Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has paid tribute to former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, on his 61st birthday, celebrating his decades of dedicated service and contributions to Oyo State and Nigeria at large.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, in Ibadan, Oseni, who also serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), lauded Folarin’s unwavering commitment to leadership and the well-being of the people.

Highlighting the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial nominee in the 2023 elections for three terms in the Senate, the lawmaker noted that Folarin’s legacy of service continues to be a guiding light for emerging leaders and a source of inspiration for countless individuals across the state.

“Senator Folarin has built an admirable legacy through years of selfless public service, consistently advocating for progress and unity,” remarked Oseni.

Reflecting on Folarin’s role as the Ikolaba Olubadan of Ibadanland, the lawmaker commended his leadership approach, which has bridged divides, fostered coalitions, and promoted initiatives aimed at stabilising democracy.

“Senator Folarin’s career is an example of visionary leadership,” he added, “and his commitment to public service will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.”

As Senator Folarin marks this milestone, Oseni extended warm wishes for his continued health and success, expressing hope that his exemplary life of service will keep inspiring positive change across the nation.

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The 2023 gubernatorial election has come and gone.

I thought the end has come for Governor Seyi Makinde’s government in Oyo State. But he consolidated his reelection in an unprecedented manner.

While analytically looking at pre-election situations. I told someone that Governor Makinde will loose in Ibarapa Zone, and will lose in Ido local government, while Ibadan land’s vote will be shared disproportionately between Governor Makinde, Sen. Teslim Folarin, and Chief Adebayo Adebayo Adelabu. I equally opined that the governor will lose in the Oyo zone, while Ogbomosho land will be proportionately shared between Folarin and Makinde, and Oke-Ogun I& II will vote for Teslim Folarin. Hence despite the ‘Jagba’ argument against Sen.Teslim, I still felt Folarin will still win, my bias should be understandable as a strong member of APC, and my opposition to Governor Makinde on various issues, one of which is, the attack launched against Late Governor Ajimobi at the initial commencement of Makinde’s government in 2019.

When I remember what happened to Alhaji Lam Adesina during the Alliance for Democracy’s era (AD) supporting the then President Olusegun Obasanjo of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which consumed the late ‘Great Lam’s second term ambition, the same thing was done by Governor Makinde for the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu believing that Makinde’s fall was imminent.

Three days before the election someone told me that when you meet the peasants, the traders, the government workers, and pensioners, among others. All of them are clamouring for Governor Makinde, on the day of the election there was an allegation of voters’ inducement by money, I said in President Jonathan’s era, money was distributed, yet people still voted APC.

When you heard about the god-fathers that were against Governor Makinde, you can safely conclude that he is a “goner” but God The Father was with him.

God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God – Psalm 62:11

God, The Father has demonstrated that HE is with Seyi Makinde, on account of this I congratulate Governor Seyi Makinde on his Second Term. It’s imperative to warn the governor to stick to Agenda that endear him to the people and come up with new policies to help the State.

God bless the people of Oyo-State,
God bless Governor Seyi Makinde.

Professor Adeniyi Olowofela; is the commissioner representing Oyo state at the Federal Character Commission (FCC)

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Newly elected House of Representatives member for Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency in Oyo State, Engr. Aderemi Oseni has again expressed his gratitude to the people of the constituency for their unalloyed support from the beginning of the campaign process to the end of the election.

Oseni, who reaffirmed his commitment to deliver the dividend of democracy to his constituency, also called for support for the emergence of Sen. Teslim Folarin, the Oyo APC governorship candidate with the state house of assembly candidates in Ibarapa East and Ido local governments for the March 18 election in the state.

The businessman cum clergy made the appeal in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity, Remi Oseni Campaign Council (ROCC), Idowu Ayodele on Thursday and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

While thanking the constituents, including religious leaders, traditional leaders, associations, community leaders, activists and opinion leaders for giving him the opportunity to serve, promising that he would continue to render selfless services for the development of humanity, Oseni, however, noted that he believed the former Senate leader would bring his wealth of experience to salvage the present inglorious era and bring back Oyo’s dignity and pacesetting glory.

Oseni urged them to align with the present political reality in the nation’s political pendulum by casting their votes for Sen. Folarin and other APC candidates, adding that this would further guarantee unrestricted access to dividends of democracy at all levels of government.

“It is indeed, a moment of gratitude. You have stood by me and my party – the All Progressives Congress Congress (APC), you have worked hard and sacrificed for us to bring about the necessary developments. My dear people of Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency, I want to thank you in all sincerity for the unquantifiable show of solidarity and abundant love as exhibited on 25th February 2023 at the various polling units.

“I am urging you to give Sen. Folarin and other APC candidates maximum support and show them love this Saturday, the same way you extended love to me to enable our dear state to achieve greater heights”, Oseni appealed.

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Palpable tension enveloped the Oyo state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday as leaders and members of five popular groups within its camp abandoned the ruling party for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the build-up to the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections billed for this Saturday.

There has been intense horse-trading between the PDP and APC in recent times in Oyo state as the two major political parties engage themselves in a superiority battle especially as the next phase of the 2023 general election draws closer and despite the outcome of the presidential and national assembly elections of February 25 which favoured the APC more than the ruling PDP and other popular parties in the state such as Accord, SDP, LP, and NNPP.

Among the different pro-PDP groups which mobilized their respective members to the Oke-Ado Secretariat of Oyo APC on Monday for formal defection and official declaration of support for the gubernatorial ambition of Senator Teslim Folarin is; Omititun Youth Vanguard led by Comrade Sanyaolu Adeyemo, GSM Marines under being coordinated by Comrade Yemi Oyebamiji, All Youth Grand Alliance under the leadership of Isamotu Twins, IBK Vanguard of Mr Ibukun Olu-Afolabi and another group led by Comrade Afolami Afolabi.

Speakers from each of the groups did not mince words to express regret for supporting Gov. Makinde before, during, and after the 2019 election which enabled him to emerge as the executive governor of the state in 2019. They also added that quit the PDP when it was clear that a better alternative existed in the APC which has retained power at the centre and has been positioned to dislodge the incumbent PDP government from office through democratic means this Saturday.

While welcoming the defectors; the state chairman of the APC, Hon. Isaac Omodewu, eulogized them for taking the bold step “by jumping out of the sinking PDP boat at the time and also for identifying the APC as the right alternative. Oyo APC is Noah’s ark of our contemporary Nigeria and anyone who looks away from the broom party is doing himself a lot of harm than good. We have found that your respective groups are populated by more than seven thousand people and we are using this medium to encourage you to use your strength in favour of the APC come Saturday.

Also speaking at the event; the state secretary of the APC, Alhaji Tajudeen Olanite, and vice chairman (Oyo Central), Hon. (Dr.) charged the new members of the APC to put the memory of whatever they went through in the PDP behind them and focus their attention on the massive mobilization of the good people of the state to vote the candidates of the APC in this Saturday election promising them that all their desires would be met in the government of the broom party at the centre and in the state if elected.

Oyo APC chieftains present at the event include; Alh. Olalekan Busari, Mrs. Taiwo Moteleola, Princess Adenike Adebowale, and Olawale Sadare. Also, among those who led the defectors are; Mr Adedayo Ojo, Engr. Festus Adefemi, Comrade Olayiwola Adesanmi, Mrs Tosin Oladokun, Comrade Wale Popoola, Mr Lanre Yusuff, Mr Abiodun Abdullahi, Taiwo Adedeji and Adesola Musibau.

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As part of his numerous efforts aimed at empowering the people of his senatorial district, especially the youths, no fewer than 500 youths, who have been chosen from the 11 local government areas will be for one month, starting from today 6th March 2023, learn solar power installation and maintenance courtesy of Sen. Teslim Folarin.

Folarin, who is the Asaaju Olubadan of Ibadan and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in this week’s election, is completing his 3rd term as senator representing Oyo central senatorial district.

A project of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, the training will run simultaneously in Ibadan, Oyo, and Ogbomoso at Havana Royal Hall, besides UI; Atiba University and Hecky Hall, Under G area, Ogbomoso till April 6, 2023.

Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, executive director of the NCDMB, said the program was to, apart from making beneficiaries job owners and earning decent salaries, it will contribute to the economy of the country.

The project consultant, Hayes Multisystem Investment Ltd, in a statement by its communication department, said after the one-month intensive training, trainers would have been equipped with what we sustain them and they, in turn, would continue to build generations of entrepreneurs.

On why he decided to facilitate the training, Folarin, who chairs the senate committee on local contents, said “this is one of the things we have done in ensuring that our youths are engaged meaningfully. I think that is one of the ways to reduce restiveness and social vices. All of our youths cannot do white-collar jobs. It’s not even every one that wants to pay for a job, some want to be on their own. So we must cater to everyone. We will continue to do more.”

The NCDMB was established in 2010 by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, with a core mandate to manage and grow Nigeria’s local content capacity.

The 10-year strategic roadmap of the Board is hinged on 5 pillars and 4 enablers in which one of the pillars is Technical Capability Development which involves developing critical skills and infrastructure that are required & utilized in the oil and gas industry and other sectors of the nation’s economy.

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The stakeholders, who gathered at the Ibadan Civic Centre,  also emphasized that the meeting was not at the instance of individual, group or bloc of aspirants or those seeking to hijack for selfish reasons, adding that efforts were made to reach out to all gladiators and prospective aspirants without any exception as they all pledged their support for the initiative.

The meeting had in attendance, the party’s caretaker chairman and secretary in the state , Chief Akin Oke, Hon. Mojeed Olaoya , Sen. Teslim Folarin, Chief. Bayo  Adelabu, Professors Taoreed Adedoja, and  Soji Adejumo.

Others included, Hon. Tolulope Akande Sadipe , Mr. Bimbo Adekanmbi, Prince Abbas Aleshinloye, Dr. Fola Akinosun, local government chairmen and councilors in Ibadanland ; among other party faithful .

Also, the trio of Prof. Adeolu Akande, Senator Adesoji Akanbi and Chief Niyi Akintola were well represented at the meeting.

According to the communique signed by Alhaji Adesina Alabi for Meeting Conveners and Communique Drafting Committee, the stakeholders informed  that the meeting was the brainchild of some concerned members of Oyo APC who feel the need for Progressive family members across the eleven Local Government Areas of Ibadanland to channel a new course and mobilize for unity, harmony and cooperation with a view to repositioning the party.

They further re-echoed the need for oneness and togetherness, stressing that this was considered very essential for the party to bounce back and reclaim its lost glory and thus emerge stronger and more virile.

Also contained in the communique, the conveners regretted the step taken by some faceless people to discredit the meeting through what they described as sponsored noise in the mass media which was aimed at discouraging genuine members and delegates from attending the meeting.

The party’s fanatic loyalists lauded conveners for the efforts made towards strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.

However, the stakeholders again , appealed to those behind the tagged futile call for boycott of the meeting to have a rethink and join others to rebuild Oyo APC if they were genuine in their claims as members of the Party.

The communique read, “Stakeholders at the Meeting were, therefore, unanimous in their call for more commitment, team spirit and love for one another among Party faithful as the 2023 general election beckons.

“At the Meeting, it was reported that Progressive elements from Ibarapa axis expressed their desire to be carried along in the efforts to reflect Ibadanland/Ibarapaland Agenda for the APC.

It continued, “Stakeholders welcomed briefing from the National Headquarters of the APC ahead of the forthcoming membership registration and revalidation exercise which they promised to accord all necessary support to ensure that a good population of existing and new members are captured in the exercise.

“Conveners expressed gratitude to eminent party leaders especially former governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, who was represented at the Meeting by Chief Wale Ohu and also the State Caretaker Chairman, Chief Akin Oke”.

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At a meeting of the Oyo Central Senatorial district of the APC held at Oyo and which was attended by notable political gladiators within the Progressive fold across the state, all the speakers were unanimous in their call for unity and harmony among leaders and members of the party particularly as the nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise drew nearer.

In his address at the meeting; former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, expressed optimism about the APC claiming overwhelming victory in all elective posts across Oyo state and Nigeria in 2023, “provided all patriots and party faithful are ready to work together and do the needful to win the confidence of the electorate in all the nooks and crannies.

“In Oyo state, it is only the APC that can stop the APC from winning all the future elections just like it played out in 2019. Now that we have put the past behind us, we must all rise up to take up the challenge and reclaim our dear state from charlatans who are in the saddle at the moment. It is obvious that the real politicians are in the APC while the few ones in PDP have been blocked from participating in governmental affairs.

“To this end, we must be able to put our house in order and also attract those gladiators in the PDP who have been humiliated by the man in power. It is not yet time for intra party struggle for party tickets as what is important now is how to build a strong and virile Oyo APC.” Alao-Akala submitted.

Speaking at the meeting, the lawmaker representing Oyo  Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Teslim Folarin commended party leaders and members for their steadfastness and loyalty in the previous months “even when it seemed the party would not survive the crisis confronting it immediately the 2019 gubernatorial poll was lost. It is the dawn of a new era and we shall all work together to improve the fortune of our dear party. Right from this moment, I am assuring you that Oyo APC will continue to wax stronger as many people are coming to join us.”

Also commenting, Sen. AbdulFatai Buhari representing Oyo North Senatorial District called for patience and unity among members of the party across the state.

“We the elected representatives are fully aware of the challenges being faced by most of you in terms of empowerment and we shall continue to work hard to bring succour as desire while we would not shy away from discharging our duty as lawmakers and party ambassadors”.

In their separate remarks; the state Caretaker Chairman of the APC, Chief Akin Oke, and his deputy, Chief ‘Lekan Adeyemo, charged party faithful to do all within their power to mobilize aggressively for existing and prospective members to participate in the forthcoming membership registration and revalidation exercise which, according to them, would be a pointer to the fact that the APC remained the party in the state in the 2023 general election.

Speakers at the event also include; Hon. (Prince) Akeem Adeyemi, Hon. Asimiyu Alarape and Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye.

Other dignitaries who attended the occasion are; Hon. Tolulope Akande-Shadipe, Hon. Akin Alabi, Hon. Seyi Adisa, Hon. Babatunde Isiaka, Hon. Simeon Oyeleke, Engr. Idris Adeoye, Hon. Bimbo Adekanmbi, Dr. Yunus Akintunde, Hon. Bimbo Kolade, Barr. Lowo Obisesan, Barr. Moruff Oyedemi, Engr. Faozey Nurudeen among others.

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The leadership of the party during the mega empowerment programme held at the New NYSC Orientation Camp in Iseyin, expressed satisfaction with the lawmaker’s programmes and projects, stressing that it is only in a party like the APC that such people-oriented programmes can be done.

Otunba Alao-Akala further described him as a worthy representative who should be emulated by other politicians.

Earlier in his welcome address, Senator Buhari who also chairs the Senate Committee on Land Transport said the mega empowerment programme will mark third of its kind since he was elected in 2015, adding that the programme was targeted towards empowering the constituents in various petty trading and helping the widows and most vulnerable with cash support.

The lawmaker stressed, ” Also, we are helping our students with laptops and bursaries to support their educational pursuit. I am doing this for the benefit of my constituents. Some people will benefit today. And this could be the only thing they will benefit in this democracy. So, I am proud that I am doing it.

“It is my aim to use these empowerment programmes to build an economic cycle where wealth can be circulated among the less privileged in my zone so as to move the state forward economically, reduce poverty among our people, make our communities more secured and most importantly strike a balance of feedback between electorates, the elected and given dividends of democracy”.

Buhari appealed to those who are yet to benefit from the series of his empowerment programmes to be patient and remain steadfast, just as he advised the lucky ones to make appropriate use of whatever item they benefited to advance their local earnings.

“Do not forget that this empowerment programme is a continuous one; someday, you will also be a beneficiary. There is no way you can satisfy your people. Even with this, there is no way you can satisfy them. But I am happy that some people will be happy today”, he added.

Reeling out his achievements in the last six years, the APC chieftain explained that he had sponsored 19 bills and 11 motions, which included a Bill for the establishment of a Federal University of Technology and Agriculture in Oke Ogun, aside other facilitated physical projects, trainings and employment opportunities into various federal government agencies. He, however expressed optimism that the bill will be signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, soon.

Senator Buhari thanked the leaders for their unflinching support and words of encouragement at all time.

No fewer than two thousand people from Oyo North Senatorial district benefited from the mega empowerment scheme , while the beneficiaries included students, artisans and traditional rulers, among others.

Items distributed are : 20 Saloon Cars, 270 Motorcycles, 600 Grinding Machines, 250 Sewing Machines, 100 Laptops, 80 Deep Freezers, 100 Pack Sprayer and Chemicals for farmers.

Others included cash support of 20,000 for 100 widows; cash support of 20,000 for 100 elders and most vulnerable; 20,000 Bursary for 100 students; 100,000 for ten selected youths and N10,000,000 to for selected communities.

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The OKG, in a statement by its Media Coordinator, Mr. Adebayo Ayandele, on Thursday, said that the statement credited to the Senator has exposed the evil intention of the APC, its members and that of the Senator in question.

“By that statement, we are left in no doubt that the APC has the sinister motive of seizing power at all cost through the Court, an intention which has no basis and will fail woefully,” the OKG said.

The group maintained that whatever trap has been set to derail good governance, which the Makinde administration has been delivering in the state, would hit the rocks because the Governor was massively elected by Oyo State people and has continued to endear himself to them through policies and programmes that are already yielding fruits.

The statement noted that Folarin’s assertion, contained in a video clip, was a timely revelation that forces of darkness in the APC were hellbent on destabilizing the government of Makinde.

It warned that any plan to entrap the people Oyo State with fraudulent Court judgment and foist on the people an already rejected candidate would contend with stiff opposition and the wrath of the people.

The group warned the APC leaders, especially Folarin, to perish the thoughts of stealing the popular mandate given to Makinde, because according to the OKG, it will remain a pipedream that can never materialize.

“Before such APC leaders go about deceiving innocent persons, they, including Folarin would need to explain their roles in the failed Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin road contract on which N2billion of Oyo State tax payers’ money was wasted without a tangible result,” the group said.

According to the Oyo Kajola Group, Folarin’s statement was unguarded and irresponsible, adding that the Senator’s insistence that “they could not allow another party except the APC to govern Oyo State,” came a few weeks after the trio of former Governors Adebayo Alao-Akala, Abiola Ajimobi and Folarin had a meeting in Abuja.

“We in the Oyo Kajola Group and by extension the people of Oyo state were not surprised by Senator Folarin’s statement. Indeed, no resident of Oyo State expects decorum or finesse from Folarin, because of his known political history. What no one expected was that he would, like a palm wine drinker, openly seek to truncate the wishes generally expressed by the people of Oyo State durin the March 9, election.

“We believe that Folarin’s unguarded moment was God’s way of exposing APC’s plan to derail the government of Oyo State and deny the people of the good governance they are already enjoying under Governor Makinde.”

The group queried the real reason behind Folarin’s outburst, wondering if he was reacting to Makinde’s actions in exposing the rot left behind by his cousin, Senator Ajimobi or protecting his own interest, saying: “But before Folarin and his evil traps setters in the APC continue in their doomed voyage, which will ultimately consume them and be the beginning of the end for them politically, we would like the Senator to explain what he knows about the Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin road contract awarded to Oladiran Trades and paid N2 billion mobilization funds.

“It would interest the public to know that Governor Seyi Makinde had, after revoking the contract from the incompetent contractor supported by the APC leaders, seized the contractor’s Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) and recovered N1billion to the coffers of the state.

“We are certain that the anger of the clique of trap-setters is mainly against the insistence of Governor Makinde that their failed company must refund the people’s money illegally appropriated.

“To come clean, the trap-setting senator should tell Oyo State people what transpired on the project.

“From information available to us, we know that Governor Makinde, after revoking the failed Moniya/Ijaiye/Iseyin road contract, gave a directive that Oyo State’s money should be retrieved from the contractor. We also know that experts from the Oyo State Ministry of Works evaluated the works done by the failed contractor and valued the work at N850 million, leaving about N1.150 billion hanging in the pockets of the contractor.

“We are not at a loss as to the fact that the Governor’s insistence that the last kobo of Oyo State’s money spent on the contract must be retrieved has greatly unsettled some politicians who benefitted from the N2 billion largesse. Could Senator Folarin be one of those beneficiaries? Is he upset that Makinde uncovered traps to siphon Oyo State’s money and blocked them? The senator really has to explain the reason for his venom-laden statements contained in the video.

The group said: “Of a truth, prior to Folarin’s video, we had gathered that a number of disgruntled politicians of the APC have been holding nocturnal meetings to unfold sinister motives and plots against the people of Oyo State and democratic governance.

“Therefore, we want to categorically state that any plan to entrap the people Oyo State with fraudulent Court judgment and foist on them a rejected candidate, would be met with stiff opposition and the full wrath of the people.

“We are using this opportunity to serve a timely notice to President Muhammadu Buhari, well-meaning Nigerians and the international community that some APC leaders in Oyo State, with backing from some desperate politicians in the South-West, have perfected plans to use their corrupt contacts in the nation’s Judiciary to rape democracy and frustrate the wishes of the majority of Oyo State people as expressed on March 9, 2019 when they elected Governor Seyi Makinde with over 515,000 votes.

“These individuals, who are already shopping for Supreme Court justices that will allegedly do their evil bidding, are leveraging on the APC’s control of the Federal Government and all the security apparatus in their bid to subvert the will of Oyo State people. But the people are more than prepared for them and would match them in action and reaction if they won’t desist from the evil plot.”

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It said  the major political actors  in the alliance went into it without knowing the intent of others.

The group also alleged that Governor Makinde  became the beneficiary of a coalition  he scuttled twice.

In a statement made available to Mega Icon Magazine in Ibadan, the state capital on Saturday by its Coordinator, Abimbola Atilola, the Concerned Members of ZLP recalled, “going down memory lane, the first attempt at an alliance was in 2015 when a meeting was held at Chief Bayo Akande’s residence.

“The aim was to work out an alliance between Engineer Seyi Makinde, Senator Teslim Folarin on the race for governorship of Oyo State.

“It is on record that the present governor of Oyo State, Makinde was the first person to pull out on the grounds that he can never step down for anybody hence he does not see any need to continue discussing with others.

“The talks eventually crashed. Makinde went on to contest in SDP, Folarin in PDP, Akala/Alli in Labour Party and Ladoja in Accord. The result is no more news. They all lost, but something was imperative. If all their votes had been pooled together, Ajimobi would not have won with 32% of the votes cast. The 68% would not have been wasted.

“With the background of the 2015 failure in mind, it was with great expectations that all opposition elements came together in 2017 to form a new PDP.

“it was the same Seyi Makinde who threw the first spanner in the wheels of progress of the new alliance. He went for a parallel congress and even things were resolved in some form of harmonization, he still continued to tinker with the Party Executives. His target was mainly the Ladoja and Alli groups. His actions, aided by a money hungry PDP National Executive resulted in the failure of the new alliance. The party splintered again. He was elated to have total control of what is left of PDP.

The statement continued, ” as fate will have it, the need for another alliance arose in 2019 towards the elections. It had become obvious that none of the opposition parties had enough muscles to defeat the ruling APC. There was need for other candidates to drop their ambitions, despite spending so much money and energy campaigning, in support of one candidate.

“Our Assembly candidates suffered  serious electoral defeats as a result. Engineer Makinde became the beneficiary of a coalition he scuttled twice. The others were surprisingly magnanimous in ensuring the APC was shown the Red Card in Oyo State. They all worked hard and Seyi Makinde became governor”.

Reacting to the sharing  formula, Atilola explained, “at a meeting in Makinde’s residence on Akala way, the new governor promised the opposition half of 14- man state executive thus; ADC 3, ZLP 2, Chief Ladoja 1and SDP 1.

“As at today there are 17 commissioners and ZLP does not have a single one in the list. The first signs of this attitude was in the convocation of the Transition Committee. In the first list, ZLP was not represented. After complaints, Governor Makinde gave the spurious excuse of not being aware of the list. He promised to rectify this in the supplementary sub-committees list, which  fell flat too. ZLP was again short-changed”.

Despite the alleged breach of coalition agreement by Governor Makinde, the group wondered why its revered leader, former Governor Rashidi Ladoja has remained silent  on this contentious issue in the face of what it described as ‘obvious slap on our faces’

It lamented further that while Ladoja’s cronies were celebrating with their new commissioner, the rest of ZLP members were leaking their wounds in their homes.

“The party’s flag bearer too, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli is shockingly complacent. This seems to lend some credence to the theory by some of the Governor’s men that they have been settled. It begins to look like true considering their silence and refusal to work in the interest of the teeming members of the party. Have we truly labored in vain like our traducers taunt us?

“If Seyi Makinde chooses to deal as such with us and our leaders are still feeling pretty, then it behoves on us to let the world know our fate.

“If the leaders were not settled we demand an explanation openly on why they have suddenly lost their voices and ability to negotiate. If they were, we demand to know who got how much and if it was worth our sweat and blood, or if it is big enough to cater for us in the next four years. The truth must be seen at times like this”, the statement added.

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