Oyo governorship: I’m open to alignment talks ― Makinde

GUBERNATORIAL candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state, Seyi Makinde has said the party is open to alignment talks with other opposition parties in Oyo state in order to dislodge the ruling party’s reign in preparation for March 9 governorship election in the state.

Makinde who was flanked by senatorial candidate of the party, Oyo central, Chief Bisi Ilaka and the senator-elect, Oyo South senatorial district, Dr Kola Balogun, stated this while addressing journalists in a press briefing held at the Omi Tuntun Campaign House on the Presidential/National Assembly election at the weekend.

Makinde who said he had never opposed alignment arraignment said “one thing I am sure of is that never again will anybody rule without the mandate of the people of Oyo State. I am open to alignment talks.”

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On the performance of PDP in last Saturday’s election, Makinde expressed his party’s appreciation to the people of the state “who trooped out in large numbers and endured obvious discomfort and challenges. They were very resolute and determined to play their role in our efforts to bring genuine change and establish a fresh and workable method of governance that is devoid of deceit and executive arrogance. To you all, I say thank you and we are very proud of you.

“Last Saturday, a landmark historical event occurred in Oyo South senatorial district, despite intimidation, naked use of executive power and obscene deployment of billions of government money, our people decided to stay on the path of honour.

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They told Ajimobi that though they are poor materially, no tyrant can take away their pride and self-esteem. Only a people galvanized by the truth and propelled by what is just can perform such heroics. That was exactly what you have done and I doff my hat.

“Next weekend, on March 9, they will even be more desperate and attempt to bare their fangs but they will fail even more woefully because once the constituted authority is out of the way, what can the godson do.”

On the election and various attending issues, Makinde who also commiserate with the family of a young boy killed on election day, Monsuru Amusa said “I have sent emissaries to Monsuru’s family to condole with them and I intend to follow up personally in the course of the week.”

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The PDP Guber candidate, however, notes that the party is prepared to “pursue forcefully within the ambit of the law, our mandate in Oyo Central senatorial district where there was a clear case of miscarriage of justice and the senatorial seat was shamefully given to someone else. Ditto for

Ibarapa North and Central federal constituency where our candidate won the election fair and square only for it to be declared inconclusive. A remedy is surely on the way.”

He added that “We shall use all legitimate and legal means to claim Ibadan North constituency where we also won majority of the votes but were denied for reasons that could not stand democratic ideals and processes.

“We are studying other cases of electoral malfeasance and anywhere that we identify one, we will move in, confident that justice will prevail over political arrogance and desperation.”