AGAINST the backdrop of planned mediation of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and Senator David Mark in the seeming misgivings over the outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election in Osun, one of the gubernatorial aspirants, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, over the weekend said the duo should only hold reconciliatory talk with the standard bearer of the party in the September 22 governorship poll, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Ogunbiyi, who polled 1, 562 votes in the July 21 primary election of the PDP won by Adeleke with 1, 569 votes emphasised his resolve to remain in the opposition party and work for its victory in the forthcoming poll.
Addressing his supporters in Ile Ogbo community, located in Ayedire local government area of Osun State, Ogunbiyi said “we heard that the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and Senator David Mark are coming to Osun on reconciliatory mission, they don’t need to come and talk to us, they should talk to the Adeleke and his group.”
He accused Adeleke group of reneging on the peace pact designed by the PDP national leadership to foster synergy among the stakeholders and other members of the party after a recent meeting convened by the chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus in Abuja.
ALSO READ: Revealed: How Daura planned to install new NASS leaders
But, while reacting to Ogunbiyi’s accusation, Adeleke said “there is nobody that loses election without a bit of anger. But this is a family affair. Dr Akin Ogunbiyi has affirmed that he is not leaving the party.”
Speaking through his director of media and publicity, Mr Olawale Rasheed, he posited that his major concern was to work and collaborate with stakeholders and all members of the party for victory during the forthcoming election, saying “the rest is politics. The focus now is the preparation for September 22. Peace is here.”
However, Ogunbiyi averred that “I did not demand anything from our party leadership despite the fact that I won the primary election. At the end of the meeting in Abuja, which was attended by our national chairman, BoT chairman, Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Senator Olu Alabi, Chief Francis Fadahunsi, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Hon Adejare Bello and others, they all agreed that my camp should nominate a candidate for the deputy governorship position.”
He continued, “they also decided to give me a senatorial ticket, emphasising the need for peace and collaboration so that the PDP can succeed in the coming poll. I have nothing against Senator Adeleke and his family. Before we knew what was happening, they (Adeleke) gave the deputy governorship slot to Hon Albert Adeogun.”
“The national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus subsequently summoned us over the development, complaining that Adeleke had not become the governor and he was already disobeying the party. He called Adeogun severally but his (Adeogun) phone rang out without a response. Since then, he has remained incommunicado,” Ogunbiyi remarked.
While calling on his supporters to continue to work for the party ahead of the governorship poll, he said “you are not in the PDP because of an individual, but for your love for the party and people of Osun State. I never instituted any matter court because we believe in peace and progress of the PDP. In about two weeks time, everything would be resolved.”
and then