A popular Ibadan Mogaji and prominent political actor in Oyo State, Mogaji Abass Oloko, has backed Ambassador Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja, saying the former Deputy Governor of Oyo State had established himself politically and in public service long before Seyi Makinde entered the political space.
Oloko, in a statement issued from the Kingdom Saudi Arabia and made available to journalists in Nigeria on Sunday, said Arapaja had a long political history, having served as a local government chairman, represented a constituency in the House of Representatives, served as Deputy Governor of Oyo State and later became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Jordan.
He said Arapaja’s political journey predated Makinde’s emergence in politics, arguing that claims suggesting that the governor established or lifted Arapaja politically did not reflect the history of the former diplomat’s career.
Oloko said, “Where was Seyi Makinde when Arapaja contested under a zero-party platform and won an election as local government chairman? Where was Makinde when he won the House of Representatives election? Where was Makinde when he became Deputy Governor? Where was Seyi Makinde when he became an Ambassador to Jordan? Arapaja was instrumental to Makinde’s emergence as Governor in 2019.”
The APC chieftain also traced Arapaja’s political and social background to his late father, Pa Oladimeji Oladejo Arapaja, whom he described as an influential figure in the progressive political movement in the old Oyo State.
According to him, the late Arapaja was also a prominent socialite whose influence extended beyond politics, adding that the popular musician, Dauda Epo-Akara, waxed musical records in his honour.
Oloko said, “Arapaja has been well established, popular and at the realm of affairs in governance long before Seyi Makinde. He was born before Seyi Makinde and entered politics before him. When Arapaja was serving as a local government chairman, Seyi Makinde was at the University of Lagos receiving lectures. Everybody knows Arapaja’s father, who was very influential, a core socialite and successfully built the Arapaja dynasty.”
He challenged critics of Arapaja to examine and present the political and social backgrounds of themselves and their own families before making claims about the former Deputy Governor’s emergence and influence in Oyo State politics.
Oloko maintained that Arapaja’s political career should be viewed in the context of his own record in public service and the political foundation provided by his family, rather than being attributed solely to his past relationship with Governor Makinde.
