Opinion: Adelabu’s glorious re-emergence, by Kola Amzat
It’s an unusual and very rare occurrence in the highly sophisticated Oyo political sphere where there is always long queue of aspirants lurking for political offices in each election cycle, for a political chieftain to miss golden opportunity to occupy a topmost office in the past, more-so, a governor’s office and still stage a big come back.
But a golden fish has no hidden place. Regardless of obstacles on its path, provident always have a way of fishing it out. This is the classic case of the inimitable and irrepressible Waheed Adebayo Adelabu, a retired Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and former Executive Director, First Bank Plc who emerged then as the flag-bearer of APC, during the party’s 2019 highly contentious gubernatorial primary at Adamasingba Stadium, but later missed a rare opportunity to become the governor of the state in the subsequent governorship elections, losing to the incumbent governor, Seyi Makinde.
It’s instructive to note that Bayo lost that election essentially on account of internal wrangling within the party, following the uncompromising stand and lack of cooperation from other contestants after the hotly contested primary, and more importantly, the indiscretion of the deceased governor, Abiola Ajimobi in unduly dabbling into the very complex and cumbersome Ibadan chieftaincy affairs.
Sadly, the twin developments amongst others, became Bayo’s Achilles heel, as they combined to halt and truncate his ambition to ascend into the governor’s office.
Stoically, the ebullient Ibadan politician took the unwholesome development in his strides, forged ahead, and even, attempted to romance and cultivate other parties for the purpose of flying their flags as candidate to contest for the same office during the recently concluded gubernatorial election in the state.
Even though, he’s largely unsuccessful in these attempts, the rest is now history as President Bola Tinubu has found him worthy of being appointed into the office of Federal Republic as Minister, a development that would crystallize in a few days, following his very successful screening by the Senate.
Without a shadow of doubt, Bayo Adelabu is eminently qualified for the office of Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is a technocrat of immeasurable quality. The scion of Penkelemesi political dynasty had stint in the financial and management consulting sphere with Coopers and Lybrand, a foremost financial and audit consulting firm.
He’s a bundle of ideas and knowledge in his chosen field of accounting and banking. Indeed, he has transverse all the facets of banking in his more than 22 years in the sector, making him well rounded and suited to superintend Finance & Budget Ministry or National Planning Ministry.
Bayo is reasonably youthful, very resourceful, relentless, energetic, bold, courageous, with positive aura, and more importantly, possesses admirable zeal and fervor to serve the motherland. The ex-CBN governor is also a man of immense means, with huge investment in real estate, hospitality and his primary constituent-banking sector.
It’s therefore to the credit of President Tinubu that he has identified and nominated such a talent to represent the pacesetter state in the soon to be constituted Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Of course, Bayo Adelabu will not disappoint, as he’s sufficiently imbued with attributes required to make him excel in the Council.
His eloquence, confidence and brilliance in responding to diverse questions posed at him during the senate screening, as well as comprehensive grasp of the economic issues is an eloquent testimony of so much initiatives, innovative ideas and creativity he would be bringing to bear in the office on assumption.
At 52+, the grandson of the legendary Adelabu Penkelemesi is a blend of the youth and old generations, and could be a very valuable asset for APC in the party’s quest to come back into reckoning in Oyo state in the 2027 governorship election.
However, it’s unfortunate and saddening to note that some APC faithful in the state have been churning out very provocative and unprintable pronouncements on the ex-Executive Director of First Bank since his name propped in the ministerial nominees list, only for the reasons that could be conveniently classed as mundane, myopic and very pedestrian.
They obviously don’t need this political immaturity and ‘pull him down at cost’ mentality.
Regardless of differences they all harbor against each other, political class in other states, as well as geo-political zones have the norms of putting forward their best eleven for national assignments; why must we be an exception, in Oyo state and Yorubaland?
By May 29, 2027, APC would have been in limbo in the state for eight (8) solid years. We need to enquire from the complainants and wailers whether they’re indeed comfortable with this inactive development and if they would be happy if the party finally makes its way into extinction in the state by 2027? They must be conscious of the fact that, with their continual volatile and reckless pronouncements, this is the path they desire the party to tread.
This is therefore a clarion call to all APC members and progressive family in the state to sheath their swords with a view to rallying round the nominee, as he’s about to be sworn in as Minister of the Federal Republic and more importantly, as he moves in the months ahead, to be taking bold and courageous steps to stabilize, reposition, reengineer and breathe new life into the party across the state.
His automatic assumption of the leadership of the party in the state would surely be a breath of fresh air. The least the progressive family could do is to collaborate and cooperate with him to rebuild and re-set the party in its quest to reclaim back the state from opposition party during 2027 general elections.
Kola AMZAT (FCA)
Lagos Based Financial Consultant,
09077509348
Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB, CTP, MBA) Lagos Based Financial Consultant
09077509348.
