The whirlwind romance between the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi and a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Bayo Adelabu seems to have hit the rocks judging from recent happenstances in the political circle of the state.
The CBN topshot was regarded by all as the ‘incoming Governor’ based on his background (he is a grandchild of Adegoke Adelabu ‘penkelemes’), his status, wealth and connection between the political masters in and outside of his state which has now become the factor working against him.
Pundits in Oyo State had earlier come up with calculations of Adelabu’s root as an Ibadan man and his closeness with the Governor, Abiola Ajimobi which had unsettled the other camps who formed an alliance with a mission to break the influence and whatever support Ajimobi must have promised the banker.
Those in the know revealed to papermacheonline that the understanding between the Governor and the banker who were both proteges of the late Aare Musulumi, Arisekola Alao has damaged beyond repairs.
They put their differences on what they termed Adelabu’s over-ambition.
Papermache gathered that the banker while on a move to cement his political structure and protect against unforeseen circumstances had secretly visited APC stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to seek his support in getting the party’s ticket.
The move was said to have been vital as many of his supporters warned him that Governor Ajimobi may change his mind and give the ticket to another candidate at the last minute, a decision that could endanger Adelabu’s ambition. He agreed and sought Tinubu’s support, a move that didn’t please Governor Ajimobi who alleged the banker of ‘over-ambition’ and queried his loyalty.
Adelabu’s other undoing that finally severed his affair with Ajimobi was identifying with a group called the ‘Lamites’ who consists of the supporters of the late Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina.
The guber hopeful was allegedly plotting to take over the ‘Lamites’ structure to actualise his ambition.
A source hinted that the Governor has decided to shop for a successor among his trusted aides and puncture the balloon of Adelabu’s hopes of governing the state come 2019.
Another challenge for Adelabu is his popularity, many believed that the banker is only popular among the elites in Ibadan and not in the whole of Oyo State.
His businesses are hugely centralized in Ibadan, a point many are using to gauge his readiness in contesting for the number one citizen post in the state.
The CBN Deputy Governor recently opened a 3-star hotel under the management of Best Western and also a choice residential apartments in a highbrow area of Ibadan.
Credit: papermache.com
