Former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola has explained why he and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders have now withdrawn their support for Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Oyinlola, alongside former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Fatai Akinbade, and former PDP South-West National Vice Chairman, Tajudeen Oladipo, officially adopted Oyebamiji, fondly known as AMBO, as their preferred candidate on Sunday.
Oyinlola said the decision was informed by the need for a new direction in the overall interest of Osun State.
The former governor said the group had been among the major stakeholders who worked for Adeleke’s emergence as governor in 2022 but became dissatisfied with what he described as a lack of inclusiveness in his administration.
“We were among the major stakeholders who worked tirelessly towards the emergence of the present administration under the platform of the PDP,” Oyinlola said.
He said the group had supported Adeleke because they believed his emergence represented the aspirations of the people of Osun.
“We believed in that project. We supported it. We mobilised our people for it. We invested our time, energy and political capital in it because we believed that it represented the aspirations of our people. Unfortunately, along the line, things began to fall apart,” he said.
According to Oyinlola, the lack of inclusiveness in the administration was one of the major issues that strained relationships between the government and key political stakeholders.
“One of the major issues that have created this unfortunate situation, in our considered view, is the lack of inclusiveness in the governance of our state,” he said.
“We believe strongly that no party or government can succeed sustainably when it does not carry its people and leaders along.”
Oyinlola, however, said his decision to back Oyebamiji did not mean that he had left the PDP.
“Our membership of the PDP is not in question. We are proud members of the party, and we acknowledge the sacrifices, contributions and struggles that have brought the PDP to where it is today,” he said.
He said party loyalty should not override the interests of the state, adding that political leaders had a responsibility to make decisions in the interest of the people.
“However, being members of a political party does not mean that we should abandon our conscience or the larger interest of the people we have served,” Oyinlola said.
“Party loyalty is important, but the interest of Osun State must always come first.”
“Rather, we are exercising our conscience as stakeholders who have served this state and who believe that, at this particular moment, Osun State requires a different direction,” he said.
Oyinlola subsequently declared the group’s support for Oyebamiji, saying they believed the APC candidate could provide the inclusive leadership they considered necessary for the state.
“It is on this basis that we have resolved to officially declare our support for Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he said.
“Our support for AMBO is therefore a decision born out of necessity, conviction and our sincere desire for the progress of Osun State.
“Our political identity remains with the PDP, but our electoral decision at this moment is to support a candidate who we believe can provide the kind of inclusive leadership that Osun State deserves.”