The 8th Annual Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable was on Tuesday held in Ibadan in commemoration of the 76th posthumous birthday of the late former Governor of Oyo State and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abiola Ajimobi.
The event, organised by the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation (SAAF) in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan, attracted a distinguished gathering of political leaders, captains of industry, academics and stakeholders from across the country.
Representatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and several state governors were in attendance. President Tinubu was represented by Dr. Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, while the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, GCON, and the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, were also represented.
The Governors of Oyo and Ogun States were represented by Barrister AbdulRaheem Adebayo Lawal and Engr. (Mrs.) Naimot Salako Oyedele respectively. Other dignitaries present included the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu; the Wife of the Governor of Ogun State; serving and former members of the National Assembly; and notable political leaders and stakeholders. Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, served as the Father of the Day.
Speaking at the event, President of the Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation and widow of the late statesman, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, said she was deeply honoured to host the roundtable, noting that the annual engagement remains a key platform for sustaining her late husband’s ideals and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development.
She explained that the theme of this year’s roundtable, “Pathways to Electoral Credibility: Reforming Political Parties, Re-engineering Citizens, and Restoring Trust in Nigerian Democracy,” reflects Senator Ajimobi’s lifelong commitment to democratic values, good governance and institutional reforms.
According to her, the roundtable was designed to provoke honest conversations and generate practical ideas that could strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process and rebuild public confidence in democratic institutions.
The highlight of the event was a keynote lecture delivered by the Lead Speaker, Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, CFR, who spoke extensively on the need for credible political parties, responsible citizenship and strong institutions as foundations for a functional democracy.
Participants at the roundtable engaged in robust and thought-provoking discussions, calling for sustained reforms, civic reorientation and inclusive governance as pathways to restoring trust in Nigeria’s democratic system.
Organisers said the annual roundtable would continue to serve as a forum for meaningful dialogue and collective action, in line with the vision and legacy of the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
