Isiaku Abiola Ajimobi was a Nigerian politician, Senator and former Governor of Oyo State. He was the deputy National Chairman (South-South) of the All Progressive Congress. Ajimobi was born on December 16, 1949 in Oja’ba, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. His father Pa. Ajimobi was a member of the House of Assembly in the Old Western region and his uncle was a former minister for works and transport.

Educational Background

Ajimobi started his education at Saint Patricks Primary School, Oke-Padre in Ibadan before proceeding to City Council Primary School, Aperin where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate.

He proceeded to Lagelu Grammar School where he obtained his Secondary School Certificate. During his secondary school Ajimobi was active in athletics participating in table tennis, and football.

Ajimobi proceeded to study Business Administration and Finance at the State University of New York, in Buffalo, New York.

He obtained an MBA in Operations Research and Marketing at Governors State University, University Park, Illinois.

Career

Before joining politics, Ajimobi worked as Senior Consultant at Management and Industrial Consulting firm Nigeria, Finance and Admin Controller Modulor Group and Operations Controller, Marketing Controller, Nestle Foods PLC.

Between 1979 and 1996 , Ajimobi was employed as Consumer Products Manager, Divisional Manager, at National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company, Area Manager, Ibadan Business District, Lubricants Manager, National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company and Operations Director, Shell Marketing Company in Togo covering some West African countries.

In 1996, Ajimobi became the Oil Sales Manager at National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company and the Executive director- Marketing at National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company in 1998

In 2001, Ajimobi worked as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer at the National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company

Ajimobi was elected a Nigerian Senator in 2003 to represent Oyo south senatorial zone. He served as the Deputy Minority leader of the Senate during his tenure in the senate.

In 2007, Ajimobi contested for the office of the Oyo State Governor under the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) but lost to the Christopher Alao-Akala of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

In 2011, he contested form and won the office of the Oyo State Governor under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

In 2015, Ajimobi was elected for a second term in office under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In 2018, Ajimobi picked nomination form to represent Oyo South in the Nigerian senate under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC). He won the APC primaries but lost in the 2019 gubernatorial elections to Kola Balogun of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Personal life

Ajimobi was married to Florence Ajimobi and together they have 5 children

Controversies

National Chairman of APC

Following the suspension of Adams Oshiomole as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) by the Federal High court, the APC National Working Committee appointed Ajimobi as the acting National Chairman of the party.

However, APC deputy national secretary, Victor Gaidom declared himself the Acting National Chairman of APC.

Gaidom in a statement through his counsel said his declaration is in compliance with the judgement of Justice S.U. Bature in suit no FCT/HC/M/6447/2020 dated March 16, 2020, which ordered the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole and ordered that “I, Chief Hon Victor Giadom should act as National Chairman of our great party.”

Ajimobi tests positive to Covid-19

In June 2020, Ajimobi tested positive to the novel Corona virus and was transferred to NCDC isolation center in Lagos State where he was treated for over 14 days.

Death

Ajimobi was reported to have had complications due to Corona Virus and went into coma.

On 18th June 2020, Ajimobi was rumored to have died of Corona Virus complication. However, Bolaji Tunji, am media aide to the former governor debunked rumors of his death in a social media post.

However, on 25th June 2020, Ajimobi died of complications due to Covid-19 pandemic at First Cardiology Specialist Hospital, Lagos at the age of 70.