BY OLA AJAYI

THE inauguration of the new governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi last Sunday was unique in many respects. The large turn-out of millions of people to the epoch-making event at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium was a testimony to the fact that the people willingly elected their governor and that their votes indeed counted.

The glowing colours of various attires and different shapes of head gears suggested a memorable event was ahead. The enthusiasm on the faces of the people was visibly evident. Indeed, the physically challenged took their minds off their disabilities and those having only one leg limped with the aid of crutches to be part of the train that took part in the uncommon event.

With brooms waving at intervals with mixture of annoyance and glorious triumph, no soothsayer was needed to say that the firm grip of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its influence on the state had been swept out of existence to usher in a new dispensation to be piloted by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

‘Power’ has been sent packing for the enthronement of ‘action’.

Unusually, traditional worshipers were given due recognition. They were led to the podium by Baba Awo, Ifalere Ifagbenro after the prayers of both the Christian and Islamic clerics, namely Most Reverend Felix Alaba Job, who was flanked by Most Revd. Joseph Akinfenwa and the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Haruna Suara.

Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the new man to captain the ship of the state for another four years said emphatically that his term would have begun in 2007, but it was stolen from him with a ‘clinical finish’.

At the memorable celebration that ushered him into the Government House, Agodi, it was a hectic day for the security agencies in the state as they struggled fruitlessly to control the surging crowd that came to witness the event. It was gathered that some louvre blades were broken outside the stadium and some tear gas cannisters were fired to disperse some crowd outside the gate. Indeed at a point, the crowd inside became so uncontrollable.

The scorching sun was nothing to steal the joy of the moment. The Director of Publicity for Ajimobi Campaign Organization, Mr. Yanju Adegbite pleaded severally with those standing before the state box to give room for the Governor to go round the stadium in a motorcade. He repeatedly pleaded with scores of photojournalists and reporters from various media to move back. They got angry at some point wondering why Adegbite had to be mentioning journalists as if they were the only ones on the field. This was climaxed by the slump of a frail looking, aged  man. He was being taken for medical attention while the governor was making his inaugural speech.

During the introduction of dignitaries, some people were given a rousing welcome while some were booed. The likes of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, the General Officer Commanding, 2 div. Nigerian Army, Maj. General Abubakar and many others were applauded for either their unblemished records or roles in the election. On the contrary, the former deputy governor of the state Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta and others believed to have any link with the immediate past governor, Otunba Alao_Akala were roundly booed by the crowd.

The event was well attended by many important dignitaries. Among those that added to the glamour of the event was King Sunny Ade, the juju maestro who attracted many people in the stadium by his songs and dance steps. Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, was said to have arrived after the swearing in ceremony. He was said to have attended the get-together that was organised later in the day.

Also, Chief Bisi Akande, the National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Governors of Ekiti and Osun States-Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, former Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu(SAN), Chief Adeniyi Akintola(SAN), Senators Ayoade Adeseun and Olufemi Lanlehin and all ACN lawmakers of the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and others were present.

Some of the traditional rulers that were in attendance were Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi, Oba Samuel Odulana, Olubadan of Ibadanland was represented by the Otun Balogun Olubadan, High Chief Omowale Kuye, Senator Lekan Balogun, Prof. Wale Oyemakinde, a governorship aspirant of the party, wife of the governor, Florence Ajimobi, Alhaja Sikiratu Ajimobi, mother of the governor, Chief Micheal Koleosho, Dr. Adebayo Adewusi, governorship aspirant of the party, Chief Kola Daisi, an industrialist, Dr. Adebisi Busari, a chieftain of the party, Mr. Sarafadeen Alli, former Deputy Chief of Staff in the administration of Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Ladoja who, Ajimobi said turned back because he could not gain entry into the stadium as a result of the large crowd was represented by Chief Bayo Lawal, Mr. Bayo Oyero, President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Ambassador Olu Sanu, Chairman, Ibadan Elders Forum and many others.

Some opposition attended.

Expectedly, Akala was absent at the event. Though, the master of ceremony announced that his former deputy, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja was present, people were trying to catch a glimpse of him.

When Vanguard called to know why Akala was not present, his spokesperson, Prince Dotun Oyelade explained that he was having his own thanksgiving service at a Baptist Church in Ogbomoso.

Given the heated controversy and differences that the election created, Akala’s absence was understandable.
The governorship candidates of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, and Azeez Adeduntan of the Labour Party were also announced as those that graced the inauguration.

Ajimobi was sworn in at 12 noon by the Chief Judge in the state, Justice Badejoko Adeniji while his deputy, Chief Moses Alake took the oath of office at 11.48am.

Ajimobi said during his inaugural speech that he would review all the contracts awarded and other decisions hastily taken by Alao_Akala at the twilight of his tenure.

As part of his campaign promises and accordance with the party’s manifestores, he promised to create 20,000 jobs within the first 100 days of his administration.

To make the people in the state to enjoy the new era, he said he would start free health care facility by the provision of free health services to children under the age of five, pre-and post-natal healthcare for pregnant women, as well as cater for the healthcare of our aged ones above the age of 70.

The voting out of PDP in the election should be a lesson for the in-coming government. The perceived political sommersault that led to the downfall of the once-influential PDP should be improved upon by the ACN. Since, shouting of non_beneficial ‘power’ could not save the PDP from falling headlong, ACN should know that lip-service ‘action’ without positive impact on the lives of the people would do nothing other than to dig its grave and be buried like its counterpart, the PDP.