A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State chapter on Sunday criticized the nomination of Chief Bayo Adelabu by President Bola Tinubu as a minister-designate from Oyo State in the impending federal cabinet.
The group, Progressives Justice Mandate (PJM) in a statement by its State Coordinator, Bolaji Ayinde queried why the president who was widely known and believed to always reward ‘hard work and party loyalty’ suddenly jettisoned these, to zero-in on Adelabu against other qualified and loyal supporters of his recent presidential candidature.
Ayinde in a 2-page statement made available to journalists in Ibadan said Tinubu is losing his popularity amongst the people of Oyo State and needs to watch it, ‘because Ibadan nay Oyo State should not be toyed with as growing discontent among our people rages’.
According to Ayinde, “Bayo is a selfish individual who despite making fortunes in his private and public life has never been a pro-masses personality; to support community needs or part with part of the wealth he accrued over the years for the good of others.
“Can anyone point to transformers supplied to communities, roads rehabilitated or reconstructed by Bayo Adelabu to alleviate people’s sufferings in his immediate environment or any part of Ibadanland or any part of our State?
“Where lie his palliatives to the suffering masses? He has never been known to play any significant role in the development of Oyo State. Let him point out individuals he has used his positions in the past to promote and elevate in Ibadan, let alone across the State?
“All Bayo Adelabu could boast of is his economic expansion of hotel businesses everywhere in Ibadan to shore his wealth. He has never been known or seen to use the resources at his disposal for the good of others.
“No wonder his nomination hasn’t gain traction and popularity amongst the people of Oyo State since the announcement was made on the floor of the National Assembly last Thursday. No general acceptability has greeted his nomination almost 96hours after the Senate President made President’s ministerial list public.
“Market men and women; Baales; Mogajis and very many other people including Artisans and Students are not happy with Adelabu’s nomination and Mr President should know this for posterity sake. How can a man who left our party for Accord and scored about 38,357 votes be so rewarded with such a top position?
“The 2023 election exposed Bayo Adelabu as an unpopular politician who only latched on the influence of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi of blessed memory to record better results in the 2019 as our gubernatorial candidate then.
“Is Mr President trying to make Adelabu gubernatorial candidate of our party in 2027 using the ministerial position as a precursor to prepare him for the race against the wishes of the people and our party?
“Mr President ought to have engaged in wide consultations with critical stakeholders within our party, APC and outside of it especially as it concerns stakeholders who made it possible for him to record landslide victories in the State and across Southwest Nigeria.
“Though he is not our fan but it is on record that Governor Seyi Makinde has been a great supporter of people’s needs as a philanthropist of note long before he became Governor of the State. Did Mr President consult him (Mr Governor) on the suitability or otherwise of Bayo Adelabu for that position?
“Another man that worked for Mr President’s victory using his resources to host several Southwest rallies at his Ilaji Hotel and Sports Resort is Engr Dotun Sanusi who obviously would never be interested in becoming a minister but there are other qualified, loyal and experienced people within the APC and outside of it that Mr President could have nominated for the position.
“On this nomination, the president hasn’t reward loyalty and he was never known to be a man who doesn’t reward party loyalty. This came as rude shock and surprise to many people.
“It is our considered opinion that Mr President should always confer on the Governor who obviously worked for his ascendancy to power alongside other G5 Governors to decimate the PDP.
“And if he is not comfortable with the Governor, people like Engr Dotun Sanusi, who was reported as having no interest in gaining any pecuniary and personal interest after his huge investments, from both the State and Federal Governments, should be contacted to make informed recommendations on matters affecting our State and political considerations to be sure that only those who worked and mobilized for Mr President are given their due respect and recognition, going forward,” Ayinde fumed.
