By Agboola Bayo
Ibadan
Governor Abiola Ajimobi at the weekend declared that he never wanted Barrister Adebayo Shittu’s name on the ministerial list from Oyo state.
The governor, who disclosed this at a reception organised in honour of the minister by his Committee of Friends in Ibadan, said he initially kicked against the choice of Barrister Shittu on the ground that the he was not on the same page with him.
He said: “When news got to me that Barrister Shittu was the one picked to be Minister from Oyo state, I did not like it. So, I went to the President to complain that this man you selected is not on the same page with me politically. Afterwards, Barrister Shittu came with elders and some religious clerics and we sorted out our differences.”
He, however, urged the minister not to allow people to make him an enemy to anybody, saying: “Barrister, you are a good man, please, do not allow anybody to create or generate enemies for you. Do not allow people to make you an enemy to anybody.”
Responding, Shittu charged Nigerians to “as from now start to brace up for the task of remaking Nigeria for a greater heights,” saying “we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the task of remaking Nigeria.”
He said: “Our people have spoken and loudly too in a language reminiscent of President Obama’s admonition that ‘to those who cling to power through corruption and deceit, and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. The task of revamping a ravaged and faltering economy, feeding the starved bodies and hungry minds, rebuilding broken bridges and infrastructures, fixing our educational system, hospitals and other public institutions is not one for a single minister or political official, but rather for the government which aggregates the sum of our collective dreams and aspirations.”
