Legal luminary and Bamofin of Ibadanland, Niyi Akintola, has said that Oyo’s ministerial nominee merited the position.
In a chat with OYOINSIGHT.COM, the senior advocate of Nigeria, said President Bola Tinubu consulted Governor Seyi Makinde before arriving at the decision, adding that Adelabu earned the position more because he is a professional and not a politician.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, however advised the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, not see himself as the leader of the party with the new position but strive to excel in whatever portfolio he is saddled with.
According to him, “Bayo Adelabu is our own. He is a technocrat and a thoroughbred professional who earned and deserves his ministerial appointment and he would be a good ambassador of all of us in Oyo State. Even our Governor who is from another political stable other than APC was requested to make him Oyo nominee by our leader, the President. The Governor told me and five other Oyo State elites including a traditional ruler at a gathering.
“Two prominent members of APC were present when the governor revealed this to us. Whether the governor acceded to the request, I wouldn’t know. Adelabu is our collective candidate for the position and we should all congratulate him. He is going to be representing all indigenes of Oyo State at the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
“The problem with some of our compatriots is that moment they get federal government appointments, they start seeing themselves as political leaders in the state.
“Many don’t really care to appraise themselves before placing the toga of political leadership of the state on themselves. It really doesn’t add up in the politics of Oyo State and in many other states in Nigeria. Some don’t know their limitations. In politics, knowing your limitations is very key and very important. My brother and big Aburo, congratulations. You earned the position and you deserve same,” Akintola said of Adelabu, who contested the last governorship election on the platform of Accord.
Akintola also said he was happy with the nomination of his best friend, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, as minister from Kwara State.
