IF former governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, were to be alive, he would have clocked the enviable age of seventy-five. Unfortunately, he died about four years ago, on June 25, 2020. However, his transition has not diminished the love that the people of Oyo State had for him. His name continues to hold fond memories of a man who was trusted with a second term in office when Oyo State was not known to give its governors a second term in office. This unique achievement earned him the sobriquet of Koseleri 1. Koseleri simple means not having occurred before. Nostalgically, the people of Oyo State, his political associates and family have continued to gather every December 16 to celebrate his achievements while in office and which earned the nickname, ‘Father of Modern Oyo State’. They have continued with the promotion of good governance that he stood for in his lifetime. Through the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation (SAAF) which was set up after his transition, the ideals of good governance continued to be promoted through the Annual Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable. About four years ago, the Foundation entered into acollaboration with the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan. The collaboration was to jointly continue with the roundtable which began during the tenure of the former Governor in 2018.
Today, the Roundtable has contributed to deepening the country’s democracy through its different themes which continue to resonate and promote good governance.This is attested to by the issue that have been the focus of the Roundtable. The theme of the maiden edition in 2018: The Imperatives of Building Institutions for Lasting Legacies in Nigeria was delivered by Prof Tunji Olaopa, the Current Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission. The 2nd Edition, which coincided with the former governor’s 70th birthday celebration, had as its theme: Managing the Dynamics of Nigeria’s Advancement. The lecture was delivered by Professor Ayo Olukotun, late professor of International Relations. The 2020 edition, which was the 3rd in the series, was entitled: States and the Burden of National Development: the socio-economic perspective, and was delivered by eminent scholar, Emeritus Professor John Ayoade. The theme for the 4th edition in 2021 was: Election Security and Good Governance in Nigeria, delivered by former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega. Professor Eghosa Osaghae, the Director General of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) spoke on Re-engineering Nigeria for Sustainable Development: Options, Costs and Prospects while the 2023 edition had Professor Isaac Olawale Albert, pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies delivering a lecture on Deepening Nigeria’s Democracy for Sustainable Development. On December 16, another Roundtable would be held with the theme; Legislative Oversight and Accountability: Challenges and Prospects. The lead paper would be delivered by Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Majority Leader, House of Representatives. In all these, the idea was to continue the conversation on good governance and sustainable development.
Beyond all these, the former governor also endeared himself to the people of Oyo State through his various developmental projects. Born on December 16, 1949, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi’s early life was marked by a strong foundation in education and public service. His father and grandfather were public servants, instilling in him a sense of duty and responsibility to the community. Ajimobi’s academic excellence took him to the United States, where he earned degrees in Business Administration and Finance from the State University of New York and an MBA from Governors State University. Ajimobi’s professional career spanned several industries, including insurance, finance, and oil marketing. He worked with top-tier companies like Equitable Life Assurance Corporation and Shell Petroleum, Nigeria, rising to become the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company. All these prepared him for his political voyage.
His entry into politics marked a significant turning point in his life. In 2003, he was elected as Senator, representing Oyo South Senatorial District on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). As a senator, he served as the Deputy Minority Leader. He was said to have run one of the most efficient constituency offices in the country.
In 2011, he was elected governor and went on to make history by becoming the first person to be elected as the Governor of Oyo State twice, serving from 2011 to 2019. During his tenure, he implemented various developmental projects, including the construction of roads, schools, and healthcare facilities. In the state, his impact was tremendous, his strides were gigantic and filling the shoes he left behind becomes harder every day. As governor, his administration was hinged on a tripod agenda of restoration, transformation and repositioning. It was this tripod that served as the superstructure on which the peace, security, development and social infrastructural rejuvenation of Oyo State were placed. To ensure adequate security across the state, he established, the popular Operation Burst, a joint Security Task Force with zonal commands of operations in Oyo, Iseyin, Kishi, Ogbomoso, Saki and Eruwa with headquarters in Ibadan. The Ajimobi administration also established a Security Trust Fund, the first in the history of the State which assisted with the funding of security operations and services across Oyo State.
The Oyo State Safe City initiative also came on stream, leading to the establishment of CCTV cameras in strategic locations. Most importantly, he established the Oyo State Inter Religious/Inter Ethnic Committee (SIREC) which helped to entrench religious, inter-ethnic and communal harmony across the State. The effect of this was to ensure a peaceful State, reduction in criminality, a decrease in robbery incidents. As a result in 2018, Oyo State earned the honour of being the fifth most peaceful State in the country, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Under Senator Ajimobi as governor, businesses thrived with an increase in Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) to the state. There was a renaissance of nighttime economy. Hotels, Events centres, cinemas, and nightclubs increased by 147 percent. Radio Stations were just six in number when Ajimobi took over governance in 2011, by the time he left, the state had about 40 radio stations. He also created the Oyo State anthem, among other achievements. An area where his impact was most felt was in social and infrastructural renewal.
He ensured the dualisation of entry roads into major cities in the state, construction of 183 roads and seven bridges, rehabilitation and maintenance of 850 kilometers of roads.
Ibadan, the State capital got a new look with the construction of modern roads. In areas of housing, the administration was able to establish several housing estates while education got a major boost with strategic policies such as the School Governing Board Policy (SGB) which led to the active participation of all major stakeholders in the administration of public Secondary schools. A few states in the country sent representatives to Oyo State to come and understudy the model. The Ajimobi administration also established a technical university, the first of its kind in Nigeria to provide technical manpower for the society. Suitably, the present governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has renamed the technical university after his predecessor in office.
However, Senator Ajimobi’s legacy extends far beyond his political achievements. He was a devoted family man, married to Florence Ajimobi for about 40 years before his death, he was a proud father of five children. His commitment to his community was evident in his establishment of the Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi Islamic Centre, a state-of-the-art mosque and Islamic center in Ibadan
As we celebrate Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s 75th posthumous birthday, we remember his unwavering dedication to public service, his visionary leadership, and his unshakeable optimism. His life serves as a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world.
As we honor his memory, we are reminded of the importance of leadership, integrity, and community service. May Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s legacy continue to inspire future generations of leaders and citizens to strive for excellence and to make a positive difference in the world.
- Tunji, former Special Adviser, Strategic Communication to former Governor Ajimobi, writes in from Abuja.
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