Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala

Governor of Oyo State

Date of Birth: 1950

Education: Kamina Barracks Middle School; 5th Battalion of Infantry, Tamale, Ghana; Technical College, Tamale, Ghana; Ogbomosho High School, 1972.

Career: Cadet Inspector, Nigeria Police, 1974; Assistant Commissioner of Police, 1995; Deputy Governor, Oyo State, 2003-07; Governor, Oyo State, 2007 to date.

Commentary: Alao-Akala was the beneficiary when his predecessor Rasheed Ladoja (to whom he was Deputy Governor) fell out with political strongman Lamidi Adedibu. Adedibu succeeded in getting Ladoja impeached and promoted Alao-Akala as his replacement. A grateful Alao-Akala made sure to keep the state purse open to Adedibu. Alao-Akala has been accused of incompetence and gross mismanagement of state resources. Adedibu’s death in 2008 has thrown the 2011 race for governor wide open.