- Says ‘Godliness Is My Driving Force’
Over the years, Governor Abiola Adeyemi Ajimobi has worked his way into becoming a member of Nigeria’s most exclusive group of politicians; thanks to the use of his knowledge of how to stand out.
At 68, Senator Ajimobi is presently Nigeria’s oldest Governor and quite a number of factors are responsible for the high level efficiency. He attributes all the success to Godliness, which he describes as his driving force. “It is Godliness that drives me. It is the willingness to serve,” he said.
Politically, not only is he stylish; courage and dignity are known to have been part of him ever before his entry into politics. He is never cowed by opposition; he sees such situations as a challenge to do better. Since his time at the Senate between 2003 and 2007, Ajimobi has grown in importance and he has taken every challenge with skill and finesse. He is never afraid to chart new courses and could be daring at times. Like an insightful war commander, Senator Ajimobi would adopt a formless approach thatmakes him unpredictable; nonetheless, he is highly calculative and knows when to strike.
His determination to leave the state better than he met it is unrivaled. Speaking recently, the Governor said “our people are saying why we are doing all these because we will soon leave office. For me, it is the satisfaction I get”. He has also confirmed that “what we are doing is linking the foundation for modern Oyo State. Oyo State is a big village”.
To almost everyone who knows him, Ajimobi is too blunt to be a politician; those who criticize him for it might have however forgotten that he learnt at the feet of war tested veterans; the Great Lam Adesina inclusive. Those who were around in the early 2000s will agree that Governor Ajimobi’s ‘over-celebrated’ encounter with LAUTECH students is nothing new. Lam Adesina once had to face protesting civil servants in front of his office with some of them brandishing charms openly. Trust Lam, he gave it to them, asking if they knew the use of what they were holding.
One thing people of Oyo State continually wonder about is why their resourceful and competent Governor is never afraid to correct anyone. And one thing is that he does it as and when due. His staff and aides are better for it.
Meanwhile, his present status as the political rallying point is causing a nervous unrest in the camp of the opposition; and to cap it up, gladiators and erstwhile opponents are eager to team up with him. As things presently stand, Senator Ajimobi is the most viable political godfather in the state. His feats in the different sectors have made it so. “See what we have done in education. We produced the best students in WAEC this year; both male and female. Our opponents are not talking now. What is the essence of having 30 pupils per class when they are failing? But our own students are doing well. What is important in education is for our people to learn and to be empowered. So we are happy with what is on ground”.
One other thing they know him for is that he never compromises standard. He simply sticks to his standard and principles. That, to him, is the only way the best can be achieved. Narrating his experience on assuming office in his first term, he once wondered how his predecessor could manage the toilet in the Governor’s Office with a bowl with which water was poured instead of the normal flush system. Shortly after that, Ajimobi commenced the change process. Six years after, Mr. Governor’s story is “look at this Government House, when I pass through all the rooms therein, I feel very happy impacting positively on the lives of other people. That is what drives me”.
Ajimobi is a man that takes time to listen to opinions, even stupid ones and he never fails to respond as appropriate; Mr. Governor is Ibadan mesiogo (Ibadan has appropriate replies for stupidity) through and through. Interestingly, he has a way of getting to hear things being said about him even in market places. He is aware of every name they call him in and around Oyo State.
Though he doesn’t agree, but from all indications, age hasn’t slowed Governor Ajimobi down at all. His gap-toothed smile is still as attractive as it used to be decades back and it continues to win him admirers. He, however, says it often that “I am at a stage in my life when all the things you think you will be eating when you become rich, doctors will tell you not to eat them if you want to live long”.
And like he used to tell whoever cares to listen, ‘it is what I have that I offer’, he has been doing his best for the people of Oyo State, and it is hoped that he will continue to do this even when he leaves office of governor in 2019 by God’s grace.
Happy birthday to an enigmatic Nigerian politician who God has divinely allowed to beat records as a ‘koseleri governor’.
Packaged by Wole Adejumo and Dapo Oyewole
