Bayo Adelabu joins Oyo guber race, carpets Makinde on infrastructure development

By Richard Thomas, Ibadan

Former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State in 2019, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu has declared his interest to context for the office of the governor in the 2023 general elections.

Adelabu, popularly addressed as Penkelemesi made the declaration on Monday at a press conference held at Adebayo Adelabu Foundation Secretariat, Jericho, Ibadan.

Addressing journalists at the event, Oloye Adelabu said his decision to run for the office of the governor is a commitment and determination arising from his conviction to come and contribute to the development of the people and the state as a whole.

“My decision is hinged on the fact that every man is born to be a reformer, a remaker of what men have made, and a restorer of truth pertaining to what should be done to promote public and human happiness. This conviction is daily energizing my political career.

“Many parts in the journey of my life are not new to the media world. Many media professionals can relate them before searching minds without reading records. They know that I am a link in the chain of humanity by virtue of being a grandson of the meteoric Nigeria’s founding father called Adegoke Adelabu whom numerous Nigerians eulogize as PECULIARMESS,” he said.

The aspirant said further that his gubernatorial ambition is intended to enrich politics with ethics, to mix the soil of knowledge and professional competence with water of experiences in the service of humanity within the State.

“You will all recollect that I contested for the governorship of the State in 2019 and I lost the election under very controversial circumstances that almost heated up the polity of the state but for my love for peace and tranquility in Oyo State and in fact, Nigeria as a whole. I therefore decided to pursue the part of the rule of law instead of the rule of violence and thuggery by approaching the courts and we pursued the matter up to the Supreme Court.

“That action was to clearly show that I am a man that abhor violence and thuggery. I vehemently abhor the dictates of a one-man dictatorship. Myself and our great party APC wanted a land of peace in Oyo State just as our late leader and former governor, Abiola Ajimobi abhorred violence and brought peace to bear in the State for the eight years that he governed the state. May his soul continue to rest in peace.

“Most of you will recollect that I voluntarily retired from the Central Bank of Nigeria as a Deputy Governor, in order to enter the political foray and give the people of the State a first class and most excellent governance as I have done in every place I have served.

“Whether in the private or public sector. I’m a man whose history or past is not shrouded in any shady business or deal. My past to the present is like an open book before all of you. And without being immodest and with all sense of decency and humility, I have been an excellent performer in everywhere I have served and my records are there for public scrutiny.

“I am a staunch believer of transparency in governance with zero tolerance for corruption and governance by utter propaganda with nothing concrete to show for it,” he added.

According to him, the last three years have provided him the sober opportunity to review the state of the nation, as it concerns Oyo State, saying after this introspection, he came to the conclusion that the state can be better than what is obtainable at the moment.

Speaking on the three years’ performance of Governor Seyi Makinde in office, Oloye Adelabu said he has observed many deficiencies of the governor, adding that these deficiencies point unerringly to an unspeakable lack of understanding about what is called Government Business.

He said Government Business is not a trade which any man does for his personal emoluments or aggrandizement like Makinde is doing.

“Unfortunately, but really, the current Oyo State government is failing daily and woefully on fundamental departments of government business. For instance, security of lives and properties which is the true end and aim of government is a distant achievement for Seyi’s government. His government has enthroned thuggery and hooliganism as the official controllers of Oyo State. The indigenes and residents in the Pacesetter State cannot sleep with their two eyes closed, not to talk of doing businesses of life with peace and progress.

“The Excellency of Government is no longer excellent in Oyo State in the light of our sordid performance in the environment, education, health, security, agriculture among others.

“There is an urgent need to unleash the resources of Oyo State in order to massively boost internally generated revenue and lift people out of poverty into prosperity. There is an urgent mission to reclaim the lost glory of Oyo State. It will lift young people from hooliganism and despondency. Indeed, there is a negative correlation between employment creation/rise in household incomes and crime.

“Our hitherto neat environment has become sanitary eyesores. Heap of refuse is everywhere in the medians of majority of roads in the blessed City of Ibadan. The governor think he can convince anybody with his fluke performance by the provision of street lights in salient places. It is even paradoxical that the engineer in control of the state is powering street lights with generators instead of solar lights that are the order of modern century.

“Education is far from the Excellency of this government. Public schools have become mangers for goats and animals despite the recorded fact that this governor attended public schools. The teachers are unmotivated but this government thinks the exterior satisfaction of salary can give motivation to teachers.

Oyo State must reclaim its lost glory by reducing out-of-school children and make primary and secondary education, unlike tertiary education, free and compulsory. There should be plans in place to upgrade the decrepit primary and secondary schools,” he added.