PROMPT deal by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala to ensure that the state, which is the Yoruba political headquarters and engine room, does not slip into opposition in the March 9 governorship election, is a most selfless service to the Yoruba nation, considering the prospect of Yoruba presidency in 2023, a group has observed, just as it commended the former governor’s return to the ruling APC.
The Forum for the Integration of Akala Ideals (FIAI) in a statement signed by its Chairman, Ademola Adejuyigbe in Ibadan, noted that the Yoruba, being a progressive nation could not allow its mega-state, Oyo, to be ruled, at this point in time, by a reactionary conservative political party such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stressing that allowing that would amount to the marginalisation of the “very strategic state” and a disservice to the memory of Chief Obafemi Awolowo who heralded governance in the pacesetter state.
Saying that the outcome of the governorship election in Oyo State has implication for all Yoruba, the statement pointed out: “that the Asiwaju and the Otunba Alao-Akala found a common ground in this instance serves the West altruistic interest and comes as Yoruba best strategy in the quest for the presidency in the next general election that is only four years away”.
The statement extolled Otunba Alao-Akala saying that once again, the former governor has displayed a rare capacity to understand issues and be on the right side of history.
The group positioned that Alao-Akala has not sold out on the people of the state in any way and enjoined all Alao-Akala’s supporters and the Ogbomoso people in particular to rally the former governor and “his political party of interest” in the next Saturday election, noting that “by now, Alao-Akala is undoubtedly the custodian of the vast Ogbomoso votes and he is trusted not to lead the people astray.”
Commending Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the leadership of the state APC for the immediate restoration of Alao-Akala’s son, Hon. Olamiju Alao-Akala as the Executive Chairman of the Ogbomoso North Local Government, the group called for “post-election adherence to all terms agreed upon so that Oyo State can move forward as a new government hits the ground running”.
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