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From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
The political landscape of Oyo State is currently witnessing reigns of endorsement and adoption of governorship candidates of two among the political parties that have fielded candidates for this Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
The endorsement and adoption of candidates also came with dumping of some gubernatorial candidates by the executives of their political parties for the candidates of another parties with high level of alignment, realignment and horse-trading, especially in favour of Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Teslim Folarin of All Progressives Congress (APC).
The leadership of Accord (A), under the chairmanship of Prince Kolade Ojo in the state, on Wednesday gathered at Grand Serene Hotel, Iyaganku GRA, and dumped their won governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, and endorsed Governor Seyi Makinde of the state, who is seeking re-election on the platform of PDP. The state secretary of the party, Olayinka Dairo, and others were also in attendance. But the Accord said it did not collapse its structure into PDP, as it said its 32 candidates for the House of Assembly are in the race to win.
Ojo said: “Going forward, the entire Accord Oyo State executives have agreed to form a working alliance with the incumbent Governor Seyi Makinde. It is noteworthy to clarify and assert authoritatively that the coalition was born out of passion for uninterrupted good governance and our conviction that Engineer Seyi Makinde has performed creditably well to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Oyo State.
“Thus, this coalition will bolster accelerated growth and all round development. We are not unaware of antics of political jobbers and purveyors of fake news who may want to hoodwink the public that the altruistic merger has pecuniary gains, please disregard such baseless assumption and unfounded insinuation should it arise. We are particularly satisfied with Governor Seyi Makinde’s achievements in different sectors such as Education, Health, Civil Service reform, and prompt payment of pension and gratuity to mention but a few.”
The support base of the camp of Senator ofAPC, also shored up on Wednesday as defectors rejoined the party from Oyo, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa zones of the State.
The candidate of Accord in Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency, Wakeel Oyeleru Oyedemi, who rejoined the APC in the early hours of the day. Two other Accord House of Representatives candidates in the last election from Oke-Ogun and Ibarapaland, Bashiru Lawal, Accord House of Representatives candidate for Atisbo, Saki East and Saki West Federal Constituency and David Okanlawon who contested for the same seat in Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North in Oke Ogun and Ibarapaland respectively, also joined APC. Lawal, was a close aide to former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, who led the coalition that eventually produced Makinde as governor in 2019.
In the same vein, majority of traditional rulers in Oke-Ogun political division of the state, which comprises 10 of the 33 local government areas of the state, and a number of notable politicians met on Tuesday this week at the palace of Okere of Sakiland, Oba Khaflid Olabisi Oyeniyi Ayinla-Ado, and endorsed Makinde for second term in office.
The meeting also had in attendance a member of the House of Representatives, Shina Peller, representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa federal constituency and Accord Senatorial candidate for Oyo North; immediate past chairman of PDP in Oyo State, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, Oyo North Senatorial Chairman for New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Alhaji Tajudeen Oloyede.
Others in attendance were chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kehinde Adetola, representatives from All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogunyinka Solomon, Sarafadeen Olaide from Labour Party (LP), Accord House of Representatives candidate for Saki West/Saki East/Atisbo federal constituency, Robert Atitlola and others.
The Labour Party executive led by its chairman, Sadeeq Atayese, of had on Sunday adopted Makinde for second term, though the party’s governorship candidate, Tawfik Akinwale kicked.
The Convener and Chief Coordinator of Mafoya Oluwanbe Foundation, Mr. Olusegun Agboola, addressed a press conference in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday, and declared support for Governor Makinde’s educational policies, saying based on certain favourable factors. In a bid to improve the quality of students, he said the non-governmental organisation has initiated a plan for the return of debate and literary societies to schools in the state. He added that annual scholarship awards have also been emplaced up to N5million for the champions, apart from benefits that the winning schools would get, such as renovation of a block of classrooms, and provision of electronic libraries.
