‘Our Relationship Was That Of A Son To A Father’ – Adelabu Hails Late Ajimobi

A former Minister of Power and 2027 Oyo State governorship aspirant, Bayo Adelabu, has praised the late former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, describing him “as a magnetized leader who provided clear direction and mentorship.”

According to Adelabu, Ajimobi provided mentorship and leadership for several politicians, including himself.

Speaking particularly about their relationship, Adelabu said the late Ajimobi was like a father to him.

Naija News reports that he made the statement on Thursday during an interview on the sidelines of the sixth-year Fidau prayer held for the late former governor at his private residence in Oluyole Estate, Ibadan.

The former Minister praised Ajimobi for his leadership of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which, according to him, was rock-solid, united, and free from the fragmentation it is currently experiencing.

He said, “I entered into politics through his influence. It was his style of governance and his style of politics that attracted me to join politics. My personal relationship with the late former governor was that of a son to a father,” describing him “as a magnetized leader who provided clear direction and mentorship.”

Speaking further, Adelabu said the late governor confronted challenges head-on, particularly in the areas of security, infrastructure, and education.

“Ajimobi’s body language was that Oyo should be crime-free, and he achieved it. A governor must confront crime, must be ready to fight crime head-on. You cannot run away from crime, you must face it. That is what Ajimobi did,” he said.

Adelabu, therefore, urged APC members and supporters to look beyond individual aspirations, and embrace reconciliation in order to unseat the current Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Oyo State in 2027.

Naija News reports that Ajimobi died on Thursday, June 25, 2020, at the age of 70 after succumbing to COVID-19 complications while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Lagos.