Why I Backed APC’s Oyebamiji Over Adeleke — Oyinlola

Former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola has opened up on his choice to endorse All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji instead of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke ahead of Saturday’s ballot.

Oyinlola stated that he has zero regrets regarding his backing for Oyebamiji, pointing to nationwide turbulence within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and alleging a lack of prior consultation by Adeleke before defecting to the Accord Party.

He further criticized Adeleke’s administration for concentrating a massive share of state infrastructure projects exclusively in Ede, the governor’s home town.

The former military administrator made these remarks on Thursday while appearing on the Channels Television current affairs program, Politics Today.

He said, “First, when the political party (Peoples Democratic Party) was hit by serious turbulence at the national level, we foresaw that it would eventually affect us at the state level. So, we thought of a way out. And that was why we were thinking of an alternate platform for our candidate to run with.

“Though we started the discussion with … and the governor with the agreement that when they return from Atlanta, we will have a stakeholders’ meeting. Surprisingly, that did not come up. We only just saw on the social media that Mr Governor had resigned from our party and he had ported to the Accord Party.

“If you have to go back in history, the policy thrust of the founding fathers of Osun State was that there should be even and equal development of the state all around. What we have witnessed under the regime of Governor Adeleke is different.

“As of today, government has executed about 20 major projects around the senatorial districts. Out of the N362 billion spent altogether, N260.5 billion was spent in Ede. When you skew things in preference to your own area it does not augur well.”

Addressing assertions by Adeleke that he gifted him a vehicle, Oyinlola clarified that the automobile was supplied statutorily by the Osun State Government.

“That is far from the truth. It is a sad development that the governor will continue to tell lies. The Osun State House of Assembly enacted a law whereby some … will accrue to whosoever has governed the state. One of the things that should accrue to a former governor is that for every four years, his vehicle should be changed.

“I have been out of Osun State government in the last three years. It wasn’t Ademola that gave me the vehicle. It was the Osun State government. It is a law of the state enacted by the House of Assembly. For him to misinform is a sad development for the chief executive of the state. There are other things like my security that should be taken care of. The police attached to me should be paid for, the cook should be taken care of and the drivers.

“By the grace of God, I started buying a car when I was 21. When I was going to Government House, I went with my entire convoy. Why will he paint it like I went to beg? It is a very sad development. He should say it the way it is, and that it is a law, it is my entitlement and he still owes me three more vehicles.”

Oyinlola also highlighted the deterioration of internal party machinery within the state chapter of the PDP as another primary driver behind his withdrawal of support.

He said, “As the party, the engine oil that services a political party is a constant meeting. Today, anything pertaining to the party, you have to head to Ede. Our party headquarters in Osogbo has never for a long while held any meeting. And that is the arena through which politicians will rub their minds.”

Oyinlola maintained that throwing his weight behind Oyebamiji aligns with his political principles, drawing parallels to his past decision to support former Governor Rauf Aregbesola days before an election following internal disagreements within the PDP.

“Let us get the facts right: it was because of what PDP did to me that made me support former Governor Rauf Aregbesola four days to the then election. That was the fact that changed the time of things. The PDP never kept to the agreement. As an officer who served for 30 solid years in the Nigerian army, we do not jump into conclusions. You do appreciation and you draw up your conclusion that will lead you to a positive end. I think I have done that. I have no regrets whatsoever.”