18th Year Remembrance: Arapaja Reaffirms Commitment to Adedibu’s Political Ideology

Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate for Oyo State’s 2027 elections, has pledged to sustain the grassroots political legacy of the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, emphasizing that power must always have a human face.

Arapaja made the commitment during the commemoration of the 18th-year remembrance of the demise of the “Strongman of Ibadan Politics,”

Ambassador Arapaja who described himself as a proud product of the “Adedibu School of Political Ideology”, stated that the late kingmaker redefined governance by prioritizing the welfare of the masses over elitist protocol.

“Baba Adedibu taught us that politics without the people is empty.

“He believed in a politics that is not ashamed to sit on the mat with the common man, feed the poor, and defend the weak.” He said.

Addressing the notion that the Molete residence—which critics predicted would lose its political relevance after Adedibu’s passing in 2008, Arapaja noted that the influx of supporters entering the residence year in year out, proved the ideology remains vibrant.

He outlined three core lessons from Adedibu’s playbook critical for modern governance: inclusive politics rooted in the streets rather than social media, the reward of loyalty, and the courage to speak truth to power.

Arapaja pledged that under his leadership, the Adedibu legacy would serve as a tool for public liberation rather than oppression.
“Power respects only those who respect the people,” Arapaja concluded.

As the state prepares for the 2027 general elections, the gubernatorial hopeful urged politicians to entrust their ambitions to God while remaining fiercely loyal to the populace.