Ololade Adeyanju/
Neighbours of former Oyo State governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, at his Kongi Layout, Bodija, Ibadan residence have narrated how a helicopter landed in his compound yesterday morning to ferry him and some others to an unknown destination.
At the time, the neighbours were oblivious of the reason behind the strange development until reports emerged later about the former governor’s meeting with the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at his Lagos residence same day.
Some of the neighbours who spoke to NewsmakersNG said the sight of the helicopter created a stir, as that was the first time such a thing was happening in the neighbourhood.
It was after the meeting, which was also attended by his wife and one of his sons, that Akala reportedly announced his return to the APC.
The former governor had parted ways with the party shortly before it’s primary elections late last year after complaining of being sidelined by APC leaders in Oyo State.
He thereafter joined the African Democratic Party (ADP) and later emerged as it’s gubernatorial candidate in the state.
The national leadership of the APC however initiated reconciliation talks with Akala which culminated in yesterday’s meeting, following it’s relatively poor performance in last Saturday’s presidential election in the state.
At the end of yesterday’s meeting, Akala issued a statement to announce his decision to work with the APC in Oyo State in the March 9 governorship election.
He however said he had not resigned his membership of ADP and would support members of the party contesting other elective positions in the state.
Read full statement below:
Following the outcome of the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections, I, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala – the Oyo State 2019 Action Democratic Party (ADP), have decided to form an alliance with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adebayo Adekola Adelabu ahead of the March 9th Governorship and state House of assembly Elections in the state. However, all the ADP candidates for the House of Assembly seats will go to the elections with my maximum supports.
It is widely known that I initiated alliance talks with the main opposition parties in Oyo State vis-a-vis my great party – the Action Democratic Party ((ADP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). My boss, the former governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan, Senator Rashid Adewolu Ladoja is a mediator. Meanwhile, during the alliance process, I received an emergency call from the Presidency. In the meeting with Presidency, I was prevailed upon to work for APC. My response was that I should be given 48hrs to consult with my people, the opposition parties alliance committee as well as the teeming members, the leaders and the stakeholders of my great party, ADP.
On resumption to the alliance meeting, my boss (High Chief Rashid Adewolu Ladoja) told me point blank in the presence of other governorship candidates that I was not in consideration for Governorship due to my place of birth – Ogbomoso. According to him, “we need an Ibadan man to slug it out with another Ibadan man, which is Bayo Adelabu”. With the statement, my geographical place of birth is the only crime I committed.
Since I’ve been unfairly and technically booted out of the alliance talks, I consulted with my party stakeholders and supporters whose supports have brought me this far. Having realised that my 2019 Governorship agenda cannot be realised in isolation based on the present situation, the only option remaining for me is to form an alliance with Mr. Bayo Adelabu of APC.
I remain in ADP and all our candidates for the House of Assembly seats will stand the March 9th Elections with all my support but I will work for the victory of Bayo Adelabu of APC.
Bayo Adelabu is ready to work with ADP to adopt and implement the core values of our party and my manifesto. The Presidency approached me for an alliance based on our performance and grassroots network not only in Ogbomoso but also in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun and Oyo.
“Our core values and philosophies as indicated in our ADP manifestos, ‘Rescue Mission Agenda, have been adopted by Bayo Adelabu with Presidency as witness.”
I have therefore as a candidate of ADP, accepted to support Adelabu of APC for victory and therefore form a coalition government. My solemn gratitude goes to our members, state and national leaders of ADP for the ample opportunity given to me to lead and fly the flag of the party. Though, my decision is a very tough one, it is for the progress of Oyo State.
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