By DAPO FALADE
The Oyo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has said his ambition to govern the state in 2023 remains alive and will never die.
This was as he said the party would easily defeat the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration in the state due to what he described as the poor performance of Governor Seyi Makinde.
He also said he was excited about the ongoing reconciliation process in Oyo APC which he said has produced former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala as the leader of the College of Leaders of the party.
Adelabu, said these, on Thursday, while speaking at a media parley as part of the activities put in place to mark his 50th birthday anniversary, coming up on Monday.
The APC governorship hopeful also declared that he was happy that he did not win the 2019 election, adding that now, at 50, he is more matured and would make a better governor in 2023.
The former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said losing the election has afforded him opportunity to know more about how progressives operate in the state, adding that he has warmed himself into the heart of the APC members and leaders in the state.
“My interest in Oyo politics is still very alive. My governorship is alive, undying and will never die. I am happy for not becoming the governor in 2019. That loss has made to get wiser politically and has made me to be more closer to the people at the grassroots and also the political leaders,” he said.
Speaking on the chances of the APC against the PDP administration in the state, Adelabu said the main opposition party, aided by success of the ongoing reconciliation process, would collectively dislodge Governor Makinde from office in the state.
He alleged that, almost two years after Governor Seyi Makinde was inaugurated, nothing concrete could be pointed to as achievement of the PDP-led government.
“Everything this administration promised the people of the state is still on their wish list 16 months after coming on board. With the caliber of people that have returned to the APC, no party can stand on the way of our party.
“No state needs a governor before salary is paid. When salary is paid through statutory allocations and it goes straight to the Accountant General, they take it to the bank and they pay. Why must that be the major achievement of any governor?
“And when you embark too much on populist programmes, which, in most cases, are not always giving the state sustainable development, it is more about immediate consumption.
“Populist programmes are short-lived. Within a short period, people will know that this man doesn’t really have so much to offer in terms of sustainable infrastructural development.
“It is going to two years now, can you point at one or two major projects that this government has completed? Everything is still on their wish list and if wishes were horses, beggars would ride,” he said.
Adelabu said he is excited by the reconciliation process going on in the Oyo APC, noting that there is no longer leadership crisis in the party.
“As it is today, there is no leadership crisis in the APC in the state. I am part of the reconciliation process, from the meeting held in the house of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, to the Abuja meeting and the last one convened by Governor Kayode Fayemi in his Ibadan residence.
“The deliberations and decisions reached at all the meetings are encouraging. We are ready to work together. We don’t have groups in the party again. We don’t have Unity Forum, SENACO or any other group. What we have now is one, strong APC in Oyo State.
“What we have now is a collegiate leadership in the Oyo APC, with Governor Alao-Akala appointed as the leader of the College of Leaders. Nobody with political ambition can be part of the collegiate,” he said.
Adelabu said he is full of thanks to God for sparing his life to reach 50 years, noting that both his grandfather, Adegoke Adelabu and father, AbdulRauf Adelabu, died at age 43 and 33, respectively.
“At 50, I feel more matured. I am more wiser. I will make a better governor and I will hold my family more better, now that I am 50,” he added.
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