A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2019 election, Chief Niyi Akintola, has commended the deputy governor of Oyo State who led thw government delegation to the 8th day Fidau of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi for displaying high level of maturity in the face of provocation.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, stated this while speaking on an interview aired on a current affairs programme – IMPACT POINT on IBR 92.5fm Ibadan on Tuesday monitored by Oyo Insight
According to the Aare Bamofin of Ibadanland, “Going by what I read on the pages of newspaper, I think we should commend the leadership quality of the deputy governor. In fact, he is a man after my heart. He is a statesman, matured, conducted himself very well and I sent him a text to that effect thanking him for the conduct he exhibited. He is truly an “omoluabi”.
“He is not a member of my party but I don’t belong to the critical critic class. When you do something that is right, I will say so without minding whose ox is gored. I know some members of my party might not like what I am saying but I think he deserve some an applaud, I mean the deputy governor. By my own reckoning, he behaved maturedly and he didn’t allow for any sort of crisis. He is the deputy governor. He could have forced his way through but he declined and exhibited maturity, comportment expected of a Statesman so he should be commended”
“Gbola Ajimobi called me not to come. Gbola is my very close friend and so also is Deola, a friend close friend of mine. These are direct siblings of the former Governor. They told me not to bother coming that the programme was meant for only family members and that was a clear signal for me to stay away. In fact, Festus Adedayo, a friend of mine and one of your senior colleagues prevailed on me to come over and I came down all the way from Lagos. He said “egbon” I would love to see you there and I was in constant touch with Bolaji Tunji and Gbola told me not to bother so I stayed away,” he said when asked why he did not attend the Fidau prayers.
It would be recalled that the state government and the immediate family of the late former governor had traded words over the alleged hostility displayed towards Olaniyan on Sunday. The family of the deceased has however denied any wrongdoing, saying it never expected the delegation at the burial.
The public relations officer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, who also featured on the programme however said his party had put all that happened at the Oluyole residence of the late former governor behind it.
