Ajimobi was like a father to me, says Adelabu
June 26, 2026 9:14 am
FILE: Adelabu
A former Minister of Power and one of the governorship aspirants under the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State ahead of 2027 election, Adebayo Adelabu, on Thursday stated that his personal relationship with the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi was that of a son to a father, describing him “as a magnetized leader who provided clear direction and mentorship.”
He stated this during an interview on the sidelines of the sixth-year Fidau prayer held for the late former governor at his private residence in Oluyole Estate, Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of the state.
Adelabu explained that under Ajimobi’s watch, the Oyo State chapter of the APC was rock-solid, united, and free from the fragmentation it is currently experiencing.
He said, “I entered into politics through his influence. It was his style of governance and his style of politics that attracted me to join politics. My personal relationship with the late former governor was that of a son to a father,” describing him “as a magnetized leader who provided clear direction and mentorship.”
The PUNCH reports that Ajimobi passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2020, at the age of 70.
He died from multiple organ failure caused by complications from COVID-19 while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Lagos. His remains were subsequently laid to rest at his Oluyole Estate residence in Ibadan.
Speaking further, Adelabu said the late governor was a well-prepared administrator who confronted issues head-on, particularly in the areas of security, infrastructure, and education.
Recalling his time as Chairman of the Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Adelabu praised the robust security architecture established by Ajimobi, saying, “Ajimobi’s body language was that Oyo should be crime-free, and he achieved it. A governor must confront crime, must be ready to fight crime head-on. You cannot run away from crime, you must face it. That is what Ajimobi did.”
He therefore urged party faithful to look beyond individual aspirations, respect the voice of reason, and embrace reconciliation in order to unseat the current Peoples Democratic Party government in the state in 2027.
On his part, the former Secretary to the State Government, Olalekan Ali, appealed for a collective commitment to reforming and repositioning the party.
He also urged residents of the state and APC members to look beyond recent political upheavals and focus on rebuilding Oyo by emulating Ajimobi’s legacy of progress, discipline, and order.
Ali further urged all aggrieved factions to sheathe their swords, embrace compromise, and recognise that no individual can override the hand of God in determining political outcomes.
He said, “Let us very strongly appeal to everyone within the state in general, and within APC Oyo in particular. Let us all come together as members of the same family and be patient enough to resolve what’s on ground.”
Ali made a passionate appeal to all gladiators and interest groups within the party to set aside personal ambitions and prioritise the collective interest and future of the state.
Reflecting on the vacuum left behind, a senator representing Oyo North in the National Assembly, Abdulfatai Buhari, described Ajimobi as a principled and strong man, a “go-getter” who never minced words when telling people the truth.
“He will tell you as it is, without minding anything, and he will let you know that this is the way it should be,” the lawmaker stated.
Buhari, who acknowledged that his political journey was heavily shaped by Ajimobi’s mentorship, admitted that the party is currently grappling with deep-seated internal crises.
He stressed that while a single hour in politics can completely alter political dynamics, resolving the party’s present challenges requires genuine courage and absolute sincerity from everyone involved.
Earlier in his sermon, the Chief Imam of Oluyole Estate Extension, Mudathir Bada, noted that the gathering, organised to celebrate God’s gift in the life of the late former governor, was also a reminder for everyone to have the fear of God in their hearts. He said the greater the fear of God in people’s lives, the more meaningful life becomes.
He noted that all human beings, as long as they live, must have the fear of God in order to fulfil the purpose of their Creator by living according to His tenets.
The event was attended by family members, political associates, friends, and political office holders from across the country.
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