Oyo 2019: How Shittu replied politicking monarch
*Says I’m not stingy but don’t want to steal to satisfy anybody
*Don’t compare me with Jumoke Akinjide, who is under trial for corruption – Minister
The 2019 governorship ambition of the Mimonarcof Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu and the ‘financial behaviour’ of who gets the support of Oke-Ogun people has caused beef between the Minister and one of the traditional rulers, the Aseyin of Iseyin in Oke-Ogun geo-political zone where he (Shittu) hails from, an online newspaper (The DEFENDER) has reliably gathered.
The Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba AbdulGaniyy Adekunle Ologunebi Ajinase 1 last Saturday, at 2017 Oke-Ogun Youth Summit held in Iseyin City Hall called on the people of the zone to use their votes in rejecting people who have not made any meaningful contribution to the development of the region out of the system.
The monarch who advocated for homegrown politicians said that the ideal politician to be supported by the youth should not be “stingy and irresponsible person.”
He said, “The homegrown politicians should not also be a stingy and irresponsible person, he or she should not be a religious fanatics, who will only use religious to deceive our people, we won’t allow that.
“We will not support foreign based oke ogun indigenes who are only interested in milking the resources meant for our development without any serious consideration for the growth of the region and the state.
“Oke-Ogun will say no to politicians from London or any other part of the world in 2019, they don’t know where the shoe pinches, they don’t know our problems, we need homegrown politicians who can be reached and contacted without stress.
“The agitation for the region to produce the next governor of Oyo state is in right direction since it is in the interest of development of the region which is paramount to me and other people, it doesn’t matter where the governorship candidate comes from in oke ogun what matter is that people should shine their eyes and choose a person with reputable character that can match candidates from other zones, we have very many of them in Oke-Ogun”.
The monarch then urged youth to ask questions and not be ”timid or afraid of doing what is right and fight for their right, urging them to take charge and step up your games, you are the leaders of today.”
But the Communications Minister, Adebayo Shittu who was also present at the summit and knew he was being referred to as being ‘stingy’ among others threw a ‘bombshell’ at the monarch and those who have been complaining that he does not spend generously.
He replied that, “I am not stingy, I just won’t steal to satisfy anybody.”
Shittu, however, advised those against him to think twice, saying they cannot compare him with ex-Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Chief Jumoke Akinjide who is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for an alleged corruption case.
In his quick response to remarks by the Aseyin, Oba AbdulGaniyu Adekunle Ologunebi, Shittu explained that he cannot be spending like Ms Jumoke Akinjide.
He said, “Because I don’t get money the way she got it when she was a minister in the past administration. You all know how the past government squandered government resources.”
Shittu in his keynote address said, “You can see what Akinjide is passing through now, I don’t want to end mine like that too, I won’t steal any money to satisfy people’s yearning but I will continue to try my best to serve humanity.”
“Those who say I am not generous have missed it; I am not stingy, I am doing my best and I will not steal to please people.”
“Since I became minister, I have been assisting people in so many ways; sponsoring scholarships sinking boreholes and offsetting medical bills and I will continue to do more.”
However, the Chairman of the organizing committee of the event, Comrade Bola Olalere said the summit is organised to sensitize the youth on the need to build self esteem and take up the challenges of leadership.
