OTUNBA CHRISTOPHER ADEBAYO ALAO-AKALA FOR GOVERNOR

THE RE-EMERGENCE OF A POLITICAL LEGEND IN OYO STATE

As democracy progresses in Nigeria, the nation needs men of practical insight and experience to manage the affairs of Nigerian States, one of these men is Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala whose politics and governance style within Oyo State have not only endeared him to many people across the spectrum of the state, but beyond.

In his entire years of administrative governance from Local to the State level, he has proved himself more as a credibly dedicated and successful leader. He has purposeful vision with insightful ideas of transformation. He was once a Governor of Oyo State on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He is now staging a come back as next Governor of the Pace Setter State on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

The political records of Alao-Akala:

Whether Alao-Akala has the needed and the strong political will to re-constest as Governor of Oyo State in 2019 and succeed the incumbent Governor, Abiola Ajimobi or not, it will solely based on the achievements and popularity of Alao-Akala in the political scene, what will determine a splendid come back for the former governor in 2019 would be an amazing and enviable performance Alao-Akala as the governor of Oyo State between 2006 and 2011.

Otunba Alao-Akala was said to have concentrated his energies more on education and infrastructure in Oyo State as well as various empowerment programmes. Among these are; Cab Scheme which he did to empower the transporters, especially commercial cab drivers. Anyone who is familiar with Oyo State can testify to the economic impacts of this scheme.

This also applies to inter and intra city Bus Scheme. He also provided Security vehicles for the Police to protect the State. He built classrooms and other structures for both primary and secondary schools across the State and and improved on infrastructure at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho (LAUTECH) with buildings, lecture theatres and halls, such as 1,000-seater Lecture Hall, College of Health Science Building, Teaching Hospital and ICT Buildings as well as the Laboratory Building.

For roads construction, Alao-Akala constructed roads which included Queens Cinema-Oke-Ado, Molete dual carriage way, Challenge-Odo-Ono-Elewe-Apolo dual carriage way, Fire Service Station with modern vehicles, among others.

He also gave students of Oyo extraction bursaries, and gave farmers some agricultural incentives and loans.

Among the past witnesses to the good works and enviable projects of Alao-Akala was Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, who said the various projects executed by Governor Alao-Akala were visible to all the people of Oyo State.

Alao-Akala As People’s Choice:

Nothing could be more exciting in politics than allowing people themselves to choose their political leader. This has been massively demonstrated by the good people of Oyo State who prefer Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala as their choice.

Akala’s political future is a major subject in various social events and political gatherings, perhaps what further creates and builds the aura around him is the degree and overwhelming influence he has as a socialite with selfless mind.

Alao-Akala’s room is opened to all without discrimination and he does not in anyway look down on people both young and old.

The question now are, will APC as a party consider Alao-Akala as the right choice? Will Governor Ajimobi give him a chance as a worthy successor?

For one important reason, APC would have to consider Alao-Akala, being the former Governor of Oyo State, who had one time or the other interacted with the entire Local Government Areas and people of the State, therefore, he should know where the shoes pinch. He has the exposure and knows the good and the bad of Oyo state.

However, observers would not do without observations. Some people are of the opinion that Alao-Akala is the most sellable candidate that has structure across the major political parties in the state. He was the most generous Governor in the history of Oyo State and he demonstrated great leadership qualities and embarked on many developmental projects between 2007 and 2011.

Although, what may constitute impediment to his camp is the fact that unlike Ajimobi, he’s not the son of the soil of Ibadanland, which regularly contributes 55 percent of the total votes in the State, Alao Akala equally has the constitutional right to be voted and not to be denied as a bonafide indigene and member of the state.

Apart from the Five Local Government Areas in Ogbomoso, where he hails from, Ibadan has always contributed to his performances during elections. He would bring his experience and commitment to continue from where the present Governor would stop in 2019.

Akala As A Governorship Candidate in 2019:

Beyond experience and zeal for leadership, is the virtue and vigour Akala passes.

Driven by the transformation agenda for State’s security, conflict resolution, unity across Oyo State, social harmony, job creation and the economy agriculture, food security, industrialization, infrastructure, education, healthcare, senior citizens, youth and sports and culture, women empowerment and environment. Alao-Akala within the larger spectrum of APC is set to take Oyo State to the next level.

Alao-Akala is set to create a friendly governance and run an open government devoid of marginalization where the state’s trust and resources will be well administered.

Saddled with the onerous responsibility to implement the State laws and oversee the operation of the State executive branch. He is set to advance and pursue new and revised policies and programmes using a variety of tools, among which is the executive orders, executive budget for welfare of the citizens and legislative proposals and vetoes.

He is willing to regulate intrastate commerce, run the economy and help alleviate the current economic and poverty arises confronting the state. This ranges from creating an enabling environment where human potentials resources are best encouraged to contribute their best thus encouraging government people-oriented partnership and programmes. The place of mineral resources as the gift of nature to the state. Oyo State is blessed with Plantain, Cocoa, Tobacco, Palm oil, Gold but above all are the vast lands that await agricultural investment and expansion for farmers to whom Alao-Akala pledges support.

Let us briefly consider his Biography. Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala was born on June 3, 1950, at Ogbomoso in the Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State, young Adebayo Alao-Akala had his elementary school at Osupa Baptist Day School, Ogbomoso. From there, he proceeded to the Kamina Barracks Middle School, 5th Battalion of Infantry Tamale, Ghana. On leaving Kamina Barracks Middle School, Adebayo Alao-Akala went to Government Technical College, Tamale, Ghana and Ogbomoso High School, Ogbomoso. Still in search of more knowledge, Otunba (Dr) Alao-Akala capped it all with further studies at Nigeria’s premier high institution, the University of Ibadan. For his efforts, Dr Alao-Akala has in his kitty the First Leaving Certificate obtained in 1962, West African School Certificate (1972), ASCON Certificate (1985), Passed Staff College (Psc) 1990, Diploma in Business Administration (1998), Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) Honoris Causa, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso (2006), Doctor of Science (Political Science) Honoris Causa, Lead City University (2008).

His Excellency, Otunba (Dr) Adebayo Alao-Akala has been privileged to attend several career development courses. He enlisted as Cadet Inspector of Police in June 1974 at the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja. Following his brilliant performance, he was recommended for overseas training at the Metropolitan Police Training School, Peel Centre, Hendon, London. He has also attended the Administrative Staff College, Topo, Badagry; the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos; Police Staff College, Jos; Command and Staff College, Jaji. Otunba Alao-Akala has participated as a Nigerian delegate at two INTERPOL Conferences in Nice, France and Malaga, Spain.

Years Of Service:

From the position of Station Officer in the Nigeria Police, he became Administrative Officer, Federal Operations at the Force Headquarters, Lagos.

He later rose to the position of Operations Officer, FEDOPS, Lagos. The steady rise of Otunba Alao-Akala to fame and fortune reached its apogee when he became the Personal Assistant to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and subsequently the ADC to the erstwhile Inspector-General of Police.

From there onwards, Alao-Akala held several prestigious Command positions in the Police Force. He was O/C Advanced Training Wing, Police College, Ikeja; Divisional Police Officer, Bode Thomas, Lagos; Divisional Police Officer, Iponri Police Station, Lagos; Railway Divisional Police Officer, Nigeria Railways, Ebutte Meta, Lagos; Area Commander, Western District, Nigeria Railway Police, Ibadan; CSP Admin. Gongola State Command, Yola; CSP Admin. Kwara State Command, Ilorin; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Agodi Area Command, Ibadan, Oyo State Police Command, Ibadan. In September 1995, Otunba (Dr) Adebayo retired from the Nigeria Police as Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Logistics and Supply, Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan. It was, indeed, a meritorious service to his fatherland. Besides public service, Dr. Alao-Akala is a seasoned and astute businessman. He is the founder and chairman of TDB Global Ventures and Parrot FM Radio Station, both in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

Political Life:

In the political arena, Otunba (Dr) Adebayo Alao-Akala could be rightly described as a man with the midas touch. He started his political career as a member of New Dimension, a political Association of progressive young elements. He participated in the zero-party local government election of 1996 and later co-founded the UNDP before its fusion with UNC to form UNCP. In the 1997 local government elections, Otunba Alao-Akala sponsored the chairmanship candidate and seven Councilors to victory on the ticket of the UNCP. He participated in the Ogbomoso Federal Constituency (One) primary election of the UNCP in 1997. He contested and won the chairmanship seat of the Ogbomoso North Local Government along with seven councilors under the platform of APP in 1998. He was elected vice-chairman of ALGON, Oyo State Chapter between 1999 and 2002. A versatile and visionary political leader, Alao-Akala founded the Ogbomoso Unity Forum, a political association which later joined the PDP. He was the Executive Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government from 1999 to 2002.
A man of Destiny, Otunba (Dr) Adebayo popularly known as “Omo Iya Alaro” became the Deputy Governor of Oyo State from May 2003 to January 2006. To crown his efforts in life, the Almighty God who directs the affairs of man, took Otunba Alao-Akala to the pinnacle of his political career when he became the Executive Governor of Oyo State in January 2006, a position he occupied till May 2011. On 8 December 2014, Otunba (Dr) Adebayo Alao-Akala defected to the Labour Party in Oyo State due to internal irregularities in his former party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). On 10 December 2014, he formally declared his intention to re-contest the gubernatorial election of Oyo State on the platform of the Labour Party in the February 2015 general elections in Nigeria. During his declaration of intent, all other party gubernatorial aspirants stepped down for him, thereby making him emerge as the Labour party’s gubernatorial flag bearer in Oyo State. On 16th December 2017, he formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a huge ceremony in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State.

His Excellency, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala is a polyglot. He speaks English, Yoruba, Hausa, (Twi, Fanti and Dagbani) and Ghanaian Languages fluently.

His Works:

Alao-Akala is a writer and is the author of numerous publications on policing and local government. His publications include: Training of police cadet Inspectors: Prospects and Problems (May 1985) Police and The Media: A Critical Approach (June 1990) Conflict Resolution and Crime in Local Governments (Sept. 2004).

Chieftaincy Titles:

Alao-Akala has received multiple accolades, commendations, recognitions, awards and several honorary chieftaincy titles, among which are: Otun of the Source, Otunba of Akinmorin, Bobajiro of Owu Kingdom, Basorun Atunluto of Akure, Mayegun of Okeho, Akogun of Ilua, Aare Asoludero of Ibarapa, Agbaakin of Iseyin, Ariwajoye of Ede land, Atunluse of Ife Odan, Balogun of Igbojaye land, Aare Kebimapalu of Oyo State and Bobagunwa of Ogbomosoland. Christopher Alao-Akala is an inspiration to the youth of Nigeria, particularly in Oyo State. His consciousness to the education of this generation has endeared many young people to him. He has personally awarded scholarships to scores of less-privileged children. He is a people person, for till date hundreds of people throng him everywhere he goes. His hobbies include reading and traveling; he has visited all the 36 states of the country and Abuja; he has also visited over 10 countries in the world; he loves reading and meeting people. Otunba Alao-Akala is a member of many social clubs including Ikoyi Club 1938; he was President, Rotary Club of Ogbomoso 2005-2006; he is the current President, Ogbomoso Recreation Club. He is married and has several children.