Abiola Ajimobi was a Nigerian politician who served as the governor of Oyo State from 2011 to 2019. He was the first person to be elected twice to the office in the history of the state. He was also a senator and a successful businessman. He died in June 2020 after contracting COVID19. In this blog post, we will take a look at his life, career, achievements, and legacy.
Abiola Ajimobi Early Life and Education
Abiola Ajimobi was born on December 16, 1949, in OjaOba, Ibadan, Oyo State. He came from a prominent family of chiefs and politicians. His grandfather was Sobaloju of Ibadan Land, his uncle was a minister of works and transport in the Western Region, and his father was a member of the House of Assembly in the Old Western Region.
He attended Saint Patricks Primary School and Ibadan City Council Primary School for his primary education. He then proceeded to Lagelu Grammar School for his secondary education, where he was active in sports and leadership. He was the school's games prefect and earned the nickname "Archipelago" for his athletic prowess.
He left Nigeria in 1968 to pursue his higher education in the United States of America. He studied Business Administration and Finance at the State University of New York, in Buffalo, New York, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. He also obtained an MBA in Operations Research and Marketing with a concentration in Finance at Governors State University, University Park, Illinois.
Abiola Ajimobi Career and Business
Abiola Ajimobi started his career in 1974 as a statecertified underwriter at Equitable Life Assurance Corporation, the secondlargest insurance company in America at the time. He returned to Nigeria in 1977 and joined Management and Industrial Consulting, a consulting firm, as a senior consultant.
He later worked briefly with Modulor Group, an architectural firm, as the finance and admin controller, before joining Nestle Foods PLC as the operations controller and later as the marketing controller. In 1979, he joined the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company, a subsidiary of Shell Petroleum, Nigeria, as a consumer product manager. He rose through the ranks to become the managing director and chief executive officer of the company in 1996. He retired from the oil sector in 2002 after 26 years of service.
He was also involved in other business ventures, such as First Call Group Limited, a telecommunications company, and Ajimobi Farms.
Abiola Ajimobi Political Career and Achievements
Abiola Ajimobi ventured into politics in 2003, when he contested and won the senatorial seat of Oyo South Senatorial District on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He served as the deputy minority leader of the Senate from 2003 to 2007. He was also a member of several committees, such as commerce, industries, finance, and appropriation.
In 2007, he contested for the governorship of Oyo State under the banner of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), but lost to Adebayo AlaoAkala of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He contested again in 2011 under the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and won. He was sworn in as the governor of Oyo State on May 29, 2011.
As the governor, he embarked on several projects and reforms in the areas of education, health, infrastructure, security, agriculture, and urban renewal. Some of his notable achievements include:
Establishing the first technical university in Nigeria, the Technical University, Ibadan.
Constructing and renovating over 400 schools and providing free textbooks, uniforms, and exercise books to students.
Building and equipping over 100 primary health care centers and upgrading the Adeoyo State Hospital to a teaching hospital.
Constructing and rehabilitating over 200 roads and bridges across the state, including the Mokola Flyover, the first of its kind in the state.
Launching the Operation Burst, a joint security outfit comprising the police, the army, and the civil defense, to combat crime and violence in the state.
Initiating the Oyo State Agricultural Initiative (OYSAI), a program to boost food production and create employment opportunities for youths and women.
Beautifying and modernizing the city of Ibadan with street lights, traffic lights, and waste bins.
He was reelected for a second term in 2015 under the All Progressives Congress (APC), making him the first governor to achieve such feat in Oyo State. He continued his developmental agenda until he left office in 2019. He was succeeded by Oluwaseyi Makinde of the PDP.
After leaving office, he contested for the Senate seat of his senatorial district in 2019, but lost to Kola Balogun of the PDP. He remained active in politics and was appointed as the deputy national chairman (South) of the APC in March 2020.
Abiola Ajimobi Personal Life and Death
Abiola Ajimobi was married to Florence Ajimobi, a former banker and businesswoman. They had five children: Abisola, Abimbola, Ajibola, Abolaji, and Ajijola. He was also a devout Muslim and a philanthropist.
He contracted COVID19 in June 2020 and was admitted to a private hospital in Lagos. He died on June 25, 2020, at the age of 70. He was buried on June 28, 2020, at his residence in Ibadan, according to Islamic rites.
Abiola Ajimobi Legacy and Tributes
Abiola Ajimobi left behind a legacy of service, leadership, and excellence. He was widely regarded as one of the best governors Oyo State ever had. He was also respected and admired by his colleagues, friends, and associates. He received several awards and honors, such as the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), the Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM), and the Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA).
He was also conferred with several chieftaincy titles, such as the Aare of Ibadan Land, the Asiwaju of Ibadan Land, the Ajagungbade of Ibadan Land, and the Bashorun of Ogbomoso Land.
He was mourned and eulogized by many Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Oluwaseyi Makinde, and many others.
He was described as a visionary leader, a statesman, a mentor, a friend, a father, and a husband. He was also praised for his courage, integrity, wisdom, and generosity. He was said to have lived a life of service to God and humanity.
Controversy And Activism Of Abiola Ajimobi
Some of the controversies and activism that marked his political career are:
He was involved in a feud with the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, over his decision to elevate some high chiefs and baales to the status of obas in Ibadan. This led to a legal battle and a rift between him and some prominent Ibadan indigenes
He was an active member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and served as the deputy chairman of the APC South West. He also played a key role in the formation of the APC Governors Forum
He was criticized for his handling of the LAUTECH crisis, which resulted in the closure of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology for several months due to the non-payment of salaries and allowances of the staff. He was accused of neglecting the institution and favoring his own private university, the First Technical University, Ibadan.
He was praised for his achievements in infrastructure development, urban renewal, security, education, and health sectors in Oyo State. He initiated projects such as the construction of flyovers, dualization of roads, establishment of the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme, and the introduction of the Oyo State Model Education System.
Conclusion
Abiola Ajimobi was a remarkable Nigerian who made a positive impact in his chosen fields of endeavor. He was a successful businessman, a distinguished senator, and a transformational governor.
He was a man of the people, a lover of peace, and a builder of bridges. He was a rare gem, a shining star, and a national hero. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.
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