OYO opposition political parties will soon announce an alliance to fight the 2019 elections against the Abiola Ajimobi led All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Engineer Seyi Makinde, governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last general elections on Saturday revealed meeting with Senator Rashidi Ladoja, national leader of the Accord Party and leaders of other opposition parties in the state to form an alliance against APC in subsequent elections.
The ‘Omititun’ exponent while featuring on a live radio broadcast in Ibadan, the state capital, further disclosed, “I have met Senator Ladoja on the need to come together. This is because during the last election, APC won with 36 per cent of the votes. This is not really convincing but then, our constitution allows this.
“So, I have met Senator Ladoja and we are talking seriously with others. The bottom line is that we are seeking to serve the people of the state, this is why we are in politics. This means we should learn to put our differences aside.
“The 2015 election has come and gone but the golden lessons learnt are many. In the first place, I know there is need for us to start early. We also need to consult widely. In addition, we should allow the voices of the people to be heard.
“We have to be ready to make sacrifices in the interest of the people. People are out there dying, people cannot send their children to school because of poverty, salaries are not being paid. We need to come together as one to fight the extreme poverty ravaging the state”, he continued.
However, the test will be whether the new coalition can agree on a single candidate before the vote without splintering.
Speaking on refusal to conduct council elections in the state, Makinde suggested that the opposition should come together and prevail on the aggrieved party who created legal roadblocks against the conduct of local government election.
” We have to talk to them and make out of court settlement, with this Governor Ajimobi will not have any excuse on why the election cannot be conducted.
“We must settle out of court. This is the only way the much desired local government election can happen in Oyo State. I do not think the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is sincere about conducting the election. I don’t care if APC wins all the seats but the election should hold. We are simply being taken for a ride”, Makinde lamented.
