The Director General, Tinubu/Shettima Coalition for Good Governance and a former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu has described the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State as a formidable force poised to wrestle power from the incumbent in the March 11 gubernatorial contest in the Pace Setter State.
Describing the victory of the broom party in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections in Oyo State as a proof of the high level of acceptability of the party, the former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General in Oyo State said “even in the governorship election, the APC will emerge victorious”.
Fielding questions from Aanuoluwapo Omorinde on BOTTOM LINE on IBR 92.5fm Ibadan at the Weekend, Shittu described Oyo State as a progressive state saying “Oyo people are known for aligning with the progressives and that was what the people proved again in last Saturday elections”. Were it not for the high-handedness of our Leader at that time, we would not have lost the 2019 election but because the governorship primaries was badly managed, many of our Leaders at that time worked for SEYI Makinde and that was how he won the governorship contest. Unfortunately, he (Makinde) mismanaged all the goodwill.
When asked why he is campaigning for Teslim Folarin when he is known to be an ally of Seyi Makinde, Shittu said “let me tell you this. At some point when I was jostling for the governorship ticket of my party, Makinde once agreed to be my running mate though he was in another party at that time wanting to become governor too. Unfortunately, we both didn’t get the ticket and we went ahead with our friendship. When I became a Minister, he donated a vehicle to me just for being a Minister. Eventually, my relationship with him costs me a re-appointment as a Minister because some people in my party went to Abuja and alleged that I was involved in anti-party activities and that was it”.
He described Teslim Folarin as a dependable man who listens. “Though I was a governorship Aspirant in the last primaries of our party but I withdrew my participation and I have since been with Tessy. He is my younger brother who is very respectful, attentive and intelligent. We are with him and will work for his victory”.
On whether the APC in Oyo State is considering wooing Adebayo Adelabu of Accord Party to his side before the election, Shittu said “that should not be for public discourse for now”.
