Leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oorelope Local Government, Igboho, have pledged the unalloyed support of residents of the local government to Governor Seyi Makinde, stating that the council will work hard to ensure the PDP’s victory in all elections.
They stated that Oorelope Local Government has benefited from different policies, programmes and projects of the Makinde-led administration across the education, health, security and road infrastructure sectors and that residents would support the governor for another term in appreciation of his interest in the development of the council.
The leaders gave this position following a meeting held in Igboho, last weekend, expressing shock at the news that Ifelodun Omo Igboho, the umbrella body of all socio-cultural groups in the town, declared unflinching support for the embattled Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The stakeholders declared that there was nowhere the Community met or agreed to declare support for Olaniyan and demanded explanations as to why leaders of the Ifelodun Omo Igboho, established as an apolitical organisation many decades ago and with the sole objective of working for the development of the town, decided to act in such a biased manner.
The stakeholders stated these in a communique endorsed by former Oyo North Senatorial Chairman of the PDP and leader of the party in the council, Alhaji Yakubu Oladoja; incumbent senatorial chairman, Mr. Yinusa Yusuff; Alhaji Sarafadeen Alani; Oorelope Local Government PDP chairman, Alhaji Azeez Adeoti and Mr. Wasiu Yusuff.
Some of the other leaders in attendance at the meeting were: Alhaji Rasaq Ajibade; Mr. Asimi Adelakun Apon; Mr. Moses Fatowo; Mr. Safa Oyelowo Oyetunji; Hon. Lukman Balogun and the PDP chairmen in the 10 Wards of the local government, among others.
The leaders lauded Governor Makinde for his love for and interest in the development of Oorelope Local Government, saying that APC agents should never have tried to discredit the Ifelodun Omo Igboho by dragging its name into politics and falsely stating that Igboho people would go “wherever Olaniyan goes.”
They pointed out that the governor has always demonstrated his love for Igboho Community and Oorelope Local Government through his philanthropic gesture of providing the Community Town Hall with a Multi-Million Naira Mikano Generating set during his electioneering campaign in 2019 and the execution of laudable and people-oriented developmental projects in Oorelope Local Government and the entire state as governor of the state.
The communique read in part: “We the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other well-meaning indigenes of Oorelope Local Government Area are pledging our unalloyed support for the PDP to ensure landslide victory in the reelection of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde come 2023.
“We were shocked by the news that the umbrella body of Igboho indigenes called ‘IFELODUN OMO IGBOHO’ declared “unflinching support for Oyo State Deputy Governor Eng. Abdulrauf Remi Olaniyan on his defection to All Progressive Congress (APC)” and that “they are ready to follow him wherever he’s going.”
“In reaction to the above, the stakeholders, at our meeting, resolved as follows: That IFELODUN OMO IGBOHO is an umbrella body of all indigenes of Igboho, both home and abroad saddled with responsibilities of ensuring development, peace and stability of the Igboho community.
“That IFELODUN OMO IGBOHO is composed of all indigenes irrespective of their political interests or affiliations.
“That the Community has never in any of her meetings arrived at a conclusion or resolution that certain persons or the body should act or visit any politician with intent or purpose of declaring political support in her name.
“That inasmuch as members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oorelope Local Government Area are also members of the Community, we are owed explanation on why the said visitors to the Deputy Governor acted with bias and against the ethics of the Community.
“That as members of the PDP who are also part of the Community, we cannot allow some persons saddled with the responsibility of leading the all-important apolitical socio-cultural organisation such as Ifelodun Omo Igboho act in such a way that can bring our party into disrepute.
“That we say unequivocally that those that declared the purported support for Eng. Rauf Remi Olaniyan acted on their own and are believed to be All Progressive Congress (APC) members in pretence as agents of Ifelodun Omo Igboho.
“That the Community appreciates the philanthropic gesture by His Excellency Eng. Seyi Makinde for providing the Community Town Hall with a Multi-Million Naira Mikano Generating Set during his electioneering campaign in 2019. And the Community would forever be grateful for this.”
The stakeholders equally pointed out that contrary to insinuations that the Makinde-led administration neglected Igboho Community and by extension, Oorelope Local Government, the administration has implemented an array of people-oriented policies and executed many projects in the Council.
“That we also acknowledge and appreciate execution of laudable and people oriented developmental projects in Oorelope and the entire state which include:
“Construction of block of 4 comp. (W/C) at Oorelope – Baptist School Yowere; construction of block of 3-classroom at Oorelope –Baptist Basic School Yowere.; construction of a block of ECD pilot centre at Oorelope – Baptist Primary School Igbope; sinking of borehole of Oorelope – Baptist Primary School Igbope; construction of 3-classroom with toilet facilities at Oorelope – A.D.S. Primary School Bonni; construction of 4 – classroom with toilet facilities at Oorelope – Migrant Farmers Primary School Mafowoku.
“Others are renovation of one (1) block of 2 – classrooms and 2 – office and store (block A) at Oorelope A.D.S Primary school 2, Bonni, Igboho; sinking of borehole at Oorelope – Migrant Farmers Primary School Mafowoku; renovation of one (1) block of 2- classrooms and 2 – office (block B) at Oorelope – Baptist Basic Primary School Igbope; construction 3 – classrooms with toilet facilities at Oorelope – Migrant Farmers Primary School Iyameto Bonni; sinking of Borehole at Oorelope – Migrant Farmers Primary School, Iyameto Bonni.
“Construction of model School with 12 – classrooms, office, sick bag, computer room, laboratory, and hall with borehole fully furnished (Primary – Oke – Igboho Baptist Primary School, Igboho); distribution of free exercise books and textbooks to students at Oorelope Local Government; distribution of 700 chairs and tables to various school within the Local Government; upgrade and establishment of a standard PHC at 10 wards at Oorelope and ongoing rehabilitation of 45.3 kilometres Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho Road and the lighting of our streets under the Light-Up Oyo Project,” the communique added.
