Oyo 2027: APC In Trouble If Adelabu Is Imposed And Makinde Picks From Outside Ibadan — Shittu

Adebayo Shittu, a former minister of communications, has warned the All Progressives Congress, APC, against imposing candidates in the forthcoming elections in Oyo State.

The Saki-born lawyer, who has been member of the state Assembly and commissioner at different times, added that any attempt to thread such part may spell doom for the party.

He made this known in an interview with The Punch.Asked about his about on rumours that the APC national chairman, Abdullah Ganduje favours the minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu, for the governorship ticket, Shittu said “With due respect to Adelabu, he is my junior brother and we have a very good relationship. But on two occasions in 2019, he was imposed after I was disqualified for him to get the ticket. He lost the election. In 2023, when he didn’t get the ticket of the party, he went to another party to contest election and again lost.

I am not a soothsayer, but I know that with agitations for rotation in Oyo State by party elements and even people outside Ibadan, there will be a change. If, for instance, Adelabu is imposed again, because he is from Ibadan, and the PDP picks somebody from outside Ibadan, APC would be in big trouble. Other people outside Ibadan want a sense of belonging.

So, I just pray that the party would take the necessary good counsel and do what is right because in 2019, when he was imposed, a lot of our party men worked for Seyi Makinde of the PDP to win the election.

Even the then governor lost the senatorial election. You can imagine a sitting governor losing such an important election. It was that bad. Maybe that’s why they say the man is just an accidental governor. He’s just been lucky all the time.”

He said he wants to govern the state and not become ambassador and minister again at 72.

“Number one, I don’t want to be an ambassador. I am 72 years old. How can I leave Nigeria at this old age? I don’t want to be. If the ministerial appointment comes, okay. If it doesn’t come, I have been a minister before.

What I want most importantly is to become Governor of Oyo State because as a product of the Awolowo School of Politics, I want to re-enact the Awolowo type of governance with the aim of life more abundant for the ordinary citizen. That was Awolowo’s philosophy.

For instance, Awolowo would tell you that if you fail to educate the children of the poor, they would ensure that your own children cannot sleep with both eyes closed.

Why do you have banditry in the North now? It is because a lot of people are outside, young, strong people, who suddenly discover that they are growing up and don’t have a future.

They don’t have jobs. They are not educated. They don’t have homes or decent places, and so they rebel against society.

I want to have an opportunity to ensure that all of Awolowo’s four cardinal programmes are re-enacted in Oyo State. Free education at all levels, free health services, integrated infrastructure development, and full employment will be in place.

I have great ideas about how to implement all of this,” he added.