A group of former Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State who served during the administration of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, popularly known as Team Koseleri, have paid tribute to the former governor, describing him as a trailblazer who rewrote the political history of the state by breaking the long-standing jinx of second-term governance.
A statement by the group’s Coordinator, Hon. Yekeen Popoola, Team Koseleri said the late Ajimobi remains the first governor in the history of Oyo State to secure a second term in office, an achievement they described as a product of visionary leadership, political resilience, and effective grassroots mobilization.
The group explained that the name “Koseleri” was derived from their historic role as the set of Local Government Chairmen who oversaw grassroots administration across the state during Ajimobi’s first term.
According to the statement, the group worked cohesively to deliver their respective local government areas for the former governor during the 2015 governorship election, a collective effort that culminated in the unprecedented second-term victory.
“Breaking the age-long jinx of second-term failure in Oyo State was not accidental,” the statement read. “It was the outcome of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s firm leadership, people-oriented policies, and the strategic grassroots governance structure he built and entrusted to us at the local government level.”
Team Koseleri described the late former governor as a disciplined administrator and courageous reformer who redefined governance in Oyo State, particularly through peace-building, urban renewal, and institutional reforms that strengthened democratic structures.
The group noted that Ajimobi’s legacy continues to inspire political actors and public office holders across the state, stressing that his second-term victory remains a landmark achievement in Oyo’s political evolution.
“As a group that stood firmly with him at the grassroots and delivered results, we remain proud to be associated with that historic moment,” Hon. Popoola stated.
“Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s name will forever be etched in gold in the annals of Oyo State’s political history.”
Team Koseleri prayed for the peaceful repose of the former governor’s soul and urged current and future leaders to draw lessons from his courage, commitment to service, and belief in the power of grassroots governance.