The ruling Alll Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State on Wednesday said all the opposition political parties in the state are to be buried this Saturday with the final teaming up of “heavyweight politicians from other political parties into the APC that day
APC stated this in a statement issued by its State Public Relations Officer, Comrade Olawale Sadare hinted that all is now set by the party to formally receive and welcone all the bigwigs joined the party since last year
The party maintained that all the decampees would be unveiled at an unprecedented rally holding at the ancient Mapo Hall, Ibadan on Saturday December 16, 2017 after which activities of current opposition parties in the state would be grounded to a halt.
” With the caliber of active and experienced political players coming on board to reinvigorate our great Party ahead of the 2019 general election, it is pertinent to state here that the battle for the soul of the state to determine who takes over from the trail blazer, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, would be fought and won only within the APC.” he said.
Sadare in the statement gave the names of the decampees as former governor of the state, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin and former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Ayodele Adigun would lead the pack of defectors from Labour Party, Peoples Democratic Party and the Accord party.
He added that a former deputy governor of the state Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, Hon. Segun Odebunmi, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, Hon. Ayoola Makanjuola, Alhaji Rasaq Gbadegesin and their teeming supporters would not be left out of what has been termed “the mother of all defections in the politics of Oyo State”.
“With all intents and purposes, we crave for a viable opposition as a necessary impetus for good governance and democracy growth in the Pacesetter State but what the combination of PDP, LP and Accord Party had offered in the last couple of years fell below the standard thereby necessitating the need for the ruling APC to activate its check and balance mechanism for the good of the process.”.
The Oyo APC spokesman said “for the sake of record, Ibadan will witness another epoch-making political event similar to the one we held for President Muhammad Buhari during the build-up to the 2015 general election. This time again, Sen. Ajimobi and Chief Akin Oke (our state chairman) will be on hand to play host to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, APC governors from other states among other dignitaries to welcome the defectors.”
“Apparently, the Sterling performance of Gov. Ajimobi in offering the last six years coupled with his exemplary leadership qualities must have appealed to the patriotic zeal in the new entrants who are coming in to strengthen the APC and thus put paid to irresponsible politics of opposition which some lazy bones and few unscrupulous elements still promote to actualize selfish goals.
He emphasized that “what this indicates is that the unrelenting activities of Gov. Ajimobi in relation to his reformation, restoration and transformation agenda for the state would get another boost as many active stakeholders are getting more involved while the dream of a brighter future for our dear state is becoming more realizable by the day.”
