Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, has said that only God and the people of the state will determine the person that will succeed him among the 34 aspirants currently jostling to occupy the coveted office in 2019.

The governor spoke during the Democracy Day 2017 media interactive session organized by the Ibadan Zonal Station of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, at its zonal headquarters, Dugbe, Ibadan, yesterday.

The forum provided the governor with a platform to shed light on his achievements in education, environment, health, housing, road construction and other sectors since coming on board in 2011.

Having laboured to raise the standards of governance in the state, the governor said his wish was to be succeeded by someone who would build on his unprecedented achievements by taking the state to an enviable height.

Gov Ajimobi

Ajimobi’s clarification was in reference to media reports quoting him to have said that he would name his successor by May, next year.

Ajimobi said, “Only God ordains or dethrones kings. Only God and the people of Oyo State will determine my successor. But I am sure that our people will not allow the state to fall into the hands of charlatans politicians that will retard our progress.

“With the level we have reached now, we want a competent, highly cerebral person with track record of achievements to be the next governor. We want somebody who will not only envision and visualize, but who will have the courage to do what is right.

“Our state doesn’t deserve people whose sole purpose is to come and line their pockets. We want influential people that will earnestly serve our people and continue from where we would stop.

“A leader takes people where they want to go. But we want a great leader who will be prepared to take our people to where they don’t necessary want to go, but ought to be. A leader that will not be intimidated by some private interest groups   from doing what is right.”

Shedding more light on the Olubadan chieftaincy law review saga, the governor disclosed that the review was at the prompting of concerned citizens and elders of the city.