Former Gov. Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State on Sunday has described the demand of some Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial aspirants from Ibadan to have the governorship slot as undemocratic.
Alao-Akala in an interview with the journalists in Ogbomoso on Sunday described the move as an exercise in futility, saying the governorship candidate would not govern Ibadan alone.
``That demand is undemocratic and will definitely not work . candidates that come from the other parts of the state equally have right to the eye the seat. We will soon define those who are from Ibadan and Ijebu very soon,’’ he said.
The former governor said that he wondered when the Africa’s largest party, the PDP, became an Ibadan party, asking who was afraid of aspirants from the other zones in the state?
Some PDP gubernatorial aspirants of Ibadan extraction met on Sunday in Ibadan and unanimously agreed that the party must present an indigene of Ibadan as its candidate for the 2015 governorship election in Oyo State.
At the meeting were Wole Oyelese, Hazeem Gbolarumi, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Prof. Soji Adejumo, Sen. Teslim Folarin, Seyi Makinde and Dr. Azeez Adeduntan with the exception of Mr Kehinde Olaosebikan, a council chairman.
At the meeting were Wole Oyelese, Hazeem Gbolarumi, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Prof. Soji Adejumo, Sen. Teslim Folarin, Seyi Makinde and Dr. Azeez Adeduntan with the exception of Mr Kehinde Olaosebikan, a council chairman.
The aspirants in a communiqué released at the end of the meeting, promised to work together as a team to ensure victory for PDP in 2015 elections and deliver the state for president Goodluck Jonathan.
``Given the political reality on ground, the PDP candidate who by the grace of Almighty God will be the next governor of Oyo State must come from Ibadan land.
``Given the political reality on ground, the PDP candidate who by the grace of Almighty God will be the next governor of Oyo State must come from Ibadan land.
``We take cognisance of the importance and political interest of other zones and resolved to work assiduously with them to achieve victory for our great party at all levels,” the communiqué read in part.
The group called on the people of the state to be assured of better government from 2015 when PDP would have taken over governance in the state, calling members who have joined other parties to return to PDP.
The group called on the people of the state to be assured of better government from 2015 when PDP would have taken over governance in the state, calling members who have joined other parties to return to PDP.
According to the communiqué,``We appreciate the patience of our supporters and indeed the good people of Oyo State for enduring all the inhuman treatments inflicted on them by the current administration of All Progressives Congress(APC).
``We assure them of a responsible and responsive government as from May 29, 2015. We appeal to our teeming and loyal supporters of the party to work together and for those who have defected from the party to return into the fold for a collective victory.”
Also reacting to his omission, Olaosebikan described the meeting as a gang up against his candidacy.
``I don’t believe in gang up. I want the best aspirant to emerge. The meeting in question was a private initiative of a candidate. I am not in any way bothered
about the meeting.
Also reacting to his omission, Olaosebikan described the meeting as a gang up against his candidacy.
``I don’t believe in gang up. I want the best aspirant to emerge. The meeting in question was a private initiative of a candidate. I am not in any way bothered
``Whoever called the meeting only wanted to win the support of others. Talking about the grassroots, I am more on ground and believe in my ability to deliver,” he said
