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Tag: Abiola Ajimobi

  • Ajimobi orders release of  acquired land to deaf persons

    Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has ordered the immediate release of the 20 acres of  land belonging to deaf persons in the state

    Mr Isaac Omodewu, the State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Survey,  made the disclosure at a forum organised by the Oyo State Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalist(NUJ) in Ibadan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Omodewu, who had signified interest in contesting the governorship election in 2019, was at the forum to share his vision for the state.

    NAN reports that members of the Christian Mission for the Deaf had on July 9 in Ibadan, protested the alleged illegal acquisition of 20 acres of land from its  39  by the Oyo State Government.

    Omodewu said records at government’s disposal revealed that the land was acquired by a past administration.

    He stated that the governor also called on the group not to hesitate to inform him wherever they might need his assistance in building their proposed University for the Deaf.

    The commissioner also dismissed speculations that the state government had allocated land for ranching in the state.

    Omodewu, an Accountant,  stated that he was the best to succeed Ajimobi considering his experience and active participation in the current administration.

    He also said that the governor had laid a solid foundation for the development of the state.

    “Lagos State is one of the best in the country because the people embraced continuity.

    “Asiwaju Bola Tinubu laid the foundation which his successors have been building on.

    “Ajimobi has also laid the foundation in the state. He needs successors who will build on it.

    “ In doing this, only an established person is required to succeed him.

    “The established person must be one who knows about the foundation, where it is and where it is going like me. I know of the foundation, where we are today and where we are heading to,” he said.

    The commissioner, who pledged to take the state to the next level, said he would upgrade the Polytechnic Ibadan into a degree awarding institution if elected governor.

    “We will ensure that the glory of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology before the advent of fund paucity is restored.

    “We will harness the potentials in agriculture and ensure that land is fully utilised to boost the revenue of the state,” he said.

    Omodewu, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress,  said that he would also liaise with the Federal Government on the gorge dam at  Iseyin to harness its multi-purpose potentials.

    The aspirant described himself as a  loyal party man and an experienced technocrat, saying these qualities stood him out from other aspirants.

  • Ajimobi has not anointed anyone, says Tegbe

    A senior partner at KPMG and governorship aspirants under the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress in Oyo state, Joseph Tegbe has said that the incumbent governor has not endorsed nor anointed anyone to take over from him.

    He made the disclosure during a media parley where he called to intimate the media of his political ambition and visions of turning around the economic fortune of the state if elected the next governor.

    Denying the insinuations making the rounds across the state that he was brought in to guber race by the Governor Abiola Ajimobi as his anointed successor, Tegbe recounted the many occasions the governor has said only God can anoint a person and that it is the decision of the party to choose a candidate while he supports whosoever emerges.

    Noting that he has been part of the Ajimobi administration since its inception in 20111 by serving as a member of the Economic Team and as a consultant on economic policy, Tegbe expresses optimism that if God anoints him to be the next governor of the state, nobody can stop him from achieving same.

    He said his understanding of the vision, policies, thinkings, working and ability to predict economic and social activities puts him in a good position for the Agodi Government House job.

    He said, “I am close to Governor Ajimobi like every other person but I will borrow what Governor Ajimobi said and which he has repeated at different times and in different fora that he has not anointed anybody.

    “But that, do I understand his vision, do I understand his policies, do I understand his thinkings? can I predict him when it comes to economic and social activities, yes I can. I worked with Ex-Presidents Obasanjo, Jonathan, and Yaradua, I am working with Prof Yemi Osinbajo, I worked with Donald Duke extensively on Tinapa Project, which was my concept with him, and I know what we need to take us to the next level.

    Read Also: Oyo APC crisis almost over, says Ajimobi

    “Governor Ajimobi has said it that only God anoints, the party chooses and he will support. If God anoints me today, nobody will stop it. It is a moving train. If I am God’s anointed person, which I pray I am, I will accept it and God will help me to take the state to the promise land.”

    Speaking on his plan to transform the state, Tegbe said he hopes to turn the state to a big agrarian state because of its capacity to feed the region and the country by taking it from its current peasant to mechanized farming.

    “My focus is to make this state an agrarian state. From peasant farming to mechanized farming. We will enumerate landowners, cluster them together under a big holder who will help the farmers with things like clearing the land, supplying seedlings to plan and when it is harvest time, they guarantee the offtake through a commodity exchange.

    “The second thing I will focus on is technology because there are a lot of youths in Oyo state. When we bring metropolitan fibre into Oyo state and create technology hubs which will eventually trigger industrialisation.

    “We are known in Oyo state for trade and commerce but it must be done in a structured manner and that is my third focus area. In trade and commerce, we will enumerate them and support them in a structured manner and they will do what they are doing in a more structured way and the state will be finally getting out of poverty.

    “To underpin these are plans, education, healthcare and infrastructure would be the three developmental pillars. For me, primary education should be free in all its ramifications. We all went to school with bursary, endowment funds can pay bursary and we will work towards that. Basic healthcare must be available and we will do that under the universal health insurance scheme.”

  • Oyo APC crisis almost over, says Ajimobi

    Ray of hope shone on Monday on the crisis rocking the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressive Congress as the party leaders, elders and other relevant stakeholders from the seven geo political zones of the state met to review the reconcialliation efforts and agreed that it is more than 75 percent successful.

    The elders and enlarged stakeholders who met at the Oke Ado state party secretariat considered the reports of the various committees set up from all the geo political zones and agreed that restoring the party to its better days is almost completed.

    Governor Abiola  Ajimobi, while addressing the press after a closed door meeting that lasted for over three hours assures that the crisis of division rocking the ruling party in the state will end soon, noting that the reconciliatory move to broker peace between the two warring factions has reached 75 per cent success.

    Recall that the party has been divided into two following the recently conducted ward, local government and state congresses of the party in the state. A splinter group known as Oyo APC Unity Forum emerged and held parallel congresses and produced parallel executives at the local government and state levels as well.

    Notable members of the unity forum are Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu; former Chief of Staff to Governor Ajimobi, Prof Adeolu Akande; and former chairman of Ibadan North West, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun.

    Read Also: Don’t politicise butchers’ relocation – Ajimobi

    The meeting,  which began at 1:35 and ended at about 3:50pm, was held behind closed doors, and was attended by leaders of the party from the seven geo-political divisions for the state including, Ibadan City, Ibadan Less City, Oyo, Igbomoso, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun 1 and Oke-Ogun 2.

    Those at the meeting included a former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala; deputy governor, Otunba Moses Adeyemo; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Olagunju Ojo; the state’s APC chairman, Chief Akin Oke; as well as serving and former members of House of Representatives.

    Ajimobi stated that more than 75 per cent of the aggrieved members that left the party have agreed to return and work for the success of APC in the state, especially during the 2019 general elections. He added that the national leadership of APC has also promised to consider the grievances of the Unity Forum following the reports submitted by relevant committees set up by the party.

    He said “The meeting is about reconciliation. It’s about talking to our elders; it’s about party politics generally. There will always be grievances, there will always be conflicts but in politics just like all other human endeavours, there are conflicts and resolutions and we will continue to have that.

    “The level of success of the efforts I will rank it at more than 75 percent. Some of our people who were aggrieved are coming back. Some people are aggrieved, rightly so, some people are aggrieved wrongly so, but the most important thing is that we must recognize that in all human endeavours there are bound to be conflicts and there are bound to be resolutions.

    “As leaders of the party, we must continue to accommodate, to give and take and we dont want winner takes all. The battle has been won and now let us reconcile. There are those that no matter what you do, they will not reconcile, no matter what you do, they are just irreconcilliable. And there are those that with little efforts they will reconcile with you and that is the purpose of the meeting.”

    Similarly, Dr Azeez Olatunde, the Publicity Secretary, said that the report brought by the leaders in the various zones of the state.

    He stated that the governor commended the leaders and accepted the recommendations of they made at the meeting.

    “The leaders have been able to present their demands to the party and leader has assured them of readiness to implement them. The party would look into the grievances of those with genuine grievances. The report submitted revealed that 75 percent of the aggrieved members have returned to the party,” he said.

    Olatunde stated that quantum of grievances during the last congresses has been watered down, assuring that the governor would soon begin to implement the recommendations.

  • Don’t politicise butchers’ relocation – Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has cautioned the opposition politicians to desist from playing politics with issues that impart directly on the welfare of the people of the state.

    The governor stated this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji in Ibadan, on Thursday against the backdrop of insinuations that the relocation of butchers from the state capital to the central abattoir was motivated by selfish interest.

    The governor said that some unnamed politicians had been spreading misleading information on the step taken by government to sanitize the operations of the butchers and ensure that high standard of hygiene was maintained in the abattoir.

    Part of the allegations against the governor was that the new abattoir was contracted to his cronies and that was why he insisted that all the butchers in the city should move to the facility.

    “However, we wish to place on record that the original concept of the abattoir was muted by the former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala administration which also engaged the technical partner under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

    ‘’Also, when the present administration came on board, the governor ordered the review of the PPP agreement which led to a reduction in the stake held by the technical partner from 70 per cent to 50 per cent, while various stakeholders, who had hitherto been excluded, were accommodated.

    Read Also: We will arrest those who burned Bodija station, Ajimobi vows

    ‘’Under the new arrangement, the state government reduced its stake from 30 per cent to 10 per cent, conceding 36 per cent to the 11 local governments in Ibadan land and 4 per cent to the state butchers’ union.

    ‘’It is, therefore, unfair and mischievous for any responsible political leader to attempt to mislead members of the public through outright falsehood and deliberate distortion of facts by suggesting that the governor has personal interest in the project and its operations.

    ‘’As a government that is completely committed to the welfare of the people, Governor Ajimobi chose to put the interest of the people over personal and political considerations by insisting on relocating the butchers from the unhygienic environments in the city where they currently operate and which pose threat of epidemic to the citizenry.

    ‘’We seize this opportunity to encourage media organizations to carry out their own independent investigations on the current state of the abattoirs in Ibadan and also the new facility that government has provided,’’ the governor said.

    He added that wide ranging consultations had, in the last one year, been held with the leadership of the butchers’ union, including taking them on a tour of the Lagos State Central Abattoir at Oko-Oba, Agege, all in a bid to assure them of the benefits of the new arrangement and the sincerity of the state government.

  • Thirty-six new Oyo monarchs get Ajimobi’s car gift

    … As Alaafin chides Ibadans 

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on Monday, presented 36 vehicles to the newly elevated Thirty-six traditional rulers across the State in the recently published elevation of beaded and coronet wearing crowns to monarchs in the state.

    The governor who described the gesture as an attestation of his administration’s commitment to the upliftment and modernisation of chieftaincy institution in the state warned his critics not to see it as extravagant or father Christmas spending by the government.

    Rather, he said the government decided to procure the vehicles because “record confirmed that there are logistics, safety and security challenges facing our royal father. Our effort to intervene in these areas should therefore not be misinterpreted or misunderstood.”

    The cars presentation held at Governor’s Office car park, beside parliament building, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.  The programme had in attendance the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi; the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, among others.

    But the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Ajagungbade, were not at the event.

    The list of the 36 kings that received the cars from the government yesterday, included eight members of Olubadan-in-Council, now Obas-in-Council led by the second-in-command to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, and the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakukehin.

    Other beneficiary monarchs include the Onpetu of Ijeru in Ogbomoso, Oba Sunday Oladapo; the Sabigana of Iganna on Oke-Ogun axis of the state, Oba Abdul-Azeez Oyemonla; the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon from Ogbomoso division of the state, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, among others.

    Alaafin, who spoke on behalf of the monarch, commended Governor Ajimobi, for the gesture, as he chided Ibadan people for always standing against what could bring growth and development to Ibadan.

    Read Also: Democracy Day: Abiola, others didn’t die in vain – Ajimobi

    While noting that Ibadan people hardly remember anybody who does good to them for good, Alaafin recalled how Ibadan people have been objecting the recent elevation of some traditional rulers in Ibadanland to crown-wearing and coronet-wearing kings, pointing out that, that was the same attitude they put up when he gave crown to Olubadan on December 7, 1976. He, however, urged them to embrace development.

    Speaking on the occasion,  Governor Ajimobi said: “Rhetorics aside,  I have a passion for anything royal and it is natural and incumbent on me to promote the royalty by enhancing the status of our royal fathers in Oyo State as being done in other states in the Yoruba-speaking South West Region of Nigeria.

    “At the inception of our administration, we discovered that there was the need to improve on and lay a solid foundation for the traditional institution in the state. This, we have successfully done. The traditional institution in Oyo State has never had it so good because our achievements, with respect to chieftaincy affairs, are commendable.

    “In response to the yearning and aspiration of our people, the present administration elevated the status of some of our royal fathers to crown and coronet-wearing obas. As an agent of change, we refused to be intimidated or perturbed in our desire to further promote and modernise the institution because we believe posterity will judge us right.

    “I want to state emphatically that Oyo State, being the traditional and political headquarters of the Yoruba race, must continue to play the pacesetting role, even in our traditional institution by elevating the status of our traditional rulers so that they will be reckoned with among the comity of royal fathers in Nigeria.”

    Ajimobi revealed that his administration has received an avalanche of applications from different parts of the state for elevation, either from minors to Part II chiefs or to crown-wearing obas, adding that “The Chiefs Law of Oyo State expressly stated that the governor has a wide discretion on the matter. I want to assure you that we will leave no stone unturned on this exclusive prerogative with consultation with relevant stakeholders.”

  • Greed, bane of Progressive Politics in Nigeria – Ajimobi

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has said that the growing incidence of greed and desperation to amass wealth by political players is alien to the progressives’ politics of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo era.

    The governor said this during a condolence visit to the family of a late leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo Central Senatorial District, Pa Samuel Ogundiran, in Jobele, Afijio Local Government Area.

    Ahead of the 2019 general election, he called on political parties to conduct proper scrutiny and integrity check for aspirants jostling for their tickets, while also challenging those that have what it takes to lead to throw their hats into the ring.

    Ajimobi described the deceased politician as “one of the last men standing” among the disciples of Awolowo, who embraced progressives politics till death.

    He said, “Chief Awolowo maintained his stand in politics, despite pressures from the center and his followers, like Pa Ogundiran, would remain resolute on their ideology.

    “Progressives politics is today riddled with greed. It is no more the same progressives we used to know. It is all about money. If you give them money yesterday and you have none to give them today, you will be called names.

    Read Also: Osinbajo, Ajimobi in close door meeting in Ibadan

    “Baba died when his wisdom on progressive politics is still needed. He was a core progressive politician. I urge his children and youths in general to emulate the good deeds of Baba.

    “I also want to say that politicians aspiring for political offices must be thoroughly screened from home to know them better before they can event get the ticket. Most aspirants do not have the discipline and decorum to lead others.”

    Ajimobi, who also described himself as a progressive politics, said his own brand of politics places emphasis on winning elections, just as the leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said this was slightly different from the politics of the Awolowo era that focused more on participation than winning elections.

    The governor advised the children of the late politician to emulate the good deeds of their father, bearing in mind that they could someday also assume positions of leadership.

    The governor prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased, adding that the void created by his departure would be too difficult to fill.

  • 2019: Former Oyo HoS joins Guber race

    As the 2019 general elections gather momentum, the immediate past Head of Service of Oyo state, Mr. Soji Eniade has declared his intention to succeed Governor Abiola Ajimobi in continuing the good work of rebuilding the state.

    Eniade, who is the currently serving as an Executive Assistant to Governor Ajimobi was at the Secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to declare his intention and also intimate the party chieftains of his aspiration during a visit to the party secretariat.

    While stressing the need for people to elect a result – oriented politician as the next governor of the state, the former HoS noted that the next governor of the state should be someone who is ready to consolidate on the achievements of the incumbent Governor Ajimobi and even build on it.

    He also expressed his intention to contest the 2019 election on the platform of the party, calling for the support of the party chieftains and stakeholders in the state.

    Eniade, who was accompanied to the Oyo APC secretariat by hundreds of his supporters, maintained that one of the key drivers of the socio-economic development of any society is policy consistency.

    Read Also: 2019: Changing face of Oyo governorship race

    He said Oyo state has continued to experience substantial level of socioeconomic progress in the past seven years under the leadership of Governor Ajimobi, adding that the people of the state should not allow the wheel of progress to be rolled back.

    He said, “Fellow pacesetters, what we have to do to get to the desired destination is to keep moving forward. Unarguably, considering the substantial level of socioeconomic progress we have experienced in our state in the last seven to eight years under the able leadership of Governor Ajimobi, every well-meaning citizen of Oyo state will agree with me that there is no other direction to go than forward.

    “This is why the major thrust and driving purpose behind by gubernatorial ambition is to ensure that our state keeps moving forward. As such, I believe strongly that to move our state forward, we have to adopt a SWIFT approach. These coined acronyms will serve as the guiding components to drive our state forward.

    “Just as my decision to serve my state at a young age, my foray into politics at this time is also not accidental, I yearn to serve. Julian Gillard, the first Australian Prime Minister stated that only those who step out, run and rule the world.  This stirred me to join politics to bring to reality, my burning desire to be a source of renewed hope for every citizen of Oyo state.

    “After garnering wholesome experience in governance in my 35 years of public service, I am determined to join the league of the best and brilliant minds who are bold enough to step out, come together and partake in the drive to keep our state on a forward track.

    The former HoS explained that “SWIFT connotes: Socioeconomic development; Women and Girl -child empowerment, Industrialization through infrastructure; Future generation; and Technology and creative industry development.”

    The aspirant was received at the secretariat by the state party chairman, Chief Akin Oke who was accompanied by other Senatorial Chairmen, members of the state executive, leaders, elders and other party stakeholders.

    In his short remarks, the state chairman, assured that a fair playing ground would be giving to all the individuals who have shown interest in contesting for the party ticket ahead for the 2019 elections in order to ensure that a credible candidate emerges to continue the good work of the present political administration.

  • Osinbajo, Ajimobi in close door meeting in Ibadan

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Oyo state Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Friday met behind closed doors at the Oyo State Governor’s Office, Agodi secretariat, Ibadan

    Professor Osinbajo arrived the governor’s office at about 3.30pm in company of Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Odude and the State Director of State Service, Mr Abdullahi Kure.

    Efforts to get details of the meeting as at the time of filing the report proved abortive as the duo of the Vice President Osinbajo and Governor Ajimobi declined to speak with newsmen.

    Read Also: Osinbajo meets IGP, DSS chief, AGF in Aso Rock

    The Vice-President, however left the governor’s office in company of Ajimobi to Eleyele on another undisclosed visit.

    Details of the mission and purpose of the visit of this Vice President was yet to be ascertained as at the time of going to press.

  • Ajimobi secures over N20b for Oyo Basic, Secondary Schools’ education

    The Governor Abiola Ajimobi led government in Oyo State has secured over N20 billion for both ongoing and newly approved projects to enhance the infrastructural and other educational developments in the state.

    Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology stated this yesterday  at the 59th edition of Science Teachers’ Association of Nigeria, (STAN) conference held at The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

    According to the Commissioner, the School Governing Board (SGB) has input N2.5 Billion with Construction of three model Schools to the tune of N1.8 Billion and renovation of 100 secondary schools to the tune of N2 Billion by the state government.

    He continued: “State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB’s infrastructural development consisting of new construction of schools, model schools, toilet facilities, furniture has gulped N3.7 Billion all to the total of N10 Billion. 

    Read Also: Ajimobi, Badaru: APC ‘ll hold peaceful convention

    “A counterpart fund of N4.6 Billion each from State and Federal government have been approved to the tune of N9.2 Billion to cater for schools’ infrastructure. Also, the State Education Trust Fund, ETF has released a sum of N200 million for technical education in the state coupled with a released of N2.2 Billion for procurement of textbooks for secondary school students and all  to the tune of N21.6 Billion”.

    Speaking further, Olowofela also disclosed that the state government is a beneficiary of $500 Million World Bank grant to tackle the issue of out of school children for the next five years in the state coupled with a last year’s released of N94 Million bursary award by the state government to indigenous students. 

    Speaking on the topic of the conference, “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Economic Growth”, the Commissioner said Science is emanated from Latin word, Scientos and it means wisdom saying it is pertinent to apply wisdom in every human enterprise which leads to industrial revolution. 

    He noted that riches in the past depend on natural resources to make wealth but today’s riches exploit intellectual resources to acquire wealth. He therefore tasked Nigerian government to diversify from exploitation of natural resources to exploitation of intellectual resources to enhance economic breakthrough similar to economic model of countries like China and other developed countries to become a technological giant. 

  • Oyo 2019: CBN Deputy Gov resigns

    … Buhari wishes him well

    President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the disengagement letter of the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) in charge of Operations, Mr. Adebayo Adekola Adelabu.

    A letter dated May 24, 2018 and personally signed by Buhari also appreciated Adelabu’s services in various departments of the CBN since April 9th, 2014 when he joined the apex bank as Deputy Governor.

    The President’s letter further read thus: “while appreciating your services in various departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria since 9th April 2014, I wish you the very best in your future ambitions and continued commitment to public service in our country and specifically, as you seek to play a more active role in politics in your home state. Please accept my very best wishes”.

    With preparations gearing up for the 2019 elections, several interest groups in Oyo State have since come out to back the aspiration of Adelabu, urging him to run for the governorship of the State.

    A descendant of legendary Ibadan politician in pre-independence Nigeria, Adegoke Adelabu (Penkelemesi), the young Adebayo is seen by many as a suitable successor to the incumbent Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, judging by his pedigree and contribution to the stability of the Nigerian financial sector.

    Adelabu, a leading gubernatorial aspirant of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state ahead 2019 general election had in April 15th, 2018 notified President Buhari of his disengagement from service through the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

    In his letter headlined “Notice of Disengagement from Service”, Adelabu had thanked the Federal government of Nigeria for appointing him as a Deputy Governor of the bank from April, 2014.

    Read Also: Senate rejects Buhari’s nominee for CBN job

    He said between then and now, “I have had the opportunity to oversee and provide leadership and direction to three directorates (Financial System Stability, Corporate Services, and Operations) of the four directorates in the CBN. This cuts across 17 out of the 27 operating departments at the bank. In addition to these responsibilities and by virtue of my role at each point in time, I have had the opportunity to serve as Chairman or Director on the board of various other government agencies and parastatals.

    “These include: Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria Ltd (AMCON), the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company Ltd (NSPMC), Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems Ltd (NIBSS), Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC).

    “This wide exposure within and outside the bank has greatly enriched and complemented my private sector experience of about 23years and consequently heightened my interest in serving the public further.

    “Incidentally my appointment was followed by a turbulent period in the economy of Nigeria. It was a period when oil prices had plummeted from a high of $112/barrel in June, 2014 to a dismal $28/barrel in January, 2015. The sharp decline put an enormous pressure on the naira and the exchange rate spiralled out of control. The foreign exchange reserves fell below $24billion by October, 2016 and inflation rate, as at the beginning of 2017, had skyrocketed and fell slightly short of 20%. The economy had entered a recession by the second quarter of 2016. However, with our dogged determination and uncommon focus at the CBN, coupled with the prudent, ingenious and bold fiscal policies of the present government under your amiable leadership, the economic indicators started looking up. Our foreign exchange reserves have moved up to over $46billion and the inflation, having been on a downward trend since January, 2017 has been successfully tamed. The naira exchange rate had stabilized and the general economic outlook is very bright.

    “These successes in addition to my heightened interest in servicing the public further, has given me the impetus to rededicate myself to the service of Nigeria. They have also emboldened me to make a difference and buy into the various calls of Mr. President to free our country from the shackles of underdevelopment. Just a few weeks ago, you stated during a meeting with Katsina senior citizens in Daura, Katsina State that “the Nigeria of our time is in need of sacrifices that all citizens can make to free it from corruption, poverty, crime and underdevelopment.

    “Although the first term of my appointment will end on April 8, 2019, I have decided to heed Mr. President’s patriotic call by starting the onerous task of nation building from my immediate constituency, Oyo State where I have resolved to play an active role in politics.

    “I would like to complement the national efforts of Mr. President at the subnational level by contesting in 2019 gubernatorial election in my state. My aspiration is to become the next executive governor of the state, so help me God,” Adelabu’s 3-page letter added.