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How Mrs Ajimobi Frustrated Seyi Makinde’s Efforts To Reach Late Husband While In Hospital
Details have emerged as to the real reasons behind the unfriendly disposition of the family of the late governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to the incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde.
Ajimobi, 70, was buried in his Oluyole, Ibadan residence, on Sunday.
Tongues started wagging on Sunday when a video went viral in which the former First Lady, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, raised dust over the failure of Makinde to reach out to her since the sickness and eventual demise of her husband, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
In the said video, the former First Lady was seen accusing Makinde and his deputy, Rauf Olaniyan, an engineer, of failing to reach out to her.
But sources knowledgeable about happenings in Oyo State confirmed that the Governor was actually frustrated out of his bid to take good care of his predecessor.
“Governor Makinde, on hearing of the sickness of his predecessor asked one of his Special Advisers to make contact and establish the true situation. The said Adviser got in contact with the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, after attempts to reach the former First Lady failed”.
Sources said that Hamzat’s intervention led to the communication of the phone number of a personal physician to the late former Governor to the Adviser who transmitted same to Makinde.
It was learned that through the Commissioner for Health in Oyo State, the governor invited the said personal physician, who happens to be the wife of a politician and former office holder in the Ajimobi administration.
The said doctor, while she was on her way to the Government House in Ibadan, was said to have told her husband, who immediately asked her to abandon the trip to the Government House and go to Lagos.
That effort stalled, Makinde again requested for and put calls through to the former First Lady, who ignored the calls.
The governor was then said to have reached out to his colleague in Lagos, Babajide Sanwoolu, for interface.
It was gathered that the interface between the family and Sanwoolu did not go through as the former First Lady again stalled.
Sources further said that with the obvious determination of the former First Lady not to carry Oyo State Government along in the health situation of her husband, Makinde had to hand every other thing over to Sanwoolu in Lagos saying: “My brother, I leave everything in your hands. Look after him for us as a state and if there is anything I should do, I am just a phone call away.”
Upon hearing of the eventual demise of Ajimobi on Thursday, Makinde was again said to have reached out to the former First Lady, who never picked nor returned any of his several calls.
Nonetheless, the governor, who was in Benin City, Edo State for a PDP assignment immediately directed the state flag be flown at half-mast in honour of Ajimobi.
He further explained: “I was in the know that the governor was about calling a special Exco session to decide on the best way to immortalise the departed governor but the uncooperative posture from the former First lady stalled all that.
“What happened thereafter was that the Governor of Oyo received calls from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who broke the news of the death of Ajimobi to the governor and then requested that the family had asked him to plead with Makinde to release the controversial Quarter 361 with adjoining Plots B and C totalling 23,627 sqm (about 48 plots) which was part of the illegally acquired land revoked by the state government in February this year.
“Governor Makinde wasted no time in telling the Vice President that the land in question is under litigation and that it was the same late Ajimobi who filed a suit against the government over the revocation of the controversial plot of land.
“After Osinbajo’s call to Governor Makinde came the call of former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the same matter, other governors and other well- meaning leaders of both the PDP and APC.
“Governor Makinde only stated the situation of things as per the fact that the house in question is under litigation and it would amount to toying with the power of the courts to allow such burial there. The governor was also said to have confirmed that bodies are by law not to be buried in a GRA like Agodi and even Oluyole estate. He, however, was said to have told the statesmen who called that he had nothing against burying the former governor in Oluyole Estate, where he lived till he died.
“You can see that it is baffling that all the efforts of Governor Makinde on the Ajimobi matter were rebuffed. The former First Lady cannot even understand the state protocol after eight years in Government House. She needed to first inform the sitting Governor about her husband’s sickness and then the eventual demise. There should be no excuse for that lapse.
“I am sure her anger against Makinde is because he refused to allow her gain ownership of Quarter 361 through the back door. You want to wonder why a woman who just lost her husband would be concerned about something as ephemeral as property.”
The source concluded by saying that the attempt to blackmail Makinde will not stand.
News
Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
News
Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
News
Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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