Ayodeji Abass-Alesinloye, chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, has revealed how the sincerity of Bayo Adelabu, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, made him lose the 2019 election.
Newspeakonline quoted Abass-Alesinloye, who spoke in an interview on Ibadan-based radio station, Splash 105.5FM, on Tuesday, as saying that Seyi Makinde would not have defeated Adelabu if not for the parties that came together to form a coalition.
OYOINSIGHT.COM understands that Makinde, few days to the March 9, 2019 election, struck an agreement with the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, Zenith Labour Party and Social Democratic Party, SDP. The governorship candidates of the parties, Olufemi Lanlehin, Sharafadeen Alli and Bolaji Ayorinde respectively later stepped down their ambitions for Makinde.
However, it was an agreement betrayed for ADC’s Lanlehin and and ZLP’s Alli. Ayorinde was appointed member of the governor’s advisory council which the duo rejected. Lanlehin and Alli, together
Speaking further, Alesinloye noted that it would have been a clear win for Adelabu, saying: “In fact, Makinde won’t have come second, it would have been Lanlehin or Alli and it is the fact.
“Where is the merger now? A lot of things happened then and I won’t like to discuss it here. Adelabu is a strict person and the offer is that you will have to give them certain percentage. He would have to discuss with the party but Makinde was always saying ‘yes’ to their offer and Adelabu can’t be saying ‘yes.’ Adelabu is a principled and factual person. Where are those people who worked with Makinde when he was saying ‘yes’? But we will forever continue to respect Adelabu. He is not arrogant at all; he will tell you what he can do and will also carry his party along. He told the merger that if you want beyond this, you will have to meet my party. Look at all their debate, he gave the stuff he was made of. He is very brilliant.”
Abass-Alesinloye, who was removed as chairman of Oluyole local government alongside others by the incumbent administration, added that if Makinde defects to APC, it would be a bad market for the party.
OYOINSIGHT.COM had, few days ago, relying on facts from credible sources, reported moves by Makinde to join APC. Though Makinde’s spokesman, Taiwo Adisa, has not denied it, he only said that APC was moved by the numerous achievements of his boss in less than 2 years.
Alesinloye, however, disagreed with Adisa, saying that the governor can’t join APC because of his performance.
He said:” How will APC, as a party, welcome Seyi Makinde? That means he is not principled enough. I heard he is making that effort but if he wants, he should go to his local government and not Abuja because he is free to join any party of his choice.”
When asked if the party will welcome the governor, the ALGON boss said: ”We will welcome him but he should go back to his ward and not Abuja to say he wants to join APC, they will accept him from his ward because you must go from your ward to local government. He won’t even try it because that means he is not principled enough. He has said so many unprintable words about APC. Makinde can’t come because even his performance can’t make him come, it will be a bad market.”
Abass-Aleshinloye also said APC will not participate in the local government election slated for May 15, 2021, describing it as a charade.
He said it would be a serious contradiction for APC that its candidates who were unjustly removed from office and went to court to seek redress to be participating in another election without judgement being served.
“We took the government to court so we won’t do that. They know why they couldn’t participate in the election we had under Ajimobi because I told you that PDP was not a party then.
“It is not as if they have fixed the election date before Supreme Court gave the date. It was after the Supreme Court fixed the day, so it is like pre-empting what will come out of the judgement. The Seyi Makinde government is wasting time and the state resources. If the judgement is in our favour, we will return back to office. They have wasted resources and time, so why can’t they just wait. The judgement of the Supreme Court is not something you can appeal again; the judgement is final so why can’t they wait. It is like they know what the result of the judgement will be and the head of OYSIEC is a SAN, he should know and advice better. I have heard him on several media saying there can never be a judgement that will be in our favour, you can’t read the mind of the Supreme Court judges, you can’t,” the APC chieftain stated.
