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Shettima, Makinde, Abiodun, Others Eulogise Ajimobi At His 74th Posthumous Birthday

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The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, attended the 74th posthumous birthday of the late former governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, held at the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, the state capital.

The event, which was also attended by the Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, represented by his SSA, Bashir A Maidugu, also had in attendance Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, former Oyo Deputy Governors of Oyo State; Barrister Iyiola Oladokun and Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo; Senator Yunus Akintunde; Senator Fatai Buhari; Minister of Power, Bayo  Adelabu  Chairman of FIRS, Mr Zacheaus Adelabu, members of the Federal House of Representatives; a former minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun and a former minister of industry, Onikepo Akande CON.
Former Commissioner for Education under Ajimobi’s administration, Professor Olowofela; Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN; Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Professor Tunji Olaopa, APC members in the Oyo state House of Assembly and a host of others were also at the event.
Governor Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, commended the Chairman of Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation (SAAF), Mrs Florence Ajimobi, for celebrating her later husband’s posthumous birthday every year.
Makinde described the late Senator Ajimobi as the only governor of Oyo State who transited and is still being celebrated yearly, saying that his remembrance showed clearly that he lived very well for the people of Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole before his demise.
The Deputy Governor, who said that Ajimobi had a good relationship with people before his departure, described the deceased as somebody one couldn’t take for granted because he joined politics from the private sector.
According to him, we knew Ajimobi to be a very blunt and straightforward person, whose virtue assisted him in his political trajectory to become senator, governor of Oyo state and acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“In 2011, when he contested to become governor, he won. So he approached one of our leaders in Oyo State for his support and he was given. He was able to govern the state successfully. This is the man in whose memory, we have all gathered here.
“Senator Ajimobi was a man with countless sense of humour, and I do not know anybody who can crack jokes better than him. Even if he quarrelled with you, the next minute, he will crack jokes and you won’t have choice than to laugh.
“So, we thank God for his life and what he was able to achieve,” he said.
The Deputy Governor, who also spoke extempore on the topic, “Re-Engineering Nigeria For Sustainable Development: Options, Costs and Prospects,” stated that the era of the ancient SAM or 3-man economists are long gone and that sustainable development in Nigeria cannot be formulated using their model.
He recalled that in 1986, when SAM frame work was introduced, there was a thought that Nigeria had gotten to a stage of self sustainability, which was given by IMF, World Bank among other institutions that create model for third world countries.
He stressed that if we are proposing sustainable development for Nigeria, we must be planning to depart from institutions of such nature.
He said: “In Oyo State, I make bold to say that in the last five years, we have been able to really open up the economy in a way that development and industries would be attracted to the state.
“We have put in place the circular road which is 110km round Ibadan city. As we speak, we have done almost half of that place in a way that Lagos to Ibadan would be done within 35-40 minutes.
“Lagos is just 110km, which is the circumference of Ibadan circular road. Lagos is doing N60bn on a monthly basis on revenue generation, just 110km away, and before His Excellency, Seyi Makkinde came on board, Oyo was doing N2bn, but now it has been lifted to about N4bn.”
The Deputy Governor, whose remarks attracted thunderous applause from listeners who were largely dominated by members of All Progressives Congress, added that “under the leadership of His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, we are opening up the economy to attract investment into Oyo state.
“For the umpteenth time, Moniya Road and other places have been done; likewise Ogbomoso to Iseyin, while Oyo to Iseyin road are linked, which is attracting development and industries for investment.
“We have also done the eastern part of Oyo state, around Ibarapa axis, the road from Eruwa to Ibarapa central is done, which allowed people to travel freely, while 2024 budget has captured the construction of all the inner roads of Ibadan and by new year, contractors will begin work and get them completed within 18months,” he said.
Barrister Lawal stated that Oyo state ranks first in the southwest of Nigeria for the availability of lithium because no local government in Oyo state lacks a solid mineral deposit, particularly in Akinyele, Irepo, and Olorunsogo, which have large deposits of lithium.
He added that Makinde administration is also not backing down from taking advantage of solid mineral resources in the state to boost the state’s economy.
He emphasised that security is necessary for sustainable development in Nigeria and that Makinde administration has adequately provided it by bolstering the state’s security architecture to allow the people of Oyo State live in peace.
On his part, the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, who was among the keynote speakers at the event, described the late Ajimobi as a caring father and a courageous man who broke the jinx in Oyo State tate as the first two term governor of the state.
Abiodun appreciated the time he spent with Ajimobi and the lesson he learned in the course of his political journey, saying that the late governor was an exceptional communicator as he smiled often and that his sense of humour is second to none.
He added that the event was very important to him as he had to be part of the auspicious occasion despite having other functions, stressing that the former governor lived a successful life.
The Ogun State Governor noted that sustainable development is not only for Nigeria, but the world as a whole, saying that it’s an ability of the future to meet its own needs.
He stated that Nigeria needed to start thinking out of the box due to overdependence on oil while, lamenting that the country, as an oil power house, is yet to have a working refinery for decades.
He equally said that the country is shifting away from oil in the same manner that other nations are currently thinking about energy, agriculture, and how best to utilise the nation’s substantial mineral resources, including lithium and gold, among others, for sustainable growth.
“We can easily create millions of jobs if we tap into this solid mineral resources among others,” he said.
Abiodun noted that tourism is part of what can be tapped into to revive the economy of Nigeria as well as investment in infrastructure, education, agriculture, transportation among others to harness the potentials of Nigeria for economic growth.
“We must empower our youths. They are the cornerstone of development, especially on digital education. We must also improve on agriculture to provide jobs opportunity as we have palm oil, cocoa, maize and others to create enviable environment,” he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, Adelabu, the minister of power, commended Ajimobi family for preserving his memory and said that the number of dignitaries at the event was evidence of his good deeds.
He pointed out that the celebration of Ajimobi’s 74th birthday anniversary after his passing called for a sombre reflection based on his contributions to the development of Oyo State and the nation generally in his lifetime.
Adelabu stated that Ajimobi established the standard for political roles, noting that he acquired courage, godliness, and distinctive shape in addition to his endearing personality that won him many supporters.
He added that the late former governor epitomised excellence, and described him as an astute politician and a good administrator.
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