to the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has condemned the education policy of the state government while during his sojourn as Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, he showers accolades on his former boss’ led administration. 

In an interview he had with Vanguard newspaper in 2014, Adedayo condemned a stalwart of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Yekini Adeojo over statement that Gov. Ajimobi would not win second term in office. He maintained that the reason for his disapproved statement was because elders like Adeojo were selfish noting that Adeojo’s statement was borne out of his displeasure over his daughter’s removal from Ajimobi’s cabinet.

Adedayo in the interview with headline, ‘Ajimobi is doing unthinkable in Oyo said: “when this same man (Adeojo) had his daughter in Ajimobi’s cabinet, did he ever say this? Now that the governor said he could no longer continue the burden, he (Adeojo) suddenly resorted to that wonky logic of Ibadan doesn’t serve a governor twice”, Adedayo querried.

But two years after his exit from Ajimobi’s government, Adedayo in a column written in à national newspaper took a swipe against the administration of his former boss, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. He condemned him of not following the educational template of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He added that if the governor can follow the template of the late sage in education, the governor will achieve same feat as Awolowo. But the question is: ‘why the former journalist is now picking holes in the administration of his former boss when Oyo State fared better in education compared to when he was part of the government?’ ‘is it because he’s now in the shoe of Chief Yekini Adeojo?’ ‘or should one say he is selfish and self- centered just as the allegation he levelled against Adeojo and other elders in Ibadan?’

He said in the 2014 interview that many politicians and elites especially in Ibadan don’t have regards or respect for the moral principles that underscores human relationships. He added: As a journalist of many years and political scientist, you will be amazed at the raw data of tranchery and human capacity for mischief that I gather in government on a daily basis”, he said.

Comparing Adedayo’s 2014 interview and his column in 2017 with headline: ‘WAEC result: Of Awo’s mud classrooms and govs’ model greed’, should we call him a sycophant or dissident to Gov. Ajimobi’s government?

•Dare Taiwo writes from Ibadan.