The Opposition parties in Oyo on Tuesday explained why it decided to stand and support Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Seyi Makinde for Saturday’s governorship race.
In a press conference chaired by former Oyo Governor, Rashidi ladoja, the guber candidates said the decision was tough but in the interest of our state, our people, and the “continued progress of our land”.
The statement below:
In the last few days, the idea of a coalition was midwifed by some opposition parties to rescue Oyo State, and its people, from the claws of oppression and injustice, and to restore their pride, progress and prosperity;
It is a statement of facts that Oyo State citizens, in the past eight years, have been subjected to untold hardship, through the maladministration of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC); whose actions and inactions, have ensured dividends of democracy are alien to our people;
Having then submitted to that coalition arrangement, and agreed to decisions reached thereto, after series of meetings and consultations, those of us gathered here, respectable governorship candidates of our various political parties i.e. Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (SOLAN), Akogun Sarafadeen Alli, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN and Lt Col Feyisayo Ladoye (Retd) of the ADC, ZLP, SDP and NPM respectively, do hereby officially agree wholeheartedly to the coalition arrangement, and consequently decline from contesting Saturday’s governorship poll.
In equal measure, we endorse Engr Seyi Makinde, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the sole governorship candidate;
Though a tough decision, considering the human and material resources, as well as time, already expended in pursuance of our individual governorship bids, not minding the contacts and tours already made to the 33 local governments of the state, it is our firm belief, that no sacrifice is too much, in the total liberation of our state from the clutches of godfathers and capitalists headquartered outside Oyo State, and its subsequent return to the masses of our people;
This decision, without doubt, is in the interest of our state, our people, and the continued progress of our land;
It is to be noted however, that though we have willingly decided to forgo our governorship ambitions in the interest of posterity and service, we quickly reiterate, that all House of Assembly candidates on the platform of our various parties, i.e the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and New Progressive Movement (NPM), retain our total support, and are still contesting to win their various constituencies on our respective party platforms, subject to local arrangements, as this coalition is solely for the purposes of securing the governorship;
Finally, therefore, we implore the very good people of Oyo State, to join us in this struggle for the freedom of our state, and its total emancipation from the hands of those whose sole desire is the further entrenchment of poverty and the expansion of their feudal territory.
Consequently, we encourage our people to vote Engr Seyi Makinde of the PDP as Oyo State governor on Saturday, 9 March, 2019, and House of Assembly candidates from our various political parties in the 32 constituencies of Oyo State.
Thank you.
SIGNED
Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (SOLAN)
Akogun Sarafadeen Alli
Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN
Lt Col Feyisayo Ladoye (Retd)
