August 15: Oyinlola, PDP Chieftains Dump Makinde-Backed APM Candidate, Endorse Oyebamiji

With just days to the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola has dumped the candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Adewale Adebayo and declared support for the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

NAIJAONPOINT reports that Oyinlola, a close ally of Oyo State Governor and APM presidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde, had on June 25 endorsed Adebayo as his preferred candidate. At the time, he dismissed the relevance of both the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Accord alliance in the poll.

Speaking at the event held at his Okuku residence, Oyinlola was accompanied by the former Secretary to the State Government during his administration, Fatai Akinbade, and a former PDP South-West Vice Chairman, Tajudeen Oladipo. The trio formally declared support for the APM candidate.

Oyinlola explained that the leadership of the Turaki faction of the PDP was in alliance with the APM, noting that the working relationship between the two groups at the national level was being replicated in Osun State.

“There is an alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Allied Peoples Movement. The Turaki-led faction of the PDP has adopted the APM candidate in Osun State,” Oyinlola said.

He thereafter presented the APM flag to Adebayo as a symbol of the faction’s endorsement of his governorship bid.

However, days after the public declaration for the APM candidate, the former governor has made a U-turn and declared his total support for the APC candidate.

Addressing journalists at a press conference on Sunday, Oyinlola, in the company of former Secretary to the State Government, Fatai Akinbade and ex-South West PDP Vice Chairman, Taju Oladipo, said the decision was driven by the need for inclusive leadership and the overall interest of Osun State.

Oyinlola noted that he and the others remain members of the PDP, explaining that while party loyalty is important, the development of Osun must come first.

He said, “Let me start by saying we are not leaving the Peoples Democratic Party. Party loyalty is important, but the interest of Osun State must always come first. Our political identity remains with the PDP, but our electoral decision at this moment is to support a candidate who we believe can provide the kind of inclusive leadership that Osun State deserves.

“We are putting the interest of Osun above partisan considerations. We are putting the future of our children above political sentiments. And we are putting the development of Osun State above every other consideration.”

Speaking on why they endorsed Oyebamiji, the former governor accused the current administration under Governor Ademola Adeleke of lack of inclusivity.

“We were among the major stakeholders who worked tirelessly towards the emergence of the present administration under the platform of the PDP. We believed in that project. Unfortunately, along the line, things began to fall apart. One of the major issues is the lack of inclusiveness in the governance of our state,” he said.

Speaking directly to the APC gubernatorial candidate, the Okuku-born Prince said the endorsement comes with the responsibility of putting the people first and running an inclusive government.

“You must listen to the people. You must ensure that every part of Osun feels represented in your government,” Oyinlola said.

He said the next administration must focus on good governance, economic development, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment and job creation.

“We do not want a government of exclusion. We want a government where every Osun indigene can say, ‘This government belongs to me,’” he added.