A Gubernatorial Aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in the 2019 governorship election in Oyo State and a Chieftain of the Party, Chief Niyi Akintola has commended the Deputy Governor of Oyo State who led the State government delegation to the 8th day Fidau of late Governor of the State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi for displaying high level of maturity in the face of provocation.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) stated this while speaking in an interview aired on a Current Affairs programme – IMPACT POINT on IBR 92.5fm Ibadan on Tuesday monitored by our correspondent.
He said ” going by what I read on the pages of Newspaper, I think we should commend the leadership quality of the Deputy Governor. In fact, he is a man after my heart. He is a Statesman, matured, conducted himself very well and I sent him a text to that effect thanking him for the conduct he exhibited. He is truly an “omoluabi”.
“He is not a member of my party but I don’t belong to the critical critic class. When you do something that is right, I will say so without minding whose ox is gored. I know some members of my party might not like what I am saying but I think he deserve some an applaud, I mean the Deputy Governor. By my own reckoning, he behaved maturedly and he didn’t allow for any sort of crisis. He is the deputy Governor. He could have forced his way through but he declined and exhibited maturity, comportment expected of a Statesman so he should be commended”
When asked why he did not attend the Fidau prayers, he said he was asked not to bother coming.
“Gbola Ajimobi called me not to come. Gbola is my very close friend and so also is Deola, a friend close friend of mine. These are direct siblings of the former Governor. They told me not to bother coming that the programme was meant for only family members and that was a clear signal for me to stay away. In fact, Festus Adedayo, a friend of mine and one of your senior colleagues prevailed on me to come over and I came down all the way from Lagos. He said “egbon” I would love to see you there and I was in constant touch with Bolaji Tunji and Bola told me not to bother so I stayed away.”
It would be recalled that the State Government and the immediate family of the late Governor have traded words over the alleged snub of the Oyo State delegation led by Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, the incumbent Deputy Governor of the State to the 8th day Fidau of late Senator Abiola Ajimobi held in Ibadan on Sunday. The family of the deceased has however denied any wrongdoing saying it never expected the delegation at the burial.
The Public Relations Officer of the PDP who also featured on the programme however said his party has put all that happened at the Oluyole residence of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Sunday behind it.
