The chances of reconciling coalition partners and neglected members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, with Governor Seyi Makinde look slimmer as commissioner for local government and chieftaincy matters, Chief Bayo Lawal, described them as overrated politicians.
OYOINSIGHT.COM understands that it has not been rosy between the governor and candidates of the African Democratic Congress, ADC and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin and Barr. Sharafadeen Alli, who stepped down their ambitions to form a coalition with Makinde to defeat Oloye Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
This newspaper also recall that some chieftains of the ruling party, notably Chief Adebisi Olopoeyan and Engr. Femi Babalola (Jogor) have been critical of the governor over alleged neglect and selection of non-party members as aides by the governor.
Lawal, who was the director general of Makinde governorship campaign in 2019, made this known on Political Circuit, a Fresh 105.9 FM weekly political programme anchored by Mayor Isaac Brown.
Monitored by OYOINSIGHT.COM, Lawal described the duo of Olopoeyan and Jogor as political chickens and immature for complaining that they have been sidelined.
Lawal, who hails from Ibadan North East local government like Olopoeyan, added that “many of them have received their pay before the election, hence they have no reason to complain.”
According to him, it took former governor Rashidi Ladoja three years to compensate him despite his huge contribution to his emergence in 2003. He added that he never raised eyebrow during those three years.
He explained that even if Jesus and Muhammed become president and governor of Nigeria and Oyo respectively, some people would still complain.
Olopoeyan Is From Makinde’s LG: He Can’t Compete With Him
He accused Olopoeyan of hosting the APC chieftains, Chief Bayo Adelabu and Oloye Teslim Folarin in his house, and as such, he has no moral right to complain that he was sidelined in the scheme of things.
Olopoeyan, he added, cannot be competing with Makinde in the same Ibadan North East local government, where they belong.
He advised him to stop saying that he has not been recognized. “He should channel his grievances to the governor, rather than making allegations.”
He said that Olopoeyan was not the only person who worked for Makinde in 2019, advising him to wait for the report of the PDP reconciliation committee before crying foul.
”There are 8 milliom people who are expecting dividends of good governance in Oyo state, he needs to be calm.
“There are ways we pay people in politics. If we construct a road linking your road, it is part of the benefits of democracy, “ he said.
He said the grievances of Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin and Barr. Sharafadeen Alli are normal.
Lanlehin Wanted Us To Handover What Belonged To ADC To Him
Lawal, however, revealed that “Lanlehin wanted us to handover the whole benefit of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to him. It is not news that Lanlehin has defected to the APC. That is his style. He has been going round political parties.”
Sharafadeen Wanted To Dictate For Us
He commended former secretary to the state government, Alli, for what he described as his political maturity, he attacked him for presenting Zenith Labour Party, ZLP’s nominee for commissionership slot without considering clashes in local government.
He said; “Sarafadeen Alli is a matured politician. You cannot see him going round making noise. He is the one to decide his political future. But he was full of himself and said we cannot dictate for him when we asked him to bring slot for commissionership,” he added.
