Oyo Guber: Is Adelabu Unstoppable? Tunji Reveals Why
As preparation for the 2027 general election gears up, Bolaji Tunji, aide to Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, has said the minister remains the best candidate among those who have shown interest in becoming the next Oyo State governor.
Speaking at the weekend in reaction to a statement by a former Minister of Communications, Barrister Bayo Shittu, Tunji said Shittu’s concerns regarding the APC’s political strategy are noted, but his assertion that the party would face challenges should Adelabu be its governorship candidate overlooks the exemplary credentials and proven leadership of the current Minister of Power.
Chief Adelabu is not merely a candidate to be “imposed”; he is a visionary leader whose brilliance, achievements, and pedigree make him a standout choice for any electoral contest.
According to Tunji, who was also Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations to late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, as Minister of Power, Adelabu has brought renewed vigour to Nigeria’s energy sector, spearheading critical reforms to improve grid stability, expand renewable energy investments, and enhance transparency in the sector.
His hands-on approach has already begun addressing longstanding challenges, earning him recognition as a pragmatic problem-solver committed to national development.
“Under Adelabu’s watch as Minister, Nigeria achieved a historical landmark available generation of 6003 megawatts in less than two years, meanwhile it took over 40 years from 2000 megawatts in the 80s to an average of 4000 megawatts in 2021. The Minister also achieved a record evacuation of 5801 megawatts. All these have shown that Adelabu will perform exceptionally as Oyo State governor.”
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Speaking further, Tunji noted that Adelabu’s governorship bid in 2019, though unsuccessful, demonstrated his dedication to public service and his deep connection to the aspirations of the people.
His campaigns were marked by a focus on infrastructure, education, and youth empowerment—priorities that remain urgent today.
“As for Barrister Shittu, though I respect him as an elder, his pedigree ranks him as a serial aspirant who would even contest against a member of his family. So one should not set too much store by whatever he says. His electoral performance in recent times does not portray him as an aspirant with grassroots connection,” Tunji said.
How do you rate an aspirant that cannot win his ward or his local government as a serious contender? Former Governor Ajimobi captured his essence when he dismissed his serial aspiration in 2019 thus, “He does not have the qualities to be a governor. I have been a governor now for seven years. I know the qualities of those who should be governor, (Barrister) Shittu does not have those qualities… I like people with style, I like people with decorum, he does not have it. His temperament cannot be that of governor.”
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Tunji observed that Chief Adelabu has a rich political pedigree hailing from a family with a rich heritage of public service, his grandfather, Adegoke Adelabu, was a revered nationalist and political icon, Adelabu embodies a legacy of leadership and community upliftment. This pedigree, combined with his personal accomplishments, positions him as a leader who understands the weight of history and the demands of progress.
“For the teeming APC family in Oyo State, Chief Adelabu’s candidacy would not be an imposition but a celebration of merit. His blend of technocratic competence, political experience, and passion for transformative governance makes him an asset to the APC and the people.
Rather than courting trouble, the party would gain a candidate whose credentials inspire confidence and whose vision aligns with the needs of a dynamic electorate. Adelabu’s brilliance and integrity are precisely what Nigeria needs to navigate the future”, Tunji said.
