Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said that the coalition his party had with African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Zenith Labour Party was not put together merely to further any personal aspiration other than the collective interests of the people of Oyo State.
Governor Makinde stated this in his reaction to a statement credited to the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the last governorship election, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, who said he had withdrawn from the coalition agreement he and his party had with Governor Seyi Makinde.
The parties had adopted Engineer Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as their candidate to slug it out against Oloye Adebayo Adelabu of the APC.
But Senator Lanlehin, in a statement by his media office on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, said he was opting out because of Makinde’s non-compliance with the spirit and letters of the terms of the gubernatorial pre-election agreement reached.
The ADC candidate however, stated that, his party, is at liberty to remain in the coalition.
In his reaction, Governor Makinde said it was a shock to hear such statements coming from Senator Lanlehin.
Makinde said, “We received with shock, claims credited to the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator Femi Lanlehin, that he has withdrawn his support for the coalition birthed by a number of political parties ahead of the March 9, 2019 election in Oyo State.
“It is more shocking to read Senator Lanlehin’s allegation that his decision was hinged on Governor Seyi Makinde’s infidelity to the coalition agreement.”
Governor Makinde who spoke through his Special Adviser Strategy and Political Matters, Hon. Babatunde Oduyoye noted that the allegation “is a clear affront on the sincerity of Governor Makinde and his magnanimous disposition in handling all the discussions about the coalition.
“Let us also state without equivocation that the claim by the Senator is untrue, unjustifiable and inconsistent with the reality of it all.”
The Governor maintained that the governor could not be accused of non-compliance by any party, because he had lived up to his promise to all parties to the coalition and in some cases “even bending backwards to accommodate all interests.”
“The Governor has lived up to his promise not only to Senator Lanlehin but also to all members of the coalition, saying that the committee reached an agreement, which was signed by all the parties and tabled before the Governor.
“The agreement contained a template for the sharing of positions in government as well as membership of boards and parastatals, noting that procedures have been set in motion for the actualization of the template.
Senator Lanlehin only had issues with the other leaders of the ADC on Monday when they were discussing how to share the positions allotted to the ADC.
“He should not in any way attempt to drag the name of Governor Makinde to the frustrations he is encountering in his party.
“If Senator Lanlehin withdraws from the coalition, he must have done so as an individual, because we are aware that the ADC as a party remains an integral part of the coalition as leaders of the party have repeatedly pledged their fidelity to the coalition.
“We believe that the coalition was not put together merely to further any personal aspiration other than the collective interests of the people of Oyo State.”
According to Oduyoye, the apex committee of the coalition parties had met over three times, with agreements reached and tabled at a meeting with the Governor, adding that the Governor even improved on the agreement to further accommodate interests in the ADC and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
