As the 2019 elections beckon, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State yesterday disclosed that he does not pray for a puppet to succeed him.
Instead, the governor prayed that his successor should be a person who wholeheartedly desires all-round development of the state.
This is just as he urged the people of the state not to belabour themselves about notions that he plans to impose anybody as he successor.
Ajimobi, who spoke at the inauguration of the Oyo State Market Leaders Council, at state Secretariat, Ibadan, noted that his concern was that his successor builds upon his strides in peace and security, social and physical infrastructure, trade and investment among others.
According to him, it is almost impossible to totally ‘control’ a successor, hence what should be paramount should be that the next governor of the state is committed to raising the bar of governance from its current point.
“This administration still has till May 2019. However, in politics, we have just about a year to go. This means that by this December, we will be in the thick of politics and would have begun campaigning for votes for my successor. Though some will say that my concern when I begin canvassing for votes for a successor is that I want to impose someone who will be my puppet upon the people. But the truth is whether you impose or not, that person, may after a while, no more do one’s bidding.”
“What I am concerned about is having a successor who will do well for the state. Even a child, at some point, may not always take heed to his or her parents. Moreover, when the child gets married, he or she may begin to take heed to only the stance of his or her hubby.”
“We have done well and should pray that whoever emerges next governor will continue to promote trade and investment, peace and security, social and physical infrastructure. What the people of Oyo state should pray for is that the next governor should be someone who will be committed to doing well for the state. The person may decide not to do exactly things our own way and do it as dictated by his own closest people. So, our prayer should be that whoever emerges should mean well for the people,” he added.
