The rat race for the Governorship position in Oyo State has birthed numerous candidates who are fighting tooth and nail to clinch the state’s most coveted apex position come 2019. Among the many competitors in the struggle is the Honourable Minister of Communication, Barrister Adebayo Abdulraheem Shittu who has confidently declared that he is the most qualified to succeed Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Speaking on Saturday, July 22 at a media chat organised by the South West Group of Online Publishers and held at CEOAfrica building in Ibadan, Oyo State, Barr Shittu explained to journalists present at the interactive session why he is the most qualified candidate to run for governor and what he would do differently should he win the 2019 gubernatorial election in Oyo State.

Barr Shittu stated that it is in the best interest of the state to have someone who has had proper antecedent, good education, decent exposure and great connections to be at the helm of its affairs. Noting that he has served at the judiciary, the legislative and the executive, the Minister said that his vast experiences garnered while serving in the three arms of government qualifies him as the best person to rule the state.

He said “It should be a matter of course that if you have had one person who became a lawyer at 26, was in the House of Assembly for four years, was a member of the Judicial Service Commission for four years, was a two-time Commissioner in the state and is now a Minister of Communication – which is the most enabling of subject matters for the transformation of every developed country – and such a person is from Oyo State, I think it is in the interest of all of us to ensure that someone like me becomes governor.”

Barrister Shittu (M) speaking at the SWEGOP Media Chat

Speaking about what he intends to do differently should he succeed in his bid to become the governor of the state, Barr Shittu stated that he intends to formulate policies that are in tandem with the legacies of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, adding that amongst all the aspirants who have indicated interest in the state’s zenith position, he is the only one who has had direct political training from the late sage.

He said “Of all the aspirants for governorship in the state, I’m the only one who has had direct political training at the feet of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the greatest politician who has ever lived in Nigeria. I sat with him and we formulated policies together. So, I will implement policies on free education, free health services, employment, and integrated infrastructural and rural development.”

Noting that his over 40 years of consistent political experience is a worthy credential, Barr Shittu explained that politics is the most important business that can be used to impact the greatest value in the lives of the people. He said “For me, I am waiting for the appropriate time to formally declare and introduce my manifesto to the public. I had the best manifesto in 2011 but people at that time preferred to vote for the most popular party.”   

Reacting to accusations of being stingy and tight-fisted, Barr Shittu explained that he was labelled as a stingy person because he refused to tow the corrupt path like others. He added that since his life is patterned along the lines of honesty and incorruptibility just like President Muhammadu Buhari, it is easy for people to assume that he is stingy because he does not spent money wastefully. “What you don’t have you don’t give. My monthly salary is less than a million Naira. If a hundred people come for financial assistance and you are able to satisfy only 95, the remaining 5 will label you as stingy,” he said.

The Minister expressed confidence that he will enjoy the support of the Oyo people, including that of Governor Abiola Ajimobi “Everyone will support me and I dare say that even Governor Ajimobi will support me by the grace of God. I can foresee that he will be the one to raise my hand up as the candidate of the party. My political philosophy is ‘life more abundant for the people of Oyo State’. I assure the people of the state that my regime will be a refreshing difference from every other administration that has ever run in this state,” Barr Shittu stated confidently.