BAYO AGBOOLA, from Ibadan writes that the the political atmosphere in Oyo state, like in many other parts of the country, has become unpredictable in the last three weeks with the unfolding gale of defections in the political landscape
No thanks to the party primaries which left some politicians, especially, those in elective positions and their supporters, aggrieved over allegations of being shortchanged and the feeling that some persons were unduly favoured in the process of nomination of party candidates.
Worst hit by the cross-carpet were the outgoing members of the State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate.
In Oyo state, for instance, it is common sight for elected political officers to migrate from one party to another in protest against what they referred to as use of ‘fake’ or ‘doctored’ delegates list for the conduct of primary elections.
This time around, the deluge of protests cum migration from one party to another cut across the major political parties, particularly, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Till date, nearly all the major political parties in the state have in one way or the been affected by the gale of defections with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) presently taking the lead.
Prominent figures in the political circle defecting from their party to another for one reason or another, particularly, in the bid to clinch ticket to the Red Chamber, House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly.
The most recent of the defections in Oyo was that of the deputy governor of Oyo state, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan dumping the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to join the opposition All Progressives Congress in the state by resigning his membership of the ruling PDP .
It is no longer news that for over two years, there has been glaring political differences between Governor Makinde and his deputy, Engineer Olaniyan with none of them ready to make any public statement on their differences.
The deputy governor, while speaking on his defection to the APC, declared that despite his dumping PDP, he still remained the deputy governor of Oyo state. His reason was that he was sworn in to do on May 29, 2019 and has not resigned.
He added that the only thing that has changed is in political career was that he “is leaving the PDP with all his supporters from across the state.”
He stressed that “the news of the defection is also in response to the yearnings and aspirations of his supporters who have been asking what the next line of action would be.
“Based on our last discussions on the happenings would be presented to the members of the public, people have been asking me what next about my political move.I am bold to inform you clearly that as from this moment, I am porting to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
“You have been asking me what next politically because everybody is already taking positions, what to contest for, under what party and like I had always told you, when the time is ripe, I will make it public.
“Even as at this morning, some political parties still called me to come and take their tickets to come and contest with, I don’t want to mention any name because I don’t want to de-market any party because we meet to part and part to meet.
“Not less than three parties have called me today (Sunday) alone and as at yesterday (Saturday) I had about eight political parties offering me their platforms to contest, but is that what I wanted? Am I looking for governorship by all means? No. Do I want to contest governorship at just any party? No.”
Engineer Olaniyan stressed, ” so, if that is not, then my aim remains the same, that I am into politics not because I want to make name or any pecuniary gains. I am there because in the society of today, if you know you want to make meaning to your people, you have to make meaning through political process by joining a party.
“Some people will say, you don’t have to join a political party, to make impact; yes, but you should not complain when some people are ruling and you cannot rule without joining a political party.
“I have considered the pros and cons, I have seen it all. I was elected as a deputy governor, sworn in May 29, 2019 to run up to May 28, 2023, so the time is still there but as you can see, everyone has already showed interest in the position they aspire to contest for.I had told you ab initio that, God will show us the way to go.
“For a journey of one thousand kilometres, it starts with a step. First and foremost, I, Engineer Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan, I am porting to the APC. I am not resigning as the deputy Governor, I am still the deputy Governor of Oyo state, Engineer Seyi Makinde is still my Governor, but there is no aspect of the constitution that says the governor or his deputy cannot part ways politically.
“This aspect, I am interested in the law court. It came down to be a hard fact, that it is possible for us to part ways. For the act of governance, I am still the deputy Governor of Oyo state, under the leadership of the governor of Oyo state. It is only the party maters that changed. And I am not going alone, I am going with my teeming supporters in all the 33 local governments.
“They have been asking me what next and I kept telling them to wait. As at today, they just finished a meeting in Iseyin, the Oke Ogun caucus and they wanted to know what next. And I also asked them to go and decide the next thing too. Before I joined the PDP, they all decided that we should join PDP and so if I am going to do anything otherwise,
“I asked them to decide and get back to me. People have been coming from all parts of the sate asking me what next, what I keep telling them was that they should let consultation go round and wide because, in politics, you don’t have to go all alone.Few minutes ago, some leaders were here in my office and we decided to do what we are doing now. So, that is the update and I have already ported to the APC.”
In the camp of the main opposition party in the party, APC, the party’s governorship candidate in Oyo state in the 2019 general election, Chief Adebayo Adelabu few weeks ago announced his defection from the APC to Accord party, saying, ” Accord Party is the political platform” upon which his gubernatorial ambition shall be pursued to actualization.
Chief Adelabu in a statement personally signed by him entitled ” “Change of political Party” maintained, “it is needless to restate in details, reason for relinquishing my APC membership on the point that such reason is public knowledge”.
He added added, “a time exists in the life of a sincere aspiring man of the public when events and circumstances lesson the operation of his mind onto new decision, new desire and new determination.
“Such time now finds expression in my political career which necessities vital change, fundamental decision-making and refreshing determination”.
“It is therefore on this basis that I hereby declare the withdrawal of my membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Accord party of Nigeria. This is the political platform upon which my gubernatorial ambition shall be pursued to actualization by the guidance and grace of the Almighty Allah.
It is needless to restate in details, reason for relinquishing my APC membership on the point that such reason is public knowledge. The man dies in him who keeps silent in the face of blatant injustice and the life of a lie is a matter of little time. Evil people struggle in vain in their conspiracy against their innocent fellowman because malice is a poor match for destiny.”
What is important above all is that my leaders, supporters and teeming people of Oyo state are hereby assured of my determination never to disappoint them in the pursuit of my gubernatorial ambition to reality by the Will of God.
“I wish to present my humble self for the political liberation movement to rescue our pacesetting state from the bad operation of clueless and inept people in government and in the other party.
“We shall together inaugurate a new era of peace and progress in our dear state in line with my 7-point agenda when I become the executive governor by God’s grace in 2023.
“There is accord for our vision in the Accord party of Nigeria. We hereby move to therein accordingly.”
However, these defections, especially, that of the deputy governor as expected has been generating issues with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state asking Engineer Rauf Olaniyan to resign immediately having defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to PDP, it amounted to willful abandonment of the political party and the votes that produced him on the party’s joint ticket adding that any attempt by the defecting deputy governor and his new party ” to steal Oyo people’s mandate through the backdoor after APC was utterly rejected at the 2019 governorship poll” will be resisted legally.
According to PDP, the defecting deputy governor “should not pretend not to know what is right next to do after leaving the political platform that sponsored him and Makinde on the joint ticket if truly he has any atom of the Yoruba ‘omoluabi’ toga he always ascribed to himself” The PDP further said, “The people of Oyo state “did not vote for a PDP/APC joint ticket, they voted entirely for a PDP mandate.
“While section 40 of the constitution of Nigeria guarantees freedom of association of any person, the deputy governor ought to be enlightened by the same Constitution when it stipulates that the ticket upon which he (Olaniyan) contested the 2019 governorship election alongside Governor Makinde as a deputy was not an independent candidate ticket.
“Our position is simple and very clear on this matter and as a matter of legal implication, the votes in any election in Nigeria are to political parties, and not candidates.” And it is on this note that the PDP as the ruling party in the state is advising the deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan, not to be carried away by the lies and deceits told him by a political neophyte such as ‘Mr. jagba’ and be bamboozled into self delusion of thinking he can be used as a tool to steal Oyo people’s mandate through the backdoor”, it said.
PDP added, “failure to follow this advise and adhere strictly to it from the PDP which is the legitimate owner of every single vote casted by the electorates in the 2019 governorship election, the PDP shall not hesitate to immediately deploy every constitutional means to prevent this daylight robbery.
“It is only when you contest election as an independent candidate and win and then decides to move to any political party of your choice that you become the owner of the votes cast by the electorates, unfortunately for Olaniyan who wants to eat his cake and still have it.
“The Oyo PDP, which is the rightful owner of the mandate will retrieve it back in no distant time using every available legal means if Olaniyan fails to humbly resign as a gentleman with his new move. We are determined and resolved to retrieve the party’s mandate being withheld illegally and unlawfully by the deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan because it belongs to the people of Oyo state who have handled same to the PDP.”
The APC governorship candidate in the state, Senator Teslim Folarin on his part said the ruling PDP in the state should perish the impeachment agenda or further victimisation in any form of the defected Deputy Governor Engr Rafiu Olaniyan saying with the exit of the deputy governor from the party, PDP has lost a great asset and as such, the party in Oyo state will suffer electoral humiliation in 2023 general elections.
He added, “I want to state that His Excellency Olaniyan’s position as validly elected Deputy Governor of Oyo State is secured and constitutionally backed.”.
” His tenure ends on 29th of May 2023. Therefore, the ruling PDP must perish the impeachment agenda or further victimisation in any form. APC has zero tolerance for harassment, humiliation and victimisation of any of her members.
“H.E Olaniyan and his teeming supporters will not be the last to join the Oyo APC Rescue Mission 2023, many more PDP political office holders and their chieftains will announce their transfers in no distant future”.
Though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the 2023 general elections in the country to start from February next year, political observers are of the views that there would still be lots of manoeuvring, skimming and display of technical wherewithal in the political circle in Oyo state.
