The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes on Tuesday unveiled its plans for the celebration of the 69th birthday of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi on December 16.
The President-General CCII, Chief Yemi Soladoye, said during the inauguration of the committee saddled with the responsibility of organising the birthday at Ibadan House on Tuesday the governor deserved to be celebrated by the council because Ibadan witnessed peace and development during his administration.
Soladoye said the Ibadan Foundation for Advanced Democracy would be instituted in honour of Ajimobi.
He said, “Almost all politicians of note in the South-West are nurtured on the soil of Ibadan – Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Ladoke Akintola, Chief Adisa Akinloye, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and the likes of Alhaji Busari Adelakun (Eruobodo).”
The birthday committee is headed by a former labour leader, Chief Olu Abiala.
The CCII boss said Ajimobi fulfilled his promise to ensure zero tolerance for political violence and destruction of lives and properties in Ibadanland.
Soladoye said, “Ibadan is one people occupying one city, 21 towns and 1,681 villages in the South-West but the spirit of oneness and gratitude is largely compromised. The deeper reason for the ‘Thank You Birthday’ is in fact to halt the drift whereby the patriotism to serve Ibadanland has become a thankless and regrettable adventure to many of us, Many Ibadan indigenes who entered business or stuck out their necks to help motherland have had their fingers burnt.
“The net loss to us is the absence of political unity, the denial of Ibadan State, etc. Any bad thing you hear about one Ibadanman is fabricated and spread by another man.
“Despite the facts and justification for us as rational human beings to thank Governor Abiola Ajimobi for fulfilling some of his promises to us, our people have started saying we are APC or this is about his senatorial ambition. He became a senator in 2003 without our birthday celebration for him.
“The CCII did not organise any ceremony for him before becoming governor in 2011 and before he had a second term in 2015.
“We are only showing appreciation and setting the pace for the next governor of Oyo State that he must have Ibadan agenda and the agenda must be fulfilled. In fact, the CCII has invited each governorship and senatorial candidates in Oyo State, including Governor Ajimobi to come and analyse his/her Ibadan agenda to us.”
