Ex-Provost Joins APC, Says Oyebanji, Tinubu Bring Him Back Home
A former Provost of College of Health and Science, Ijero-Ekiti, Dr Bayo Ojo, has decamped from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti State.
This Erijiyan-Ekiti born politician said his return to APC, his former party, was motivated by the performances of Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji and the emergence of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, who he called his in-law, as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dr. ‘Bayo Ojo had, on Friday, decamped to APC in Ado-Ekiti where he was received by the Special Adviser to the Governor of Ekiti State on Political and Inter-Party Affairs, High Chief Jide Awe at the instance of the Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Femi Akinwumi.
, Fountain News Confirming his defection to APC in an interview with Fountain Newsbreaker in Ado Ekiti Dr Ojo described it has homecoming because, according to him, he had all along been a member of progressive party right from the Action Group years.
Dr. Ojo, an astute politician in the main opposition Party in Ekiti State until his defection said that he took the decision of crossing to APC for some obvious reasons. “Apart from being a long time progressive politician from AG-UPN-AD trajectory, I was inspired by the humility, magnanimity in victory, good human relations and the achievements of Governor Biodun Oyebanji within his 200 days in Office. He has won the hearts of many people from other parties to APC with his characteristic hands of fellowship like the soul winners in Christianity,” Dr Ojo said.
“I am impressed that within two weeks that he assumed office in October, 2022, some specifically bad inter-township roads in Ekiti State that restricted movements and put the State in cul-de-sac for over two months were rehabilitated and there was a sigh of relief to the masses of people”, ‘Dr. Bayo Ojo said.
He said “Though, I am not actually surprised that Biodun Oyebanji is effectively managing the affairs of the State economically and politically with diplomatic sagacity. His pedigree is outstanding, his background in academia has prepared him for the job and his anticedent speaks volume. His experience in governance as a seasoned home grown politician with God given wisdom is part of the source of his strength.”
Dr. Ojo said further “Governor Biodun Oyebanji is cool, calm, partnering to get goal, politically tolerant and strategic without injuring the vanity of others in politics thereby taking after his mentor, His Excellency Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the first Democratically elected Governor of Ekiti State”.
Dr. Bayo Ojo said that he would like to bring back on memory lane during Otunba Niyi Adebayo’s government. That he remembered that there was rancour between the Parliament and the Executive Council in Ido Osi, a PDP Controlled Local Government and about to lead to impeachment of the then Chairman of Council; on hearing the matter, Governor Niyi Adebayo who was elected on AD platform paid an emergency visit to the Council, intervened in the matter and settled their rancour amicably. “That’s the type of a good Governor that Governor Biodun Oyebanji inherited from his boss, Otunba Niyi Adebayo”
When Dr. ‘Bayo Ojo was asked of his mission in APC, he said “I am a politician without bitterness, I believe in synergy and will support in any area that can promote good governance. My mission can not be different from the mission of the party which is to construct and institute a progressive state anchored on social democracy, where the welfare and security of the citizenry is paramount.
“Therefore, at personal level, I am to join hands with all the Party leaders at all levels, some of whom are my age-long friends, brothers, sisters and political associates to move Ekiti State forward under the incumbent Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji and to take Nigeria to the promise Land”.
Dr. Ojo said further that he wanted to use APC as a good political party platform to give support to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the next political dispensation. He said further that Asiwaju Tinubu’s emergence as the President of Nigeria would have some positive impacts on the political firmament of Nigeria, saying that by the grace of God, he would bail the country out of its present state of economic adversity and the huge international debts owed China and others.
Dr. Ojo said that Asiwaju Tinubu would, in the course of time be likened to two great American historic Presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. While the former was mostly regarded as the greatest US President for effectively managing the economy of US during the Civil War and abolition of slavery with remarkable achievements in people’s welfare, the latter Roosevelt led US out of the great economic depression and World War II.
When asked of his comment about former Governors and their administrations compared with the leadership style of Governor Oyebanji, Dr. Ojo said that all the former Governors had come, done their best, and left the rest for Biodun Oyebanji to do. “My advice to Biodun Oyebanji is that he should sustain the good that people loved each of the former Governors for during their respective tenures, avoid the bad aspects of their governments, do the good they left undone and be creative of new good programmes and projects that the masses would appreciate.
