The 2019 governorship candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Chief Sharafadeen Alli may lose more followers to other parties before 2023 elections, Mega Icon Magazine exclusively gathered.
Mega Icon Magazine also confirmed that some members of the ZLP, including Alli’s close supporters are now comfortable in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while others are now weighing the options of joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
It will be recalled that the former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Alli was the gubernatorial nominee of the ZLP, one of the political parties that formed alliance with Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu during the March 9 , 2019 gubernatorial election.
Justifying their decisions, the followers informed that they left the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) because it was becoming directionless.
“As at now, the group is still believing a third force will emerge and clinch the day, and that force will be ZLP. Honestly, ZLP doesn’t have the financial and political muscle to do that”, they said.
The demoralized loyalists wondered why Barrister Sharafadeen Alli (BSA) can not stand on his own feet and make decisions instead of waiting for directives from former Governor Rasidi Ladoja who they believed is double faced in the circumstances and getting patronage from Governor Makinde.
“We don’t seem to understand why BSA has to tie himself down to the whims and caprices of Baba Ladoja”.
They averred that though, the coalition was a good idea, but lamented that the parties involved, particularly the ZLP guber candidate, Alli failed to document and made legal the agreement, describing it as a mere ‘gentleman agreement’ which was not binding.
One of his close loyalists who confided in our reporter further explained, “Before the March 9 governorship elections, I was of the opinion that while the coalition was a good idea, whatever was going to be agreed on must be documented, if possible signed and made legal. But Alli went on to do a ‘gentleman agreement’ which was not binding just because Baba Ladoja said so.
“After the governorship elections, Chief Alli wanted to be SSG but instead of talking to Governor Makinde directly, he was counting on former Governor Ladoja to fix things. Unfortunately, Baba Ladoja never discussed it with the governor.
“Later, he (Alli) was offered membership of Advisory Committee and Ladoja told him to decline, yet the former governor accepted the Commissioner slot given by Governor Makinde.
“At that point we had two options. Go to APC or PDP. Instead of taking a stand, we were waiting for a directive from Baba Ladoja who is getting patronage from the present administration.
“My brother, ZLP is directionless; remaining in that party meant a bleak future for some of us. We are now in PDP, while others are already discussing with the APC”, he added.
