When we heard that President Bola Tinubu supported Governor Seyi Makinde for a second term, I argued that he wouldn’t do that, until revelations came that a foremost leader of the party and former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, allegedly directed some party stalwarts to support Makinde’s second term bid.
In choosing a Minister, our leader abandoned the Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congres (APC), Senator Teslim Folarin to give the Gubernatorial Candidate of the ACCORD (AP), Chief Adebayo Adelabu, a ministerial slot meant for Oyo-State.
While I agree that Chief Bayo Adelabu is highly cerebral, intelligent, and vibrant which qualifies him for the position but many APC youths and leaders were shocked, that, it appears they have laboured in vain by standing and fighting for Tinubu’s election.
If they cannot benefit from the government of Governor Seyi Makinde in the state and at the same time by APC Government at the Federal where lies their hope between 2023 to 2027?
When I observed the crisis in Oyo-State APC, ab-initio, I contacted Mr.Tunde Rahman and Hon. James Faleke that were close to President Tinubu to help inform the leader to intervene in the emerging crisis, to call everyone to order, nothing came from the efforts.
While the president is free to appoint anyone to his cabinet, I submit that if this pattern continues then, that is bye-bye to Party loyalty in the state.
While I am not advocating for anyone in particular, there is no known capacity required, that cannot be found in APC Oyo-State.
This resulted in open communication, since the avenue I knew to reach Asiwaju Tinubu has failed in the time past, I trust that somehow this opinion will get to our leader, President Tinubu.
Let me reiterate that I have known, at a distance, Asiwaju Tinubu since the era of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) up to the current dispensation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
I have known the Leader to compensate his followers over the years, however, a situation where the party compensation in Oyo State is “UnAsiwaju” like. Then it will amount to hypocrisy to keep quiet in a time like this.
While I am not advocating that Bayo Adelabu be removed, I am calling on our Leader to give Oyo state a second Minister from the South West Zone, because the state got the highest differential votes from the zone, who will be chosen from APC members, whose qualifications and experience will meet the requirements set out by the government of the day.
In a situation where “dissidents” are patronised, but loyal party members are abandoned, then party loyalty may be cast into the dustbin.
Dear President, it’s time we do the needful, don’t let late Governors Lam Adesina, Abiola Ajimobi, and Adebayo Alao – Akala, died in vain. Sir, help strengthen the party in Oyo state.
I seize this opportunity to congratulate Chief Bayo Adelabu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), whose structures he facilitated from CBN to Oyo State were the ones initially used to kick start Senator Abiola Ajimobi First Technical University.
He was, also the Chairman of the Security Trust Fund during the reign of Governor Ajimobi. He has certainly cut a niche for himself professionally and politically. Clearly, he will do well in Financial Sector and contribute to the Security architecture of the Nation.
However, President Tinubu should strengthen the party in Oyo State.
“Ti ile ba ngbe Osika, ti o Gbe Asooto, to ba pe titi, Oore a ma su ni se”
We beg passionately, the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and National Leader of APC to help strengthen the party in Oyo-State. Thank you Sir and God bless you.
Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela, a former Council Chairman, Commissioner of Education, Science & Technology, and the Commissioner representing Oyo State at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), writes from Ibadan, Oyo state.
