Aragbiji congratulates Tinubu, extols Oyetola over Nigeria’s election into IMO Council in London

… Says Marine Minister genius, jinx-breaker with Midas touch

Prominent traditional ruler in Osun State, Pro-chancellor and Governing Council Chairman of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun IV has commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership resilience, congratulating the President, while extolling the commitment and patriotism of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, over Nigeria’s victory at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) election held in London yesterday, Friday.

In a statement issued and made available to the press by the monarch’s community Spokesperson and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Jimoh Olorede, Oba Olabomi expressed ecstasy, pride and confidence in the leadership of Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola at the Ministry, describing Nigeria’s victorious election into the Category C Seat at the IMO Council for the 2026–2027 biennium as a confirmation of the Minister’s uncanny ability.

Extolling Oyetola’s exploits, the traditional ruler in the statement said the Iragbiji-born helmsman has a Midas touch with which he always breaks grounds and breaks jinx, recording unprecedented achievements.

According to the statement, Nigeria had been absent in the IMO’s Council membership for fourteen years before Oyetola now led the country to the envious and victorious world-class position with other maritime giant nations of the world, especially those on the same Category C, including Bahamas, Belgium, Cyprus, Chile, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Africa.

Aragbiji said “Oyetola has also broken what appeared as “jinx” on the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) established by the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act of 2003, to promote indigenous shipping in Nigeria and reduce reliance on foreign vessels, but to which supposed beneficiaries couldn’t have access for twenty years.

“Interestingly, the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has, in less than two years in office as Minister, broken the ‘inaccessibility jinx’ on the CVFF.

“With Oyetola’s Midas touch and uncanny ability with which he has broken the CVFF jinx, there would now be provision of financial assistance for procurement of vessels, promotion of indigenous shipping in Nigeria, ship owners’ capacity enhancement, reduction in reliance on foreign vessels, increase in maritime capacity, and creation of employment opportunities, among other numerous benefits.

“Still fresh in our memories, the humongous and throat-slitting fiscal debt inherited by Oyetola as governor would have rendered Osun State continually incapacitated with inability to perform and maintain its statutory recurrent expenditure obligations, but for the former governor’s acumen and fiscal discipline with which he repaid close to 100 billion naira of the inherited loans in his single 4-year term, from 2018 to 2022, even as Osun State was receiving a paltry monthly allocation from the Federation Accounts.

“I’m so happy. By leading Nigeria’s campaigns, winning and returning the country to the envious IMO Category C Seat after fourteen years of absence, and by rebuilding world’s trust and confidence in Nigeria and in the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our illustrious son, Oyetola, has again made us proud with his ingenious demonstration of bravery, courage, resilience, heroism, and patriotism.”