I quoted “APC FIGURE” because Otunba Alao-Akala is an ADP candidate who signed an agreement to support APC in the just concluded 2019 gubernatorial election._
Few days to the Oyo Guber elections, the National Leadership of the APC, having realised the great damage done to the popularity of APC by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi during the Presidential elections, consulted Otunba (Dr) Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala in a bid to brighten the chances of their flagbearer Adebayo Adelabu.
The consultation results to an agreement which saw Otunba Alao-Akala and his deputy governorship candidate, Prof. Olaiya Abideen Olaitan, stepped down their ambition to support the candidature of Adebayo Adelabu of APC.
This decision means a lot in the political calculations of Oyo State, but as it appears after the election, Otunba (Dr) Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala’s decision was the only thing that favoured the APC as all other factors did not go in their favour.
Recall, from the results of the Federal elections held on February 23, 2019, PDP won APC at Presidential polls with 1,411 votes having won 18 LGA with APC winning 15 LGA.
However, the March 9, 2019 Guber elections was different. Although APC/ADP partnership was a good move, but the coalition of all other major opposition parties and sentiments against Gov. Ajimobi was stronger.
The PDP won the APC with with a margin of 157,645. An election which saw the incumbent Governor & Deputy Governor, the APC Guber Candidate & Deputy, several APC House of Rep Candidate-Elect and APC Senator-Elect all lose at their Local Government Areas.
The PDP won 28 LGAs and APC won 5 LGAs namely; Ogbomoso North, Ogo-Oluwa, Surulere, Oriire and Irepo all which are Otunba Alao-Akala’s strongholds.
Alao-Akala is the only one standing even against the popular sentiments that saw mighties fall.
This is no doubt a result of his integrity and trust his followers have in him as a leader despite the numerous rumours flying around that he received $6 billion, #10 billion, etc.
It is obvious now that if Otunba (Dr) Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala had not pitched with the APC, PDP would have won the entire 33 LGA, a development which might not be very good for our democracy. He is the only “standing APC figure” in Oyo State.
It is also safe to assert that if Otunba (Dr) Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala had not advised his followers to vote APC in Governorship, ADP would have won more House of Assembly seats.
On this note, Alao-Akala is an extraordinary leader entrusted with huge trust and respect by his people. This is a rare quality especially in Nigerian political landscape.
I implore Otunba (Dr) Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala to keep being a good leader in fairness and justice as he has been doing and improve on it to achieve a better Oyo State and a better Nigeria.
I congratulate the Governor-elect, Engr. Seyi Makinde of PDP for emerging victorious at the polls and wish him a successful tenure in office.
Our major interest in politics is good governance of our dear State and Nigeria.
Thank you.
OLAIYA, Abdurraheem Olaitan.
_March 11, 2019_
