As the architect of modern Oyo state leaves office after completing his 8 years, InsideOyo.com brings you 5 major things Senator Abiola Ajimobi failed to do as the governor of Oyo state.
It’s worthy to note that Senator Abiola Ajimobi who was elected as governor under the platform of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011 and All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 is the first governor of the state to be re-elected for a second term. Hence, the name “Koseleri” rent the air as friends, lovers, admirers, fans do call him.
InsideOyo brings you 5 major things he failed to do while in office:
1. Five-star Hotel
Good people of Oyo state woke up one Friday to hear the good news about the commencement of the construction of a 150-room five-star hotel in the heart of Ibadan, the state capital. The Eagle Online reports that the hotel, which is under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, will be built at a cost N6 billion.
According to the governor, the state government will provide a cash injection of 10 percent of the total project cost, in addition to the value of the site. He said that the hotel would provide an international conference center and banquet facility for a projected 400 to 750 guests, adding that all its facilities would be of international standard and with a touch of class that his administration had been known within the last one year.
But alas! Here we are today in Oyo state, the project has not been completed nor commissioned.
2. Atiba FM, Oyo
For many years, indigenes and dwellers of Oyo town had demanded the establishment of a radio station in the town. The agitation became intense when Ajimobi’s predecessor – Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala approved the establishment of two radio stations in the state – Ajilete FM was established in Ogbomoso and Oke-Ogun FM in Alaga.
Senator Abiola Ajimobi promised and started the construction of Atiba FM, which began before the 2015 general election, to quench the hunger of the people of ancient Oyo town. He promised that the radio station, when it eventually comes on stream, would have the latest broadcasting equipment that would make it a reference point in broadcasting in Nigeria.
As the 8 years complete, the Atiba FM has not been completed nor commissioned. Hence the hunger for a radio station in Oyo has not been quenched.
3. LAUTECH financial and ownership crisis
Before the commencement of Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s administration, there has been a serious move by former Governor Alao Akala for Oyo state to own the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH) – a jointly owned institution by Oyo and Osun states.
Although, pundits argue that the move by Akala is geared towards the fact that the institution is located in Ogbomoso – his home town which will definitely add to the socio-economic development of the town.
Despite enjoying a good relationship with former Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun and despite having Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Chancellor of the institution, Ajimobi could not win LAUTECH ownership for his state, just as Alao Akala couldn’t also. As much as Oyo wants to take sole ownership of LAUTECH, Osun isn’t ready to give away the school.
Also, the government oversaw various crisis which jeopardised academic activities of the institution due to inadequate funding and subventions. Currently, a once-great institution is no-where near peers in educational standard across Nigeria.
4. Dualisation of Saki Township Road
As the architect of modern Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi failed to complete and commission the 9.7km Saki Township Road he inaugurated its dualization December 2016.
InsideOyo.com recalls that Ajimobi promised the people of Saki of the completion of the road before May 29 at the APC’s campaign in the town. After Iseyin, Saki is the second town in Oke Ogun that has a dualised road though it’s uncompleted.
Ajimobi said one of the cardinal programmes of his administration is to dualize the major entry points to towns within the state to give them an unprecedented facelift. He did it in Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Iseyin but unfortunately Saki’s own couldn’t be completed despite 8 years in office.
5. Model School At Baptist High School, Saki
Another project that did not witness completion and commissioning during the 8 years of tenure of Senator Abiola Ajimobi is one of the basics schools – Baptist Model School, Saki. The two others which have been completed and commissioned are Oba Akinbiyi High School, Mokola, Ibadan; Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan.
InsideOyo.com recalls that during a meeting with traditional rulers at Saki, as part of his campaign tour of Oke-Ogun zone of the state, Ajimobi assured the completion of the school before leaving office but unfortunately the project has not been completed.
EXTRA
6. 10,000 Metric Tonne Silo
The 10,000 metric tonnes of fully mechanized and automated silo in Awe, a town near Oyo is still crying for completion.
Although, InsideOyo.com gathered that there is a legal battle between the state government, its technical partners and contractors which is one of the major setbacks of the project.
Recently, the High Court sitting in Oyo, mandated the Governor of the State, the State’s Attorney General, and two others to appear before it for alleged contempt of court.
