After listening to the Executive Governor of Oyo State’s speech yesterday, one cannot but be reminded of the emptiness that often follows ungrounded leadership. It is important to help refresh the governor’s memory because, as the saying goes, “you cannot give what you do not have.” And indeed, what you do not have — in vision, capacity, and intellect — eventually becomes a nightmare to those you govern.
If not for the hypocrisy that trailed the political atmosphere in Oyo back then, you, sir, would never have possessed the credentials to emerge as a state governor. You had neither held a political office nor built a verifiable business portfolio capable of reflecting leadership readiness. Your rise came through a contrived coalition, a deceptive pact that misled the then Accord Party — a deal brokered with the likes of Senator Lanlehin and others, which today stands as one of the most regrettable alliances in Oyo political history.
Your declaration of ₦48 billion in assets in 2019 raised legitimate questions. Your profile, at the time, did not reflect a man of such wealth. Your personal and visible assets in Ibadan and beyond never mirrored the worth you claimed. It is now clear to the people that the ₦46 billion difference may well have been the target loot you sought from the state coffers — a suspicion reinforced by the outrageous sums allegedly spent on the so-called “renovation” of the Oyo State Government House.
We have had sons of Oyo State who excelled in the oil sector with proven integrity — the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi of blessed memory stands tall among them. His professional record and verifiable track record of growth remain on public record, including on international platforms such as Wikipedia. But unlike Ajimobi, your background before 2019 offered no solid proof of steady growth, corporate advancement, or economic depth.
And yet, Oyo State has among her sons, a true example of intellectual and economic excellence — Chief Adebayo Adelabu (Penkelemesi) — a man whose success story is visible, verifiable, and inspiring.
Let us compare substance with symbolism.
The Proven Record of Chief Adebayo Adelabu
Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s youngest-ever Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, stands as a beacon of excellence, integrity, and proven capacity. His career is not a product of political negotiation or inherited privilege, but of merit, brilliance, and hard work in globally respected institutions.
Adelabu’s professional journey is a testament to deep-rooted experience in economic policy, financial regulation, and corporate governance — the very ingredients required to rebuild Oyo’s economic engine.
As Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), he managed the Financial System Stability Directorate (FSS), overseeing the entire Nigerian banking sector. His tenure was defined by strategic leadership, risk management expertise, and institutional reform — responsibilities that demanded precision, transparency, and integrity.
Before his appointment at the CBN, Chief Adelabu served as Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of First Bank of Nigeria, one of the nation’s largest and oldest financial institutions. There, he oversaw the bank’s financial operations, strategic planning, and fiscal management. Earlier, he had served as Executive Director at Wema Bank Plc, demonstrating rare mastery in both corporate finance and governance.
His career began at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) — one of the world’s leading global auditing firms — where he acquired deep expertise in auditing, financial advisory, and strategic consultancy. These experiences gave him an unrivaled foundation in fiscal systems and economic development.
Academically, Chief Adelabu is a product of excellence. A First-Class Graduate of Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), and an alumnus of Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford University executive programs — his intellectual capital speaks for itself.
Unlike the current occupant of Agodi, Chief Adelabu’s profile is verifiable, his achievements are public, and his service record is a national reference point.