A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Adeniyi Akintola has rubbished those calling for power shift from Ibadan to Oke-Ogun geo-political zone to produce the next governor of Oyo State in 2019.
He described the clamour for Oke-Ogun geo-political zone to produce the next number one citizen of the state as unconstitutional.
He said the people of the state are one and there was no need for such call.
Akintola who is one of the aspirants under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, however, insisted that the role of gatekeepers remains key in the state’s politics.
He said that the agitation for power shift emanating from a section of the state is not recognized by any law including the constitution of the country.
He pointed out that his personality would also play a huge role in his emergence as governor in 2019.
The Ibadan-born legal luminary who addressed journalists at the week-end maintained that despite their political differences, some members of the opposition are in support of his candidature and would work for the APC as soon as he becomes the party’s flag bearer.
Akintola expressed optimism that those factors would work towards succeeding in his ambition.
He asserted positivity that he would win the 2019 governorship election once he emerges the APC flag bearer.
“My personality goes across party lines. I know some opposition party stalwarts who would work for me. It is about personality. Buhari became President not solely because of the platform of the APC.
“There are people in PDP that supported his candidature. Personality will play a major role and I have what it takes. Over the years, I have worked for the state, hometown, party, worked for individuals, and they know it.
“Many of them owe me so much and it is payback time. Look at the political or geographical arithmetic of the state. Politics is a game of numbers. Once you get the votes of some major components, you are home and dry. Once I get the ticket, I am on the way to Agodi government house.”
“Tradition holds here so anybody who wants to be governor in Oyo state cannot rule out the rule of the gatekeepers. No matter how good you are a dancer, you need someone to drum for you. So my governor is a gatekeeper, traditional institutions are gatekeepers, community leaders are gatekeepers.
“We operate the Mogaji system in Oyo state. Even in 2011, it was the combination of all these forces that brought us in. this is a traditional society where the traditional rulers wield a lot of influence. Every society has its own pattern”.
He stated that he was out to continue on the strides to the incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi, especially noting that peace and infrastructural development was high in Ajimobi’s achievements.
He lauded the recent recommendation that Ibadan should have 32 Obas, noting that Ajimobi should be commended by the people of the state for the political will to review the 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy declaration.
“Governor Ajimobi has raised the bar of governance. That is why someone like me will want to contests. In fact, the peaceful state is responsible for the huge number of aspirants. So, we need continuity in Oyo state, just like in Lagos.”
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