*Ladoja, others coordinate coalition
BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
With less than a week to the March 18 governorship polls, there are strong indications of possible coalition of political parties against the incumbent governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde’s reelection bid in Oyo State.
New Nigerian investigations revealed that as at present, top politicians in the state with some political parties are now busy fine tunning a repeat of the 2019 coalition of parties which produced Governor Seyi Makinde in the last election.
In one of the recent moves, a former governor of the state and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadaland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja while addressing Oyo State PDP chieftains including a former deputy governor in the state, Alhaji Azeem Gbolarumi in his Ondo Street, Bodija residence hinted of the fresh coalition against the ruling administration in the state.
The former governor said that as at present, the Social Democratic Party, Labour Party are into the coalition while other political parties in the state have signified their intentions to join in the coalition.
Specifically, the former governor who attributed the colossal loss of the Oyo State PDP National Assembly candidates in the February 25th elections to the alleged posture of Gov Makinde towards the election stressed that in the next few days to the governorship election, the coalition will be firmly on ground,
High Chief Ladoja at the forum cited the example of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State who he said came into office barely six months ago and delivered all positions contested for during the last elections to PDP in the state while Gov Makinde on his part allegedly left the PDP candidates to their fate.
The former governor who offered prayers for the success of Senator Teslim Folarin tasked his followers and PDP bigwigsin attendance at the forum to mobilize people and deplore all in their capacity in support of all APC candidates during the governorship elections, saying, “I’m urging you to go out on Saturday, and do it the way we used to do it, and please don’t leave any stone unturned towards ensuring victory for Senator Teslim Folarin, he’s the one that deserves our loyalty and support”.
Speaking on the coalition, Oyo state Chairman of the the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), Hon Michael Okunlade while addressing members the party said there is the need for coalition of political parties to correct the wrongs in the state and that in line with this, SDP has agreed to a coalition with the APC and its candidate in Oyo state.
” We believe that to right these wrongs, there is need for us to form a virile coalition with a party that can dislodge this administration that has shown itself to be lacking in development. That is why, after many meetings with major stakeholders even outside of our party, we arrived at Sen. Teslim Folarin of the All Progressives Congress, APC”, he said.
The SDP Chairman added, ” our decision is not based on anything than the development of our dear state. He has the record. He is not someone who would promise what he won’t do. He is as straight as that. All these said, I like to enjoin all of us to go out en masse and vote for our house of assembly candidates. The support is just for the governorship, and it ends at that”
Oyo state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) however berated the planned coalition of political parties particularly his latest endorsement by eleven deregistered political parties, saying, it was not only laughable but a self mockery
PDP in a statement by its Oyo State Publicity Secretary, Engr Akeem Olatunji said the hard reality is already downing on APC and its governorship candidate ahead of the March 18 election leaving him to contend with the overwhelming pressure that has already set in on him.
” It was such a very laughable thing that the governorship candidate of the APC in Oyo state ahead of next Saturday’s election was getting endorsed by dead and non exciting political parties. Indeed, we know and understand the traumatic impact of contesting against a more popular, performing and generally accepted candidate as Governor Seyi Makinde because the emotional and psychological pressure that usually come with such is better imagined moreso, when your chances of winning are very slim”, he said.
Engr Olatunji added, ” however, we urge Folarin not to drain himself with his overtly desperate approach to this election because it is only God who gives power to whoever He wants and since He has entrusted Makinde with this responsibility, Folarin should try his luck again in 2027 when governor Makinde would be completing his second term of office because there is absolutely no vacancy at the Agodi Government House till then.”
