The former governor of the state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola-led Peoples Democratic Party faction in Osun State, on Sunday declared support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s governorship poll, Bola Oyebamiji.
Oyinlola, speaking at the event held in Osogbo, where Oyebamiji’s ambition to be governor received the faction’s endorsement, stated that his group decided to part ways with the incumbent administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke due to a lack of inclusion in his handling of government affairs.
Oyinlola, joined by a former Secretary to State Government, Mr Fatai Akinbade, former PDP National Vice Chairman, Southwest, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, however, declared that they were not dumping the PDP.
He added that the group adopted Oyebamiji’s candidature, having considered the decision necessary and out of conviction and sincere desire for the progress of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the leaders and members of the PDP in the state, Oyinlola described the endorsement of Oyebamiji as a child of necessity, conviction and sincere desire to advance the cause of the state in the interest of all and sundry.
He maintained that the leadership and members of the party remained resolute to vote massively for the emergence of Oyebamiji as part of efforts to rescue the state from the scourge of political nepotism.
“One of the major issues that have created this unfortunate situation, in our considered view, is the lack of inclusiveness in the governance of our state.
“We believed in that project. We mobilised our people for it. We invested time, energy and political capital in it because we believed that it represented the aspirations of our people.
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“But unfortunately, along the line, things began to fall apart, and one of the major issues that have created this unfortunate situation, in our considered view, is the lack of inclusiveness in the governance of our dear state.
“We believe strongly that no party or government can succeed sustainably when it does not carry its people and leaders along.
“The PDP has always been a party built around consultation, participation and collective responsibility.
“These are values that we must continue to uphold,” he said.
Oyinlola, however, insisted that they remained PDP members and would not defect to the APC.
“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. We are not here to renounce our membership of the PDP. Rather, we are exercising our conscience as stakeholders who have served this state and who believe that, at this particular moment, Osun State requires a different direction.
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