Ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola has endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO).
The endorsement was announced on Sunday at the WOCDIF Event Centre, Osogbo, during a gathering of prominent members and leaders of the PDP faction.
Those present at the event included former South-West Chairman of the PDP, Hon. Tajudeen Oladipupo, and former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Alhaji Akinade Akinbade, among other party leaders.
Speaking at the event, Oyinlola said the decision to support Oyebamiji was based on what he described as the need to provide a new direction for the state and secure a better future for its people.
He said the leaders had worked extensively for the emergence of the present PDP administration, noting that they supported and mobilised for the project because they believed it represented the aspirations of the people.
According to him, however, the relationship between some stakeholders and the administration later deteriorated, which he attributed largely to what he described as a lack of inclusiveness in governance.
“We were among the major stakeholders who worked tirelessly towards the emergence of the present administration under the platform of the PDP. We believed in that project. We supported it. We mobilised our people for it,” Oyinlola said.
He maintained that sustainable governance required the government to carry its people and political stakeholders along, stressing that party loyalty should not supersede the overall interest of the state.
Oyinlola clarified that the endorsement should not be interpreted as the faction’s defection from the PDP, insisting that he and the other leaders remained members of the party.
“Let me repeat that our decision today should not be interpreted as an abandonment of the PDP. We remain PDP members. We are not here to announce our defection from the PDP,” he said.
He described the decision to support Oyebamiji as one borne out of “necessity, conviction and a sincere desire for the progress of the state”, adding that the future of the younger generation also influenced their position.
Oyinlola, however, charged Oyebamiji to make the people the centre of his administration if elected, urging him to run an inclusive government that would accommodate diverse interests across the state.
Responding, Oyebamiji thanked Oyinlola and other PDP leaders for their support, promising to operate an inclusive government if elected.
He said the views and interests of the people would form the foundation of his administration, while alleging that the present administration had undermined the development of the state through what he described as nepotism.
Oyebamiji also dismissed allegations that the APC was planning to rig the election, describing the claims allegedly being circulated by the Accord Party and its candidate as unfounded.
The APC candidate said he had visited all the local government areas in the state and interacted with opinion leaders and other stakeholders, describing the reception he received across the state as “awesome”.
He expressed optimism that the reception would translate into votes for the APC during the August 15 election.
Also speaking, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, urged residents to come out in large numbers to vote for Oyebamiji.
Oyetola criticised the performance of the present administration led by Governor Ademola Adeleke, alleging that the state had remained underdeveloped under the government.
He urged the electorate to vote for the APC candidate, saying his election would provide an opportunity for a change of government in the state.
