The outgone year 2017 did not end without events and issues that dominated the media space for long. To wet the appetite of our darling readers in this new year 2018, insideoyo.com has compiled some of the events.
1) ABIOLA AJIMOBI, THE ‘CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY’
Few days into the new year, in January 2017, an obviously provoked Governor Abiola Ajimobi, while addressing frustrated protesting students of the Ladoke Akintola University, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, at the frontage of the state secretariat, was videoed as telling the students respect ‘Constituted Authority.” He went further to describe himself as the Constituted Authority of Oyo State. The video trended for months and generated criticisms and counter-criticisms.
2) COURT STOPS OYO LG ELECTION
As politicians across the state were planning ahead of the planned council election scheduled for February 11, 2017, an Abuja federal high court ordered the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, to stop the planned election. This was after some Baales from Oyo town had sought redress in court for the ceding of their villages to other local government and local council development areas, without any referendum.
3) OYO APC MEMBERS PROTEST, TACKLE AJIMOBI OVER ‘IMPOSITION’ OF ‘SENACO’ MEMBERS AS CARETAKER CHAIRMEN
For the first time in close to their 7 years in office, members of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, especially those from Oke-ogun, took their destinies into their hands by protesting the neglect of core party members in the selection of caretaker chairmen. This was on April 3rd, 2017. They alleged a power permanent secretary of been behind the plot. The protest almost turned into a fracas as party members faced each other.
4) OYO APPOINTS VC FOR TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
The Oyo State Government, on May 9, 2017, appointed an inaugural vice-chancellor for its new univeristy- Technical University. A former deputy vice-chancellor (academics) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Ayobami Salami is the man.
5) RENOWNED PLAYWRIGHT, ADEBAYO FALETI, DIED
After many years of rumoured death, renowned playwright, dramatist, poet and broadcaster, Pa Adebayo Faleti died on July 23rd, 2017 and was buried in Agboye village of Oyo town on September 8th, 2017.
6) ELEVATION, INSTALLATION OF HIGH CHIEFS & SENIOR CHIEFS TO BEARDED-CROWN OBAS
On August 27, 2017, Governor Ajimobi added another ‘first’ to his already decorated cap. He did what has never happened in the history of his hometown- Ibadan, by elevating and installing Ibadan high chiefs and senior chiefs to crown-wearing Obas. The coronation was done at the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan, with the Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, in absentia. The issue is still generating condemnations and commendations. In fact, the court will decide on the case anytime soon.
7) OLUYOLE SOCCER LORD, 3SC, RELEGATED TO ‘DIVISION TWO’
The darling football club of Oyo State, especially the people of Ibadan, Shooting Stars Sports Club- 3SC, was officially relegated from the Nigeria Professional Football League to the Nigeria National League on September 10, 2017.
8) LION KILLED ‘BABA OLOHUNWA’ INSIDE AGODI ZOO
The people were woken up on independence day with the news of the death of one of the zoo attendants in Agodi Zoo, Mr. Hamzat Oyekunle. Baba Olohunwa, as the deceased was called, had “fed the lion for over five years and was known to have had a very good relationship with all the animals in the zoo” was ‘accidentally’ attacked by the lions on September 30, 2017. He was said to have died from injuries sustained from the incident.
9) ALAAFIN’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF OTUNBA GANI ADAMS AS AARE ONA KAKANFO OF YORUBALAND
On October 15, 2017, the same day he celebrated his coronation anniversary, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, surprised many as he announced the coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, Otunba Gani Adams as late Chief M.K.O Abiola’s successor as Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. The appointment, which early critics predicted would generated condemnations, has continued to draw commendations from far and wide.
10) ‘COUNTER DEFECTION’ OF MAJOR POLITICAL HEAVYWEIGHTS
The political space witnessed historic defections in the history of the state. Former governor Rashidi Ladoja, ex-senator- Olufemi Lanlehin, Bisi Ilaka (all of Accord), Seyi Makinde, Dare Adeleke (of SDP), Sharafadeen Alli (LP), Jumoke Akinjide, Ayoade Adeseun, Hosea Agboola, Gbolarumi Hazeem and Mulikat Adeola Akande (all of PDP) decided to come together as one, under PDP. On the other hand, former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala (of LP) and ex-senate leader- Teslim Folarin (of PDP) led their supporters to the ruling APC.
