Former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and former Senate leader, Teslim Folarin were absent when the reconciliation team of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led by its caretaker chairman, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, visited Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday.
Though known supporters of the two politicians were seen at the Bodija residence of former governor Rashidi Ladoja and Idi-Ishin residence of Chief Richard Akinjide, Alao-Akala, who is now a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, was said to have travelled out to the United States. Alao-Akala’s son, Olamiju, is currently in the saddle at Ogbomoso North as caretaker chairman.
Folarin, unconfirmed reports have it, “travelled to the United Kingdom 5 weeks ago and left London for Miami yesterday morning.”
Writings on his facebook page, a core loyalist of Folarin, who was the governorship candidate of the party in the 2015 election, Alhaji Ismaila Ashipa, posted that ”
I had queried Sen. Teslim Kolawole Folarin on this same matter when he left for London about 5 weeks ago. I was gravely concerned about what could befall his/our group, the PDP Panbele, in his absence whenever the National Chairman arrives Ibadan. I painted so many feasible scenarios.
Read the post (unedited)
“I was privy to many correspondences between him and Sen Makarfi, between him and OGD, and voice calls between the Aare Ago Olubadan and the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland.
“#HisAnswer ( Folarin’s reply to him)
“Egbon, when you knew little of Tesi you tagged me “Jagba” on your Facebook status. I’m sure, now that we are closer, you know me better.
“I am a controversial person, that I can’t help. In 2015, I was just fiftying: today, I am 52+ and more wiser. And I pray never to repeat the mistakes of the past.
If ‘awon arabi’ see me going up and down, they would accuse me of trying to ‘jagbalise’ the PDP structure. They might even allege that I was blocking the return of Ladoja, Akala, Seyi and others from rejoining the PDP, their source.
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“History has taught me that Bola Ige, Olunloyo, Kolapo, Baba Lam, Ladoja, Akala were not in control of their parties structures when they won the governorship.
“Egbon Ashipa, today, I am focused. Let the structure be put in place without my active participation. Those of you on ground are up to the task in your respective constituents, any time any day. ‘Bi asiko ati şu ba to, furo a la’nu’.
“Only Allah can ordain the would be governor of Oyo state in 2019; and unto HIM I surrender my ambition. Let ‘dem dem’ keep guessing. May the PDP triumph In sha Allah.”
