*Denies discussion with Folarin, APC
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain in Oyo State, Elder Wole Oyelese has tasked the party leaders in the state to close ranks to avoid repeat of February 25 experience in the governorship and House of Assembly elections.
Elder Oyelese gave the charge in a statement to refute insinuations that he was in discussion with Senator Teslim Folarin and the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the March 18 governorship election.
The former Minister emphasized that despite the differences that may exist between individual PDP members, the overall survival of the PDP and electoral victory of its candidates in the March 18 election should be paramount for now.
He maintained that all PDP leaders in Oyo State should ensure that they deliver their respective wards and Local government areas to the PDP, saying, his relationship with the PDP, “is like that of a nursing mother to her child and that it would be wrong for him to work against a party he helped to nurture to maturity in Oyo state”.
Elder Oyelese said, “as a true party man and one of the founding fathers of PDP in Oyo State, it is not in his character to pull down a house he has helped in building,” and that he fully understands the implications of such an action of working against ones political party.
On the purported discussion with Senator Folarin and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Oyelese said the rumour was, ” far from the truth”, saying, as preparations for the 2023 gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in the state are in top gear, there are campaigns, plans and strategies being mapped out by various parties and their candidates to ensure that they carry the day in the elections.
According to the former Minister, at no time did he hold any meeting with any political party or group for the purpose of the forthcoming elections or any other issue for that matter, adding that he was not involved in the much publicized meeting between some PDP members and the APC candidate Senator Folarin, saying, ” this could be nothing but far from the truth”.
“In a swift reaction to such stories and insinuations in some tabloids to the effect that a former Minister of Power and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese is into consultations with the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the forthcoming gubernatorial and state Assembly elections, this could be nothing but far from the truth”, he said
The former Minister added, ” our observations have revealed that as the election day draws near, visitations and consultations have been on the increase across party lines by the gladiators. One of such visitations being widely circulated and discussed on the media space is the courtesy visit to the Ikolaba residence of Elder Oyelese by the APC governorship candidate Senator Teslim Folarin”.
Maintaining that there was nothing strange or unusual about the visit, however quickly dispelled rumours of his involvement with any political party or group in a coalition against the PDP, saying, ” Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin is his brother and political son, and for this reason, he had to attend to the surprise visit by the August visitor who is always welcome in his house any day”.
