At an interactive session with his followers in his house,
former Governor Alao-Akala and governorship candidate of the Action Democratic
Party, ADP in Oyo State, explained why he stepped down and decided to join forces with the
All Progressives Congress. He revealed the connection of the Presidency as well
as how Senator Rashidi Ladoja pulled the plug on the alliance that ADP could have been formed with other parties.
“We were discussing how we were going to form an alliance to
defeat APC. At the meeting we held on Saturday, we discovered that none of the
four parties, APC, ADP, ADC and PDP, can effectively go to the polls and make a
success of it alone. We held another meeting on Monday. The meeting was hot; we
continued the meeting on Tuesday morning.
We started at 9, adjourned till 2pm and later 6pm. At 6, I got a call that
they have been looking for me all about. They said they wanted to talk to me
from Abuja”, Alao-Akala said.
He went on that “when I spoke with the person calling from
Abuja, it was from the Presidency. They said I should come over, that they were
sending a plane to pick me. The airport was already closed but because of that
flight, they opened it. I was taken to meet the President. He told me he wanted
to discuss the issue of the South West”. The former Governor disclosed that leaders
of the South West, Bola Tinubu and Pius Akinyelure were there as well as
Comrade Adams Oshiomole and the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Continuing, Otunba Alao-Akala said “they took me to a house.
I have never been to that part of Abuja before. They told me the South West is
very important and that they want Oyo State and they have seen that if they
don’t get my cooperation, it might be impossible. They said they want their
party to win the governorship and they want me to cooperate with them. It was a
lengthy discussion. We decided to
continue the discussion in Lagos. I went to Lagos last night and we agreed on
how to work. I told them that if they want me to step down, I can but my
followers who are honourables will not step down. I told them I would step down
and work with them but my followers will contest on the platform of ADP. I have
addressed all the ADP assembly candidates in Ibadan. That was what they called
me for.
But on Saturday we will vote for our House of Assembly
candidates in ADP but for governorship, we will vote for Adelabu. I told them
our demands; paramount among them is that we want to take LAUTECH. I also reminded
them about the Oyo-Ogbomoso Road. By God’s grace, APC has been unable to
campaign in Ogbomoso. They said they want to come, I said they should. You know
they have not been able to come to Ogbomoso to campaign. They are afraid of us.
I said we will open the gate for them. Should we open the gate for them?” The
supporters chorused that the gates should be opened to allow them in.
“Thank God, I am not the only one in Oyo State, yet they
sent a plane to pick me. The same plane brought me back. They didn’t send for
Ladoja, they didn’t send for any other person. That means one has to be careful
not to kick the ball against the referee. If you play against the referee, he
will award a penalty against you and you might get a red card. I thank you for
your cooperation.
Some people don’t understand, they are misinforming the
populace. At my age, there is nothing I want. I am fulfilled, what I want is
for people to be happy. There is something I want to tell you; myself, ADP, ADC,
Zenith Labour Party had a meeting and I didn’t allow that meeting to stop
because I knew what Ladoja was capable of. We had that meeting yesterday
evening, Ladoja told me to forget that I can ever become Governor because I am
not from Ibadan. Thank God they had sent for me from Abuja. I told him that I am
happy that people at the federal level do not see Ibadan as the only city in Oyo
State. I told him that despite being a non-Ibadan, they sent for me from Abuja.
You see, it is like being called a bastard by someone and being called a
legitimate child by another person. And I will follow the person that values my
legitimacy.
People who lack understanding say he wants to sell us, he is
greedy. What else do I want? I didn’t rent any of the cars in my premises; I
cannot sleep in two rooms at the same time. I have houses in Ogbomoso, I am not
even sleeping there. What we are doing is for the future of our children. When
someone is saying a non-Ibadan cannot become Governor. If we don’t stop it now,
what becomes of our children? I am not after money. What I want is a good life
for you.
Now, I know that I have to be careful, God forbid that my
life be lost in the process. People who don’t know what is happening are the
ones saying rubbish on social media. I thank you very much. On Saturday, we
will vote for all our honourables. The money you need to work will be provided
for you”.
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