The senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial district, Oloye Teslim Folarin, has stated that politics in Nigeria is about survival.
OYOINSIGHT.COM understands that Folarin, who stated this while speaking on Splash FM on Saturday, as revealing that during his first term as a senator he “danced to the tune” of the late godfather of Oyo State politics, Alhaji Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu.
“In politics, what ought to be and the reality are two different things; you go in there and you think you want to change it but there are dynamics at play,” Folarin said.
When asked what these dynamics are, he noted, “interest.”
He then explained the interest that determines the politics of the state saying “when you say interest of the Nigerian people, you could say provision of basic amenities, housing, education, health- those are basic things, but beyond that there are also secondary interests.”
When asked whether his interest during his first term as a senator was to serve Adedibu, he said, “not really, my interest was to serve my constituency.”
He, however, noted that he had to dance to the tune of late Adedibu because that was the reality, noting that Adedibu was his godfather and he gave him the opportunity to become a senator.
Explaining this, the third-term senator said:
“At the time when I came from England, I didn’t have the clout to contest for councilorship; that was the reality. And then, this man helped me because I have always dreamed about serving people and he (Adedibu) gave me the opportunity, he gave me the platform. There is no way I would fight him and I make no apologies.”
However, he maintained that Adedibu supported the cause of the common people in the state.
Speaking on the ongoing exchange of words between the state government and the family of the late Abiola Ajimobi over the reaction of the government to the former governor’s death, Folarin described the steps taken by the government as a disastrous one.
“The state government’s handling of the matter could best be described as a disaster. Visiting governors were shocked at his absence.
“Nobody needs to be notified as everyone knows the man was sick. When Makinde said he had COVID-19, I put aside politics and called him. Ajimobi did same,” Folarin said.
