AS the the governorship election in Oyo State is getting closer, so are the aspirants kept increasing with the emergence of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Olalekan All, declaring his ambition to be the next governor of the state in 2019.
The state’s scribe who led his political associates to the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat at Oke-Ado, Ibadan yesterday, was received by the party executive with pomp and party, while assuring him of their support and collaboration if he finally emerges as the party’s flag bearer in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Vanguard authoritatively learnt from a reliable source that the sudden governorship declaration of the SSG was backed up by the incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who was said to have thrown his weight behind the ambition and his entry may change the calculations for the coveted ticket as he was said to enjoy the support of the governor.
The governor, according to the reliable source, was said to have prodded Alli into the race as he has done with a couple of other aspirants including Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, the grandson of late Adegoke Adelabu ‘Penkelemesi,’ who recently resigned as the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to contest for the governorship on APC platform.
But the different issue in the Alli candidacy, according to authoritative source, was that Governor Ajimobi was said to be seriously looking in his direction. He may have in fact endorsed him for the race, the source said.
According to the source: “Alli is politically capable to succeed Ajimobi and fits into the permutation of the governor.”
While speaking at the party secretariat, Alli said he threw his hat into the ring after due and diligent consultations with party leaders, elders, his principal, Governor Ajimobi, other stakeholders and his immediate family.
The state’s scribe hinted that in the history of the state, the vision of a 25-year organic development master-plan was unprecedented, adding that to lock the history requires institutionalising the execution of the the master-plan rooted upon transparency, commitment and professionalism.
The SSG disclosed that his years of service jointly with other stakeholders in the Ajimobi administration had prepared him well enough to build on the unprecedented terms of the incumbent governor.
“For half a decade, I have served, together with you, under the astute and architect-builder of modern Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. Within this period, we have jointly gained tremendous knowledge about critical governance issues and become highly schooled in service-delivery to the citizenry. We have also actualised plans and projects to promote the socio-economic status of our state and our people.”
“It is therefore with this sense of responsibility that I formally declare my interest in the governorship position of Oyo State on the platform of our great party, APC, in 2019, in order to continue the next phase of our socio-economic master-plan.”
“My humble knowledge and modest participation in the rebuilding effort of the present government, under our leader, have ignited my interest in this continuity for progress scheme, I required for further advancement of Oyo State.”
“This shall be at the expiration of the unprecedented and highly impactful two-term tenure of our distinguished and acclaimed leader.”
“Taking off from the foundation laid by our mentor, we shall ensure the continuous security, safety, welfare wellbeing and prosperity of the citizenry; as we further the engendering of inclusive growth and development of the state,” Alli assured.
