Bid by former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala to return to government in 2019 may have met a dead end. He left government house, Agodi, visibly angry after Governor Abiola Ajimobi reportedly told him that he should back out of the race and allow younger person to succeed him.
Alao-Akala, who is Ajimobi’s immediate predecessor, had sought audience with Ajimobi over his ambition. This was before today’s meeting between the governor and governorship aspirants began. Except Shittu who was disqualified, Ajimobi had invited the 7 All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirants to the meeting in order to get some aspirants step down for each other.
“Alao-Akala pleaded with Ajimobi to allow him fly the APC flag in next year’s governorship election. told Akala pointblank that he cannot govern Oyo State again. Ajimobi advised him to support a younger aspirant as both of them are old. Oga added that as leaders, he and Alao-Akala would provide the needed guidance and mentorship for the next governor. Akala left the government house, visibly angry,” the source confided in OYO INSIGHT.
The development is coming few days after Alao-Akala, whose son-Olamiju, is the current chairman of Ogbomoso North local government, told party members in Ogbomoso that he would take care of them if he emerges governor.
Only last Monday, OYO INSIGHT had reported how Alao-Akala his former boss, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja. Ladoja is a leader of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Ajimobi, sources further hinted, had wanted Alao-Akala to run for Oyo North senatorial district before the latter went behind to obtain governorship nomination forms. A similar situation had played out in the build-up to the 2015 elections. Ajimobi had talked Alao-Akala into accepting the APC senatorial ticket. They waited till the last minutes before Alao-Akala went for the Labour Party governorship form. He lost the election.
It was however unsure whether Alao-Akala will participate or not in tomorrow’s primaries whose venue is yet to be fixed.
