Posted by The 74th posthumous birthday of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, a former governor of Oyo State, is currently being celebrated in Ibadan, the capital of the state, by politicians from major political parties in Oyo State which are currently present in Ibadan.
According to the Daily Post, the posthumous birthday celebration, which took place at the same time as the sixth annual Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable, was attended by lawmakers from the three major political parties in the state: the All Progressives Congress (APC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Accord.
The Abiola Ajimobi Resource Centre, which is part of the Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies at the University of Ibadan, is the location where the event is now taking place.
Between the years 2011 and 2019, Ajimobi served as the governor of the state. He passed away in the year 2020.
Some of the notable personalities at the event include Governor Seyi Makinde of the state, who was represented by his Deputy, Barrister Abdulrahman Adebayo Lawal; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu; Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Dr. Zacheus Adedeji; former Minister for Trade, Mrs. Onikepo Akande; former Minister for Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and the deceased’s wife, Florence Ajimobi.
A number of other individuals include the Senator representing Oyo North, Dr. Abdulfatai Buhari; Professor Saliu Adelabu, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology; Professor Kayode Adebowale, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan; Professor Adeolu Akande, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Chief Akin Oke, the former Chairman of the APC; Professor Tunji Olaopa, and Professor Tajudeen Akanji.
In addition, former Assistant Inspector General of Police Leye Oyebade and former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (ALGON) Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, as well as acquaintances, family members, and allies of the current governor, are present at the occasion.
While he was speaking, Adebowale referred to the deceased as one of the most revered people that Nigeria has ever produced.
In addition, he mentioned that throughout his time in office, the previous governor had implemented a number of measures that contributed to the protection of both people’s lives and their property in the state.
“Today, we are here again to honor posthumously one of the most highly revered personalities that this country has produced; an illustrious son of Ibadan, a former Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the first two-term Governor of Oyo State who served from 2011-2019 and thereafter served as the Deputy National Chairman South of the All Progressive Congress (APC) – the Late Senator Abiola Ajimobi,” Adebowale said. “Ajimobi was a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC)”
“Everyone who knows Oyo State and especially Ibadan before his reign can attest to the high degree of crime and insecurity in the state. As an example, there have been armed robberies, including banks in front of the university; the NURTW recurring crisis in the state; and all manners and kinds of instability.
“The problems of insecurity in the state were resolved as a result of the establishment and equipping of the ‘Operation Burst’.” With regard to the threat posed by NURTW, a few individuals were sentenced to prison, which resulted in the establishment of peace throughout the state during his eight-year reign.