Inside Story As Ajimobi Makes Spirited Efforts To Avert Untold Consequence Of Senatorial Defeat!

Eniola Adeniyi

Away from the attempt to appear noble and generous in spirit in his defeat, multiple sources disclose that Governor Abiola Ajimobi is making spirited efforts behind the scene to retain his political influence in Oyo state.

The two-term governor was defeated in his bid to hold on to power by returning to the Senate.

Ajimobi suffered a shock defeat while all those he gave tickets to won their election – including more popular grass root politician Teslim Folarin.

Folarin who is the Senator-Elect for Oyo Central returns to the Senate as a ranking Senator with bright chances of securing leadership position.

Folarin (55) was a former two-term Senator. He became a Senator at the age of 39 in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007 when he held the position of Senate leader.

Folarin’s failed attempt to become governor of Oyo state in 2011 and 2015 left out of political office but also laid the foundation for his recent victory.

Before he defected to the All Progressives Congress from the People’s Democratic Party in 2015, Folarin worked against his party for Ajimobi to become Oyo governor in 2011.

Folarin helped Ajimobi to secure a second term in office in 2015 – when he decamped to the APC – in anticipation of getting the opportunity to succeed Ajimobi as Governor of Oyo state.

‘’A series of political negotiation earned Folarin the Oyo Central Senatorial ticket instead’’ societynow.ng learned.

Insiders disclosed that while Ajimobi was stepping on toes in the bid to prove he remains the constituted authority as the Governor of Oyo state, Folarin was quietly reaching out to supporters across political divides and endearing self to the grass root.

‘’And the strategy worked for him and except party gubernatorial candidate Adebayo Adelabu wins and remains extremely loyal to Ajimobi, Oyo state has a new political power in Teslim Folarin a man who understands the intricacy of politics’’ a source disclosed.

Societynow.ng learned that this is the situation Ajimobi fighting very hard to avert, especially with the likes of aggrieved party men in the mold of minister Adebayo Shittu out to even scores with him.

‘’that is the untold consequence of his senatorial defeat, he would have to now queue behind Folarin and fend off adversaries like Shittu with limited protection’’ a source analyzed.

Societynow.ng gathered that despite the claim that he would be turning 70years old and needed the break the defeat offers, insiders disclosed Ajimobi has started the hunt for a federal appointment.

Though Ajimobi is still passionately backing Adelabu to win the March 9 gubernatorial election sources insist the governor has raised the ante of his political game by initiating ways to stay relevant with a plum federal appointment.