The former 2019 gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo State, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin has officially dumped ADC for APC after meeting with the governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Rising from a meeting of leaders, loyalists and supporters, who also happen to be former members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (SOLAN), has announced officially, conclusion of plans to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

You will recall that Oduduwa News had reported last week series of steps taken by the ex-ADC leader to perfect his defection to All Progressives Congress Party in Oyo State due to the crisis rocking the leadership of the party.

The Oyo State Chapter of All Progressives Congress Professionals has again berated the Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde over his serial trips to various states across the country particularly his recent move to Ondo State where he was assigned to lead a campaign committee for the PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Barr. Eyitayo Jegede in the forthcoming governorship election.

According to a statement on Monday, by the group’s Chief Convener, Alhaji Adekunle Lawal, Governor Makinde, Governor Makinde must be cautioned on the need to stop wasting the resources meant for the development of Oyo State on his desperate ambition to be Vice President in 2023.

The group assured that just the way he went to Kogi State to lavish Billions of Naira belonging to the people of Oyo State and came back empty handed, the governor will also fail in his recent assignment to deliver Ondo State for PDP.

They said the people of Oyo State are now at the receiving end of Governor Makinde’s political arrogance and desperation to build his own political empire in the Southwest and other parts of the country, which has made him to shoulder the funding of Ondo State election for the PDP alone without carrying other governors and leaders of the party along.

The group, which said that the governor talks more than what he does, insisted that apart from huge debt accumulated, there is nothing to show for his more than 15 months in office.

It is even more worrisome that Governor Makinde is spending borrowed funds on his voyage of political agrandisement, with over N40 billion loan already taken.

They said apart from N20 billion infrastructure loan approved in May, this year by the House of Assembly, the governor had obtained N10 billion Infrastructure loan; N7.6 billion Agricultural loan purportedly for the upgrade of two farm settlements in Akufo and Eruwa; and another N2.5 billion health loan.

All these are aside from the N100 billion bond already approved by the House of Assembly.

The APC professionals called on leaders of the party in Oyo State to close ranks so as to be able to provide credible opposition to the PDP government of Governor Makinde, which they described as a government of “more talks, no work.”

The sociocultural group, Itesiwaju Oodua Foundation in its meeting held yesterday in Ibadan has warned Federal Government to resist pressure from some quarters to put Sunday Igboho behind the bars over statement on secession credited to him.

This was contained in a release signed by the State coordinator of the youth wing of the group, Mr. Abdullateef Ademola and made available to newsmen through her publicity Secretary, Com. Kunle Ajibade.

The Social Cultural Group said, if Buhari led l-administration go on with the plan to arrest Sunday Igboho for agitating self determination of Yoruba race to be recognized as Oduduwa Republic, such plan could destabilize the peace of the entire Nigeria.

The group also called on Yoruba leaders irrespective of their political parties, affiliations or ambitions to close ranks in the interest of all Yorubas to ensure that the self determination is achieved.

In the Youth leader’s words, “we can no longer cope with compulsory and unholy alliance which has subjugated our people under the hegemony of certain tribe that are taking over our lands with force.

“We call on all groups, associations, traditional rulers and all stakeholders to rise and build a garrison around Chief Sunday Igboho and the entire agitators of peace and liberation of Yoruba land.

“Our group is not affiliated to any political party and we insist that Oduduwa Republic is eminent at this critical point that Yoruba land is suffering from external forces migrating into the Southwest to murder, kidnap and take over our God-given lands.

“We are asking the Federal Government to tell us the main reason Yoruba land shouldn’t exit Nigeria, most especially when the Federal Government
has failed in securing our lives and properties.

“The group in its last remark called on Asiwaju Bola Hammed Tinubu and Aare Gani Adams to ensure that Yoruba land and her people does not suffer any intimidation or subjugation from the Federal Govt in the course of agitating for the self determination of Oduduwa race.

In reaction to the recent statement credited to the erstwhile president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo where he said President Muhammad Buhari has greatly succeeded in disintegrating Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu has reacted to Baba Obasanjo’s comment in a statement made available today to the newsmen titled: “Obasanjo is Nigeria’s Divider-in-Chief.”

He likened the statement credited to Chief Obasanjo as an attempt to destabilize Nigeria particularly at a time Buhari is putting all necessary measures in place to further strengthen peace and harmony currently enjoyed by Nigerians under his administration.

The statement reads apart:

“The difference is clear. From the lofty heights of Commander-in-Chief, General Obasanjo has descended to the lowly level of Divider-in-Chief (to adapt the coinage of Time).

“Before responding further to the unfair attacks on President Buhari and his administration by the former President, it is important that we categorically state that contrary to the assertions by a few analysts, the recent speech in which President Buhari advised West African Presidents against tenure elongation beyond constitutional limits has been consistent with his long held views on the need to adhere to the rule of law.

“Even though he tried it and failed, the recent uptick in the number of such leaders proposing to do, or actually carrying on in office beyond term limits is sufficient to cause concern among democrats in the sub-region given its prospects of destabilizing the states and the region.

“President Buhari’s advocacy is consistent with his principles and in line with the current policies of his administration and indeed that of the ECOWAS Charter which is that term limits must be respected and that the change of government is only permissible through the ballot box.

“Having cleared this misperception, we hope that Chief Obasanjo would once again sheath the sword and rest the pretentiousness about the Messiah that has (mis)led him to pronounce often wrongly, as he disastrously did in the 2019 elections, about the life and death of Nigerian governments.

“As some commentators are already suggesting, Chief Obasanjo should, in accordance with his mantra as a statesman, get involved with problems solving, when and where they exist instead of helping the mushrooming of a poisonous atmosphere of ethnic and religious nationalism.

“Surely, he must have disappointed many of his local and foreign admirers by showering commendations on a few extremist groups who have vowed to shun the invitation to the National Assembly to participate in the process of constitutional amendment.

“No doubt, he must have left those admirers confused in announcing the support for the boycott of a democratic process of changing the constitution, at the same time calling for dialogue and engagement.

The Oyo state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to a comment credited to the state chapter of All Congress (APC) over the opposition party’s statement over the weekend.

The ruling party in a statement singed by its state publicity secretary, Engr Akeem Olatunji on Saturday and made available to newsmen described the opposition group which called itself All Progressives Congress Professionals (APC-P) an association of clowns with no basic knowledge of issues they attempted dabbling into.

Oyo state PDP wondered if the group was a splinter group or break away body from the known state chapter of APC adding that such act is a clear manifestation of failure and a disappointment to the people of Oyo state who had rejected the party in totality.

The ruling party expressed its disappointment in the way and manner Oyo state chapter of APC is going about performing its role as opposition, stressing that handlers of the party needed to be specially trained in the art of performing its duties outside of government.

According to the statement, the Oyo state chapter of APC’s endorsement of Makinde as political material for the presidency come 2023 was commendable but a needless distraction that can not deter governor Seyi Makinde and PDP from its focus.

The statement added that governor Makinde is too busy and committed to repositioning Oyo state from the shambles it inherited it from the last administration under APC.

The statement empathised with the state chapter of APC for having to cope with the pain of playing opposition in the state while ruling at the federal level on a controversial mandate.

The ruling party in the statement explained that it was really unfortunate that APC in Oyo state was a ‘successfully failed’ political party in government and as opposition party stressing that instead of rebuilding its battered party, it continued to deplete and degenerate into various splinter groups.

Speaking further, the ruling party according to the statement, described the allegation of having nothing to show after over a year in office as very amusing and laughable urging the APC–P to take a day tour of the town and see the improved quality of life in the state.

The statement reads in part: “Oyo state chapter of APC has further shown the world that its failure is not limited to when it was I’m government but also when it was rejected and relegated into the background with the sole responsibility of playing one of the opposition parties in the state.

” We are particularly disturbed because as a political party and the largest in Africa, we understand the concept of democracy and the role of opposition but our deepest disappointment is borne out of the fact that Oyo APC has reduced itself to mere association of clowns with the way and manner it is daily conducting itself.

“As a corporate man, governor Makinde is an exceptional achiever that’s completely not in the realm or contemporary of anyone currently in Oyo state APC, and as a governor, Makinde’s one year has recorded more success in term of improved quality of life than APC’s entire 8yrs put together.

“We expect vibrancy from Oyo APC so that we as the ruling party can continue to do better in our resolve and commitment to the state but instead, the opposition party is daily giving us comedy and absolutely unserious disposition to its role outside government.”

The ruling party, Oyo state PDP, however cautioned Oyo APC and all its splinter groups desperate for media popularity against making frivolous and unfounded allegations against Governor Makinde led government just to be in the news stressing that the era of false propaganda was long gone and the people of the state already know APC for what it is.

The statement however, reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of governor Seyi Makinde to the welfare, development and growth of Oyo state, assuring that Oyo state will never again return to the slave and slave master era of APC in the state.