- Hailed By UI VC For ‘Raising The Bars In Governance’
“The greatest mistake I committed as governor of Oyo State was that I wanted to be perfect in a very imperfect world.”
That was the immediate past governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi talking about his experience while he was in power as the state’s helmsman.
He spoke on Saturday during a special luncheon held in his honour by the Ibadan Elders’ Forum at the Ibadan House, Oke Aremo, in the capital city of Oyo State.
Ajimobi again used the opportunity to appeal to those who felt slighted by some of his policies.
“I want to use this opportunity again to appeal to those I offended while I was governor. For any leader that wants to achieve, he will have to step on toes. And as for those who offended me too, I have forgiven them.
“In a similar vein, I must also send words to those who have been abusing us. We are not bothered. In politics, you cannot satisfy everybody. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not a politician, he only preached salvation. Yet, they nailed him to the cross. Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW) was a good man too, yet, they drove him out of his home town. So, we are not bothered that some people are abusing us.”
Ajimobi also took time to admonish his successor, Engineer Seyi Makinde.
Said the former Senator “Those who have his ears here should help tell him that we sincerely pray for his success. This is because if he succeeds, that means he is taking governance to the next level from where we left it. He should correct and not destroy. Yes, we were not perfect but he cannot pull down all the bridges that we have built.
“Please tell him to face governance and stop paying attention to mundane issues. He should look at where we stopped, draw a line and continue from there”.
Earlier, a number of distinguished Nigerians spoke glowingly about the former governor.
One of them was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka who hailed Ajimobi for raising the ‘bar of governance’ in the state.
Others in attendance included Prelate-Emeritus Sunday Ola Makinde, Prof Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Adebayo Akande and wife, Prof Oladipo Akinkugbe, Retired Justice Nurudeen Adekola, Prof Ayobami Salami of the First Technical University, Ibadan and Chief Yemi Soladoye, the President of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII).
Equally present at the occasion were Arc Dele Samson of Bovas Petroleum, Chief Bode Amoo, Chief Lekan Are, Chief K.O Olatunji, Oyo’s Commissioner of Police, Shina Olukolu, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Chief Mrs Olanrewaju Otiti and several others. Chief (Mrs) Dr Florence Ajimobi was also present.
Packaged by Oludotun Ajibola
