LAGBO- OSELU: PDP PRO Reveals Hidden Things About Ladoja, Seyi-Makinde, Monsura, Ajimobi, Others

Below are the excerpts of the interview; 

Good morning.

We envisaged a great level of victory for our party, PDP, because Oyo State is predominantly PDP. The present administration got into office with 32%, but now we are coming in with 60%. Not an average performance. The alliance helped. Most of the people in the alliance came from PDP in the first place. 

They made a sacrifice for the good of the people of Oyo State because service is not a do or die affairs. Also, the outgoing Governor took people for granted. 

Ajimobi’s second term was a mistake, it didn’t come through popular acceptance. But where they failed, we’ll correct ourselves and where they did well we’ll improve on it because the people of Oyo State are the final decider. 

I’m Engr Akeem Olatunji, not an Alhaji. I am a politician, a party member of PDP from Oluyole LG with love for the people and a desire to serve. I’m a professional Engr who has never earned a salary from politics. I’m following the footsteps of my father, Alh Bakare Olatunji. I started active politics in 2008, in PDP when I contested to be Oluyole Local Government Chairman, then later I contested to be Federal Representative. But politics is not a do or die affairs. 

My Godfather is Senator Rashidi Ladoja and everything I admire in Senator Rashidi Ladoja, I also I admire in Engr Seyi Makinde. He is a professional in politics.

Everybody has their leader, I went with Baba Ladoja to Accord where I became Publicity Secretary and I continue to follow him out of my commitments to party directives. You don’t do politics because of posts, but you get posts because of your antecedents. 

We are already working on a Transition Committee and very soon it will be made public. We have to separate the government of Oyo State from the person of Abiola Ajimobi. The things Engr Seyi Makinde is saying are about the 30 Billion Naira worth of contract awarded in a two-week period. 

He did not write letters to stop financial institutions from honouring agreements like Ajimobi did. However, he will visit the full wrath of the law on the corrupt people. 

The federal government doesn’t dictate to the state, why should the Local Government be dictated to? The 33 excavators bought for all the 33 Local Governments is just a White Elephant project to put money in some pockets. Against a background of 200 Billion Naira debt profile in Oyo State. On the subject of corruption, let everybody do what is right.

If the people insist on the prosecution of the present administration, we will, because everything we do is a story, a precedent. We must be careful because we are operating a born again PDP and we want to remain the people’s friend

All the parties that form the Coalition did it out of sacrifice and a desire to better Oyo State. Nobody is sanctioned in their party because of the Coalition. The alliance is a factor in the victory of Engr Seyi Makinde but it is not the only factor. The caliber of our candidate is also a factor. 

On local government elections, we will obey the Nigerian constitution which is a three year tenure for Local Government Chairmen. The NURTW are also subject to the Nigerian constitution. 

When all the three tiers of government are functional, the people of Olunde and our hinterlands will get good roads to enhance their agricultural business, God will guide us. 

Our party people are good people, they will guide the Governor aright. In 2011, Senator Monsurat was a first timer state legislator yet she became Speaker. 

Unionism and politics are two separate things. The security of the state will not be compromised. The people of Oyo State should not be afraid. Our government will be more peaceful than the present administration. 

The people of Oyo State should continue to support Engr Seyi Makinde with prayers. 

Translated and Transcribed by Olubunmi Sodipo

Oyo State PDP New Media.