Politicians from major political parties in Oyo State are currently in Ibadan, the state capital, for the 74th posthumous birthday of a former governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
DAILY POST reports that the posthumous birthday which coincided with the 6th Annual Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable, has politicians drawn from the major political parties in the state, All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord.
The event is currently taking place at the Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre, Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies, University of Ibadan.
Ajimobi, who died in 2020, ruled the state as governor between 2011 and 2019.
Some of the notable personalities at the event include Governor Seyi Makinde of the state, who was represented by his Deputy, Barrister Abdulrahman Adebayo Lawal; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Dr. Zacheus Adedeji; former Minister for Trade, Mrs. Onikepo Akande; former Minister for Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and the deceased’s wife, Florence Ajimobi.
Others are the senator representing Oyo North, Dr. Abdulfatai Buhari; Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Saliu Adelabu; Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale; former Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Professor Adeolu Akande; former APC Chairman, Chief Akin Oke; Professor Tunji Olaopa and Professor Tajudeen Akanji.
Also at the event are former Assistant Inspector General of Police Leye Oyebade, former ALGON Chairman Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, friends, family members and associates of the former governor.
While speaking, Adebowale described the deceased as one of the most highly revered personalities Nigeria has produced.
He added that the former governor introduced some initiatives which helped to ensure the security of lives and property in the state during his tenure.
Adebowale said, “Today, we are here gathered again to honour posthumously one of the most highly revered personalities that this country has produced; an illustrious son of Ibadan, a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the first two-term Governor of Oyo State who served from 2011-2019 and thereafter served as the Deputy National Chairman South of the All Progressive Congress (APC) – the Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
“Everyone who knew Oyo State and especially Ibadan before his reign can attest to the high level of crime and insecurity in the state, such as armed robbery, including banks in front of
University; the NURTW perennial crisis in the state, and all manners and forms of insecurity.
“The establishment and equipping of the ‘Operation Burst’ took care of the problems of insecurity in the state. With regards to the NURTW menace, some people went to prison and that brought about peace in the state throughout his eight-year tenure”.
Oyo politicians gather in Ibadan for Ajimobi’s posthumous birthday