The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in 2019 in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, says he is now wiser politically than in the past and, as such, would do better in the coming general election next year.
The former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria popularly called ‘Penkelemesi,’ in a veiled reference to his defeat in the 2019 election where he slugged it out with Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party, said the coming election would be different.
Adelabu, in his speech on Friday at the Alarere residence of the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan, Senator Lekan Balogun, said, “I’m wiser now as a politician and it won’t happen the way it happened then.”
The politician, who was in company with some of his political associates, congratulated Balogun for the grace of living up to ascend the throne. He added that Ibadan was fortunate to produce a monarch with all that it takes to rank among the best in the country in terms of experience and academic attainment.
“Our revered father is going to be an Olubadan with a difference as the first PhD holder to mount the throne; a person that has seen it all, being a Senator of the Federal Republic when election used to be on merit and not money. He is the youngest to ascend the throne of recent,” he said.
The banker turned politician expressed optimism that unprecedented developments awaited Ibadanland under Balogun’s reign, and prayed for peace, good health and long life for him.
Earlier, Dr. Olusola Ayandele, a notable Ibarapa politician told Balogun, who was joined on the occasion by the Osi-Balogun and the Ekarun Olubadan, Lateef Gbadamosi Adebimpe and Hamidu Ajibade, that the age long tie between Ibadan and Ibarapa would be strengthened during Balogun’s reign.
Ayandele prayed that Balogun’s era would bring the dream of Ibadan State to fruition.
Adebimpe, who responded on behalf of Balogun, lauded Adelabu for his gesture. He also eulogized former Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the honour done to Ibadanland through the reformation of its traditional system.
