UPDATED: How ex-Oyo gov, Ajimobi, died 7 days ago

Immediate past governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, is dead.

Information from a source close to the family that former governor died on 18 June, 2020 (7 days ago), at First Cardiologist and Cardiovascular Consultants Hospital, Lagos, as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19) complications, but the news of his death was kept away from the public due to the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Senator Ajimobi actually died last week but prominent APC leaders pleaded with the family to keep the news from the public so as not to worsen the crisis rocking the APC.

“Though, he later tested negative for COVID-19 but the illness had caused his health to deteriorate. He had diabetes and other ailments.

“It’s sad and unfortunate. May his soul rest in peace,” the source said.

Recall, the dissolved Adams Oshiomhole-led APC National Working Committee (NWC) had named Ajimobi as the party’s acting chairman last week (though he never resumed), following the judgement of the Court of Appeal which upheld the suspension of Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the APC.

The APC National Executive Committee (NEC) on Thursday, dissolved the NWC of the party and thereafter set up a caretaker and extraordinary national convention committee.

Ajimobi, born 16 December 1949, was formerly the managing director/chief executive officer of the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company, a subsidiary of Shell Petroleum, Nigeria. He left the oil sector in 2002 after 26 years, and was elected in 2003 as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Oyo South Senatorial District on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

After one term in the senate, he contested in 2007 for the governorship of Oyo state under the banner of the All Nigeria People’s Party, a bid which he lost. He re-contested again in the April 2011 elections under the Action Congress of Nigeria and was elected Governor of Oyo State in a closely contested vote

More to come…