The former Deputy governor of Oyo State and the Oyo state governorship aspirant for the People’s Democratic party, Barr Hazeem Gbolarumi has submitted his nomination and expression of interest forms, as he averred that he has all it takes to become the next Oyo State Governor.
He said this while addressing journalists at the national secretariat of the People’s Democratic party (PDP), Abuja today Friday after submitting his nomination form.
“There is no doubt that things would be said here and there,” he said. “A man that is standing in front of you, fully grown-man with several years of experience. Like I said, it is about the Oyo state of our dream, it is about the Oyo State we want to take to the next level.
The most important thing is, I am in front of you, this is who I am, this is what I have come to express to you and Oyo State. Certainly, will be a better place to live for all of us most especially, in the area of the Security where no one can no longer sleep with two eyes today and, Economy.”
Speaking on why he wanted to run for Oyo State governor, he said he believes he has what it takes to contribute more to the state.
His words, “Why am I in the race? I am 65 years old, but more importantly, am well known as an experienced political tactician who is always ready to serve with the consciousness that power belongs first to God and to the people. I have wide range of experience and I have a dream to obviously contribute a lot more. As an authentic son of the soil, I will just be able to let our people get to where they know that governance is all about people, it is about what we expect, it is about what will go back to them, improve the course of life, course of security and there are lot of other things we are going to be rolling out.
Asked why his entrance into the race was raising a lot of discussion, he said it was because of how the people see him, as he is one of those who redefined Oyo State State.
“But the truth about the matter is, what has been generated is a reflection of how people have come to understand the person I am. A whole lot of us have to redefine the Oyo state project.
“You know, the blueprint we had been looking at since 1999, some of us put it together. So, it is not an offence, no doubt about that, it is politics and this era we are into right now.
I has been a member of the PDP since inception and has never decamped to any other party since he became a member.
I served as the Deputy Governor of Oyo State under the platform of the party which culminated in him being appointed as the current National Financial Secretary of the Forum of the former Deputy Governor of Nigeria (FFDGN).
Prior to my appointment as the Deputy Governor to the late Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala, I have held several political appointments at the local, state and federal levels of government and party hierarchy.
I was Former Secretary, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), He was the Executive Secretary, Defunct Ibadan Municipal Government (IMG) and no one had the privilege of serving in that capacity again, Secretary, Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State and acted as the Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State.
My vast political experience extends to serving as a member of the PDP National Convention Committee (Appeal Screening Committee) in the just concluded National Convention of the party where I worked with other eminent party members to do justice to all the issues brought before them.
I graduated successfully in Faculty of Law, the Premier University, University of Ibadan and proceeded to the Law School, Abuja and thereafter called to the bar. Am today a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, I subsequently earned my LLM in International Business Law, the experienced political strategist and manager of resources is out to govern his dear state.
“So, I have a wide range of experience as I have a dream to obviously contribute a lot more as an authentic son of the soil, I will just be able to let our people get to where they know that governance is all about people.”
“At the end of the day, it is the people of Oyo State that will elect us and we are not going to be restricted, we will get to everybody that we need to get to. We will not take anybody for granted.” he said.
Gbolarumi who submitted his forms will be contending with the incumbent governor, Seyi Makinde, who also yet to submit his forms today at the time of this report.
Gbolarumi accompanied by the Director-General of his campaign organization, Hon. Majekodunmi Aborode, former Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Busari, former Members Federal House of Representatives, Abuja and some selected Apex members of Ade Ori Okin Mission.
