Muyideen Olagunju, a former lawmaker representing Oyo East/West state constituency, has said that Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, may need another coalition to win the 2023 election like he did in the 2019 election.
Featuring on BOTTOMLINE a weekly political programme on IBR 92.5fm Ibadan anchored by Aanuoluwapo Omorinde, Olagunju said the governor did not treat Femi Lanlehin, candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, who stepped down his ambition for Makinde.
Olagunju, who is now of the All Progressives Congress, APC, admitted that political parties are not the problem of Nigeria but the people,
Recalling what transpired before, during and after the 2019 governorship election in the state, the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, trained lawyer, explained that “without the coalition in 2019, the PDP couldn’t have won that election.
“After the election, the moves of Governor Seyi Makinde show that he was prepared to act the way he is doing. Senator Femi Lanlehin was unfairly treated.”
When asked if there was a written agreement between all the parties concerned, he said there was none but added that “when you ask them if there was a coalition, they can’t deny it”.
On the rumour that all stakeholders in the coalition agreement were ‘financially settled’, he denied it.
“I can speak for Senator Femi Lanlehin. He never received any money in his individual capacity but some money was given to mobilize members of the ADC for the election. The governor has shown that he is comfortable to work with certain people who have benefitted more than they deserve neglecting other critical stakeholders in the coalition arrangement”.
Olagunju who said he has no personal grouse with Governor Makinde as he has had courses to interact with him on many occasions asked the governor not to rule out surprises in 2023 adding that he may need another coalition in the next election.
The Oyo-born politician who refused to admit that Governor Makinde has grown to become a political colossus said “his strength has only been tested within his party. The reason for the crisis in his party should be queried in the first place”
