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I have read a few posts about Gov Ajimobi on Different social media platforms in the past week . I was definitely amused by them but equally frustrated and disappointed by the paucity of knowledge about the erstwhile senator and first Nigerian Managing Director of National oil a position he held before he was 50 years old .
You must really know Senator Ajimobi and appreciate where he was coming from before you could appreciate him for what he stood for and why the criticism we have been fed with would really make no sense but rather something that should be recorded in his favour as a tremendous achievements to the future generations of oyo state and indeed Ibadan politicians and youths .
Oyo state prior to Ajimobi was a state manipulated and dominated by what was known as ” amala politicians ” . They were essentially local lords with substantial influence among the natives whom they fed regularly but lacked any competence, policy or direction in terms of governance. Fayose , later Governor of Ekiti grew up in Ibadan and learnt his politics from Ibadan hence his politics of ” stomach infrastructure ”
I was born in Ibadan, grew up in Ibadan and schooled in Ibadan hence can confirm that Ibadan and indeed Oyo State can boast of the best scholars and technocrats in all fields of human endeavour.
My father in law , an Ibadan indigene , was the first indegenous petroleum geologist among several others. Regrettably despite their achievements across the broad spectrum of human endeavour their politics was essentially dominated by those who had the guts and brute force to dominate the landscape.
Ajimobi fought for years to pave the way for growth through tough times . He was resisted and lost election but stood his ground and came back to conquer after insisting that politics must be practiced differently in the interest of the common good . We must give him credit for his huge achievements.
Ajimobi has been accused of being arrogant and a snob . Now let us figure this out . You are sworn into office to execute the function of a Governor but your constituents believe you are the custodian of their ‘ money ‘ so all they do is come to your house , as in the past , to eat amala and collect stipends. And again when their wives deliver babies , the wives are Governor’s wives and the babies , his babies .
There was a joke about someone who came to announce the birth of his baby ” gomina iyawo yin bimo mo yo fun yin ” and to which Ajimobi responded ” as at the last time i checked , first lady was not pregnant “.
That was the culture of Ibadan politics that Ajimobi changed at the risk of any future ambition. Oyo State has been completely transformed in terms of infrastructural growth and development in the past 7 years let the truth be told .
He was not perfect for sure but I can confirm he was frank to a fault. He jokes a lot and never takes himself too seriously. I can confirm i have known that fact about him when 26 years he openly joked with his old school mate whose dad was rich that he too had arrived. He was open and almost confrontational. During the university crises that almost got him in trouble he didnt see anything wrong in going to meet the students on campus to plead his case. But the students were not ready for all that . They abused him and wanted to get rough . ” Constituted authority ” didn’t have any meaning to them.
He openly flared up but back in his office settled the matter with them and their issues like a father would do.
The popular musician’s case was not any different. Always quick to express himself and act where necessary but equally quick to reconcile and move on in the interest of peace , growth and development of his people.
His Excellency, Governor Ajimobi has done well . He deserves our respect.
My perspective with RESPECT. ~ Ade A Adedeji, SAN
