Former Commissioner in the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, Hon. Ayobami Ojo, has refuted allegations that , he received financial patronage from the Chairman of ATISBO LG, Hon. Bashir Olumuyiwa Alade, describing the claims as a deliberate misrepresentation of the political relationship between them.
The Ago-Are born politician made this clarification in a statement made available to ITV Online on Friday by Ebenezer Ayoola, in which he maintained that he had never received financial gratification from Alade, either for personal enrichment or political engagements.
The former commissioner, who expressed displeasure over what he described as an attempt to rewrite the history of their political association, alleged that he had made substantial personal sacrifices, deployed considerable resources and invested significant political capital towards facilitating Alade’s emergence as chairman of Atisbo Local Government.
He said, “It is a matter of public record and personal testimony that I threw my full weight behind the emergence of Hon. Olumuyiwa Alade as Chairman of Atisbo Local Government. My intervention went beyond mere verbal endorsement; I committed substantial personal resources, energy and political capital to ensuring his emergence.”
Ojo insisted that his support for the council chairman was borne out of progressive political solidarity and his conviction that Atisbo deserved purposeful and responsive leadership.
Expressing concern over the alleged circulation of claims that Alade had been financially supporting his political interests, he declared that the narrative was entirely unfounded.
“Let me state categorically, without equivocation, that I have never collected a single dime from Hon. Olumuyiwa Alade. Not for personal gratification, not for political manoeuvring and not for any other purpose whatsoever. It is therefore preposterous to suggest that someone I personally supported to attain political prominence was the one financing my political interests,” he said.
The former commissioner further alleged that the political relationship deteriorated following his resignation from the Oyo State Executive Council, claiming that efforts were subsequently made to lobby for his replacement through an individual identified as Adedeji.
According to him, the alleged development was particularly disappointing given the sacrifices he claimed to have made towards Alade’s political ascendancy.
“It is quite unfortunate that barely had I resigned my appointment as commissioner than efforts were allegedly initiated to lobby for my replacement through Adedeji. The development raises serious questions about the appreciation of loyalty and the sanctity of political relationships,” he stated.
Ojo also maintained that he had deliberately refrained from engaging in public altercations despite allegations of executive rascality, corruption and other misconduct levelled against the council chairman.
He explained that his decision to maintain silence was a conscious demonstration of political maturity and personal restraint rather than an admission of weakness.
“My refusal to descend into the arena of public mudslinging should not be misconstrued as timidity or helplessness. I understand that leadership is not necessarily demonstrated by the volume of one’s utterances, but by the discipline to exercise restraint even in provocative circumstances,” he said.
On his political future following his resignation from the state executive council, the former commissioner disclosed that he had yet to make any official pronouncement concerning his next political affiliation.
He explained that his eventual decision would be guided by consultations with his supporters and relevant political stakeholders, emphasising that he would not take a unilateral decision on an issue affecting the collective political interests of his followers.
“I have not made any official declaration regarding my next political destination. I believe strongly in collective political participation, consultation and inclusiveness. When the time comes, I will take my people along and communicate my decision with transparency and conviction,” he added.
He urged political stakeholders and residents of ATISBO and Oyo State to uphold the principles of integrity, reciprocity, accountability and mutual respect, stressing that political relationships should not be reduced to transactional arrangements or distorted narratives.
He maintained that his political engagements would continue to be guided by conviction and principle rather than what he described as the desperation of individuals uncomfortable with his continued political relevance.