No more war, Aregbesola, Ajimobi tell Mimiko •Extend hands of fellowship on regional integration
Following the hype that followed the October 20, 2012 election in Ondo State, the Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, have declared a ceasefire, calling on Governor Olusegun Mimiko to join hands with them in developing the South-West.
This is just as a former governor of Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, chided some politicians for exploiting the name of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to score cheap political goals.
Governor Aregbesola, at the South-West Grassroots, Business and Investment Forum, held at the Centre for Black Understanding and Culture, Osogbo, Osun State, said the struggle for power was over, adding that it was time to shelve politics and join hands to develop the region.
Speaking specifically on Mimiko, Aregbesola said irrespective of political affiliation, it was necessary that governors in the South-West come together to enhance the development of the region.
He lauded Governor Ajimobi for the commitment of his administration to the regional integration initiative, adding that the agenda was key for the rapid development of the region.
Corroborating Aregbesola, Ajimobi, who said the essence of integration was to promote Yoruba language, said the idea of integration surpassed politics or party affiliation.
He challenged governors in the region, saying that if Chief Awolowo was able to make name for himself in the country and beyond, they could do likewise, adding that “as governors, we must work together for the development of the region.”
Governor Ajimobi emphasised his commitment to making Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, clean and beautiful, adding that the administration would not stop working until Ibadan became a clean city.
Speaking earlier, Dr Olunloyo said regional integration would enhance things that are good and correct the ills in the region, adding that it was through the wealth of the region that people like him were trained.
He tasked politicians to stop exploiting the name of Awolowo to get to political offices, while urging elder statesmen in the region to ensure they brought the Yoruba together, so as to ensure the development of the region.
Olunloyo also tasked the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)-controlled state governors to reunite with Mimiko, to ensure the uniformity of the idea of regional integration, stressing that the idea was not about being a progressive or conservative.
In his opening remark, the chairman on the occasion, Prince Bola Ajibola, lauded the Osun State governor for employing and engaging youths and for giving infrastructure priority.
Prince Ajibola said the forum would mark the beginning of the development of agrarian revolution on the South-West and ensure its return to the good old days.
Also present at the event were the wife of the Oyo state governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; deputy governor of Osun State, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; representatives of Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti state governors, cabinet members, lawmakers and local government chairmen from Oyo State.
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