The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has described the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi as a statesman who redefined governance in Oyo State through courage, vision, and transformative leadership.
Oseni, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made this known in a tribute issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, on Wednesday to mark the fifth anniversary of Ajimobi’s passing. The statement was made available to journalists in Ibadan.
“Five years may have gone by, but the impact of Senator Abiola Ajimobi’s leadership remains as fresh and compelling as ever,” the lawmaker said. “He was a governor who broke the jinx and redefined governance in our dear state. His intellectual depth, administrative boldness, and infrastructural revolution remain unmatched.”
Ajimobi, who served as Oyo State governor between 2011 and 2019, was the first in the state’s history to win a second term — a feat Oseni said reflected the people’s confidence in his reform-driven administration.
“His tenure brought bold reforms to Oyo’s security framework, education system, urban renewal, and civil service restructuring,” the lawmaker said. “He made tough decisions where others wavered. Today, many of the structures, roads, and governance templates we enjoy are products of his foresight.”
The FERMA chairman also highlighted the late governor’s political ethos, describing him as a principled and issue-based leader who mentored many within and beyond the APC fold. “He was not only a governor; he was a mentor, a bold orator, and a proud custodian of Yoruba culture,” he added.
According to him, Ajimobi’s brand of leadership remains a standard for those aspiring to public office. “His approach to politics was respectful and result-oriented. His loss wasn’t just personal — it was a national one.”
Oseni urged leaders across Nigeria, particularly in the South-West, to uphold the values the late governor championed. “Let us lead with clarity, not convenience. Let us embrace innovative thinking and always put the people first,” he said.
The federal lawmaker called for renewed commitment to good governance in Oyo and across Nigeria, saying, “Senator Abiola Ajimobi lived a life of impact. He governed with his heart, and his name remains etched in Oyo State’s history. May his soul continue to rest in perfect peace.”
