The gubernatorial candidates

Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan

There were divisions on Tuesday February 12 2019 among the Oyo State leading Gubernatorial Candidates over whether to probe the administration of the outgoing Governor Abiola Ajimobi on corruption or not. Governor Ajimobi is currently the Oyo South Senatorial candidate of APC.

The divisions occurred when responding to questions at the Splash FM – Lagelu FM Gubernatorial Debate held at International Conference Centre, ICC, of the University of Ibadan, UI, which was attended by all the governorship candidates except Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, the candidate for Action Democratic Party, ADP.

Senator Olufemi Lanlehin of Africa Democratic Congress, ADC and Mrs Bolanle Ashabi Sarumi-Aliyu of National Interest Party, NIP, said that if elected, they would probe their immediate predecessor.

Sarunmi-Aliyu emphatically said that she would want to know whether Governor Ajimobi has a refinery in Lebanon, his wife’s country as alleged, among other allegations adding that if Ajimobi is found wanting in any way, she would refer the matter to appropriate agencies for prosecution.

However, candidates for All Progressive Congress, APC, Chief Adebayo Adelabu alias Penkelemesi, Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party, ANRP, Mr Olalekan Ayorinde and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engineer Seyi Makinde said that they would not probe Governor Ajimobi.

While Adelabu who referred to Ajimobi as his father said that it is not possible for a son to probe his father, Makinde said that he would be too busy with governance to think of probing anybody.

Giving an insight to what his administration would look like, Adelabu promised a gender-balanced cabinet if he wins the election adding, “My administration is going to abide by the UN prescription on involvement of women in governance. It’s incontrovertible that women don’t have the propensity for corruption like men, as such we’re going to have women of proven integrity in our administration”.

The APC Candidate further promised to continue and build on the good work of Governor Ajimobi-led administration and equally promised to pay the N30, 000 minimum wage to workers in the state, while working to have an improved educational and healthcare delivery systems.

On the office of the First Lady, Adelabu said he would have a wife of the governor and not first lady.

In another development, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun has said that the State needs individuals that could attract further development.

Arulogun, while featuring on a radio programme on a private radio station in Ibadan, explained that the experience, exposure and intellect of Ajimobi is needed to further attract development to the state, noting that Oyo State needs a representative who can identify issues as well as challenges within his environment and proffer solutions in the upper chamber.

He stated that the pedigrees of all the candidates of the APC for different offices in the state are unrivaled; pointing out that Ajimobi is exceptional among them with his achievements as the governor in the state and his contributions to the Senate when he represented the State between 2007 and 2011.

The Commissioner said that Ajimobi’s achievement in restoring peace, safety and security to the state, the infrastructural and agricultural revolution, the urban renewal, restoring the lost glory in education as well as his welfare packages are incomparable with previous administrations in the state, stressing that his tenure has placed Oyo state on a high pedestal in the comity of states in the country.

According to Arulogun, “From a poor investment climate, business unfriendliness and poor ease of doing business occasioned by insecurity and none existing industrial policy, Governor Ajimobi’s repositioning efforts have resulted in the introduction of the first State Industrial Policy in collaboration with UNIDO, 4-Star rating as a well-qualified state to facilitate foreign and domestic investors by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, NIPC 2018, commendation as one of the only five states to attract investment in the last quarter of 2017 and rating as the fourth investment friendly state in Nigeria (NBS 2016) among others”.

He added, “Governor Ajimobi is a man who is very passionate about the development of Oyo State. There were some things lacking before he came to office and he has used his experience and knowledge to turn things around especially in accessibility to grants and relationship with development partners. He is a visionary leader and change agent who is always ready to take people to where they ought to be and not where they want to be. He will be remembered as the founder of the modern Oyo State. Governor Ajimobi is a consistent achiever whose return to the Senate will bring development to Oyo State because wherever he goes, he will take Oyo State along. He is well respected and his wealth of experience will count for the state in terms of development and progress”.