A governorship aspirant under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Oyo State, Oluwaseyi Makinde has declared that he is not dragging the leadership of the party with a former Governor of the state, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja.
Contrary to insinuations in some quarters, Makinde said Ladoja being a former Governor, at all times is still his leader considering his political experience, age and influence.
According to him, the former Governor remains my father politically and there is no need for him to drag the leadership of the party with him.
Speaking at the maiden interactive session he organised for executive members of the party cut across the 351 wards and the 33 local government areas of the state held in Ibadan, the state capital he said: “Some people said I am dragging the leadership of the party with Senator Ladoja, it is not so. He is still the leader of the party in the state and my leader in Oyo state”.
He said that the party members should work toward ensuring that the aim of the party to send the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) away in 2019 come to past.
Makinde said: “What we want to do is to send APC away in 2019. After that, we will call ourselves and move forward. I am not here to declare my governorship ambition but to ensure that I interact with party executives. The essence of this meeting is to interactive with them, the party executives. All the 33 local government areas in Oyo State. We have the opportunity to meet them and interact with them from our various local government areas.
“I am a member of the party, I am entitled to interact with them, the executive of the party, when it is time for me to formally declare, we have done it before, we know how to do it. Declaration is not something that you do in the corner of your room. It is to tell the people what you have for them. Politics is all about conflict and resolution, there may be challenges but we will address them as family across board within the party so that we can move forward and face the APC.
“All of us need to go and read the constitution of our party. So I am begging all of us, that don’t let us fight ourselves. Let us ensure we work together, work for peace to reign. I have called Senator Ayo Adeseun, I have called Jumoke Akinjide and I have sent text message to Senator Ladoja.
“I am begging you to come out and let people know that we are ready to chase APC out of power.”
At the interactive session were leaders of the party among whom were Jacob Adetoro, Ex- Speakers of the State House of Assembly, Moroof Atilola and Kehinde Ayoola, Aderemi Ayodele, Dotun Oyelade, Bisi Olopoeyan and other leaders of the party in the state.
Akinremi Feyisipo, Ibadan
