Why I Invited NNPP Chieftain, Ajadi To Join Oyo Politics – Olopoeeyan

By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan 

Former chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeeyan, has disclosed that he has been advising the former governorship candidate of the party in Ogun State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, to Oyo State politics to enable him contribute his quota to the development of Oyo, his father’s state of origin.

Alhaji Olopoeeyan who said this in Ibadan on Tuesday while receiving Ajadi  who paid a courtesy visit to his Idi-Ape/Basorun Ibadan residence, also used the occasion of Ajadi’s visit to confirm that he (Olopoeeyan) has left NNPP for PDP but would soon announce officially in a funfair, but added that he wouldn’t know if Ajadi, his nephew would join his new party.

The prominent politician stressed that Ambassador Ajadi has done enough politically and in terms of empowerment for the people of Ogun State on the side of his mother’s origin.

“ He has done enough politically and in terms of empowerment for the people of Ogun State on the side of his mother’s origin.I believe he will follow me to wherever I am going. He has been a good sibling, a loyal party man in NNPP. We hardly disagree”, he said 

Alhaji Olopoeniyan added, “I believe he will continue to go where I ask him to  go politically.But he is an accomplished person in his own right; I can’t force my opinion on him. He will take his decision. But I said he has to come to Ibadan to help in building his father’s home town and Oyo state too, after contributing to the development of Ogun State where his mother hailed from”.

“We are politicians, and  I am not unmindful of the need for him to identify with his roots. He has been involved in many philanthropic activities in Yewaland and Ogun State in general. Let him help Ibadanland too. He is from Oja’gbo in Ibadan. We need him. He will tell me his decision,” 

Speaking with journalists after a closed door meeting with Alhaji Olopoeeyan, Ambassador Ajadi said he was willing to help the people at home, and that he also had to consult and take a decision.

The NNPP Chieftain stressed that  he decided to pay a courtesy call on Alhaji Olopoeeyan because he  (Olopoeeyan) is his political leader and father and he has been asking to join Oyo politics, adding, Alhaji Olopoeeyan has been calling on him to visit him in Ibadan saying he heed to that call on Tuesday.

“I am surprised today that the whole discussion has been centred on a call on me to shift my politics to Oyo State. I am an Ibadan Indigene. My father is a known figure in Oja Igbo in Ibadan North East Local Government”, he said. 

Ambassador Ajadi added, “Alhaji Olopoeeyan admonished me to come to Ibadan, my home town to practice politics. He said though my Mum is from Ilaro in Ogun State, I should come to my state of origin to practice politics.

“You may want to ask how I feel about that. To me it didn’t make any difference, politics is about serving the people and I have interest in turning son of nobody to somebody. I love to serve the masses. Politics is about serving the people. When you have the passion to serve, anywhere you are,  you are good to go We have a lot to do and we keep doing our best for the people.

“I just think about helping people; when God has helped you to prosper and blessed you in certain measures,  you too have to start giving back to the people. I am an Ibadan and Egba and as they say, ‘eye ki i f’apa kan fo’, ( A bird cannot fly with one wing). I have to reckon with my father’s state too. It’s not about party politics; it’s about service to the people,”