I never negotiated with you— Lanlehin replies Adelabu

The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress, ADC, Senator Oluremi Lanlehin has reacted to a statement credited to the candidate of All Progressive Congress, APC, Chief Adebayo Adelabu. 

Adelabu had on a radio station revealed that he was in negotiation with Lanlehin to explore possibilities of working as allies, in the build-up to the 2019 governorship election.

Reacting to the statement, Lanlehin in a statement personally signed and made available to Mouthpiece NGR, said he did not in anyway negotiate with Adelabu either directly or indirectly. 

He explained that it was Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State governor that approached him on his behalf and was respectfully turned down. 

The statement reads: “I listened with rapt attention to comments made by my by aburo, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Oyo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 polls, while answering questions on Fresh FM’s flagship sociopolitical programme, Political Circuit, today, Saturday, 20 June, 2020, particularly on the Coalition that heralded the victory of Engr. Seyi Makinde, then candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and specifically as it related to my humble self negotiating with him to explore possibilities of working as allies, in the build-up to that election.”

“While I would ordinarily have preferred not to issue any rejoinder to his comments, my integrity, character and fidelity to truth and good conscience, will not agree that I let such slide, especially as the comments are capable of misinforming and misrepresenting the issues in the eyes and minds of the good people of Oyo State.”

I want to categorically put on record, for the sake of posterity, and like I did in the text message I sent to the programme, that: 

 “I did not negotiate with Chief Bayo Adelabu, either directly or indirectly. In fact, it was Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State governor, who approached me on his behalf, but I respectfully  turned him down, without much ado.”  

“Immediately my above statement was read to Bayo Adelabu during the programme, he immediately retracted his statement as it pertains to me.”

“Despite ongoing Coalition talks at that time, I still gave audience  to Governor Fayemi, a man for whom l have a great deal of respect, and who I’d had a wonderful relationship with, right from our days in NADECO. I respectfully turned down his passionate plea that I aligned with Bayo Adelabu and the APC.”

“Despite my progressive roots, which Governor Fayemi alluded to in that meeting, l explained to him my reasons for turning him, and indeed, Adelabu down. The crux of our discussion then, was that every politics is local, and that it was in the best interest of Oyo State at that time of its history, that I coalesced with Engr Seyi Makinde, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to win the  gubernatorial election.”

“I wish to conclude, that despite the advertised failings of post-victory agreements, I sincerely do not have any regrets for being an active participant in the Coalition that brought in Engr Seyi Makinde, as it was honestly, the best decision, in those circumstances, and sincerely, in the interest of Oyo State.”

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