A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Oyo State, Chief Niyi Akintola, has disclosed that his belief in the progressive politics of late former governor Bola Ige made him to resign his position as deputy speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly in 1992.
This is just as the legal luminary, who represented Iddo State Constituency, pledged to sustain the achievements of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, if elected in 2019.
Akintola spoke yesterday at Igboora in Ibarapa Central Local Government Area, during a visit to APC leadership and select elders in Ibarapa North, Central and East local government areas, where he appealed for support.
Regretting the dwindling discipline in APC, he noted that this accounted for the “plague’ of youths who wanted to have it all at a go.
He urged the party’s leadership to counsel the youths the need for patience, party discipline and respect for elders, adding that: “Today, we have youths who want to climb the tree from the top.”
According to him, it took “me well over 30 years to climb to the height of a governorship aspirant within the fold of the progressives, learning under the keen mentorship of the late Chief Bola Ige, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others within the camp of the progressives”.
He continued: “What we were taught and what we met was that before you dance outside, you dance inside first. We were taught not to jump. I was deputy speaker way back in 1992. When Chief Ige directed me to resign, I did straight. We met standards and have kept to the standards.”
He commended Ajimobi for doing a wonderful work, explaining that aside “infrastructural renewal and rebirth, which hallmarked Ajimobi’s administration, he (governor) has equally laid the foundation for lasting peace in the state”.
“Those who knew what the situation was before the coming of Ajimobi would value the general atmosphere of peace and development in Oyo State today. The governor has stabilised the state and returned peace.
“Ajimobi has offered the template for sustainable development in the state. We must try not to return to the years of the locusts. He (Ajimobi) is highly intelligent, urbane, cerebral and cultured. If we cannot surpass his achievements, we must sustain it.
“I am here to seek your support for the ticket of the party. What Asiwaju Bola Tinubu started in Lagos State and sustained through Raji Fasola and now Akinwumi Ambode is what Ajimobi has instituted in Oyo State too. We want to build on that legacy in Oyo State by seeking your support.”
Besides the three party chairmen in the councils, other leaders who unanimously expressed support for Akintola’s governorship ambition included Chief Timothy Jolaoso, APC Zonal Leader, Chief Silas Lasunsi and Chief Kazeem Jinadu.
Others are: Chief Niyi Francis Babalola, Alhaji Olaide Abass, Chief Theo Ade Adetunji and Rafiu Ojegoke.
The governorship aspirant also berated those who created and often preached artificial divisions in Oyo State.
He noted that Oyo remained one – from Otta boundary in Ogun State to Offa boundary in Kwara State.
Akintola added that many families in Ibadan conveniently traced links and ancestry to other towns, such as Iwo, Ijebu, Ogbomoso.
