The executive members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo North Senatorial District have declared that the teeming members of the party in the district are united behind Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde.
The party leaders declared that despite the defection of Senator Hosea Agboola and a few of his loyalists, the party will remain stronger, as leaders and stakeholders across the 13 local governments of the district are committed to ensuring that the PDP retains its superiority in future elections.
The Oyo North PDP Exco made this position known, following a meeting that brought together state officers of the party from the district, officials of the party in the district, all PDP local government party chairmen in the district and the chairmen of local governments and held in Iseyin, Oyo State.
At the meeting chaired by the Oyo North PDP Senatorial Chairman and former Member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Yinusa Adekunle Yusuff, the party said: “We declare our total and unanimous support for our great Party, PDP, under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, FNSE.”
It added that Oyo North PDP Excos and leaders have confidence in the governor’s leadership and the leadership of the PDP in Oyo State.
A communiqué made available to newsmen at the end of the meeting quoted the party as stating that the defections of Agboola and a few former political office holders would not have a major impact on the party, as most of them didn’t make meaningful contributions to the party’s success in the 2023 elections.
The party declared that Senator Agboola and a few others defected for selfish interests, pointing out that the ex-National Assembly member hand-picked all 10 council chairmen from Oke Ogun and produced party executives across the 10 councils a few years ago; and that the decision to defect was to scavenge for political favours.
The communiqué, however, declared that the people of Oyo North Senatorial District are wise and would never allow selfish interests to override the collective interest of the zone, which has enjoyed massive developments under Governor Makinde.
The communiqué highlighted the construction of major infrastructure projects, including the Ibadan-Iseyin Road, Oyo-Iseyin Road, Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road, Saki Township Road, the limited rehabilitation of Iganna-Elekookan-Igangan Road, the ongoing construction of Ijio-Idiko Ile-Ayegun-Wasinmi Road, the ongoing reconstruction of Saki-Ogbooro-Igboho Road.
It added that the planned rehabilitation of 30km Ogbomoso inner roads as well as the construction of the LAUTECH Campus, Iseyin, to mention a few, all situated in Oyo North, have had major impact on the development of the district and that its people will continue to support Governor Makinde and the PDP, despite the falsehood being peddled by Agboola and his loyalists.
The communiqué read in part: “We, Oyo North Senatorial PDP Exco, comprising state officials of the PDP from the district, local government party chairmen across the 13 LGs as well as local government chairmen, following a meeting in Iseyin, deliberated on the affairs of the party in our senatorial district and the state and hereby agree as follows:
“That we declare our total and unanimous support to our great Party, PDP, under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, FNSE.
“That we repose absolute confidence in his leadership and the leadership of the PDP in Oyo State and assure that our members across the 13 Local Government Areas of the District remain solidly with the party.
“That the recent defections of Senator Ayoola Agboola and a few loyalists do not have any major impact on Oyo North PDP, as our members remain committed to the PDP and are resolved to ensure its massive success in the coming general elections. For clarity, Senator Agboola and his loyalists displayed a lukewarm attitude to the PDP before the 2023 general election and could not in all good conscience, claim to have taken part in the success the party achieved in 2023.
“That though we know that there is the principle of free entry, free exit in politics, Senator Agboola and his journeymen chose to leave PDP for purely selfish reasons after their attempt to hold on to political posts and party offices enjoyed under Omituntun 1.0 to the exclusion of the majority of party members failed.
“That our teeming members have resolved never to allow a few individuals’ selfish interest to override the overall interest of Oyo North Senatorial District and the interest of the Oyo North PDP, which Your Excellency has protected over the last six years, delivering historic infrastructure projects and other achievements across different sectors.
“That Oyo North PDP members, and, indeed, the people of Oyo North Senatorial District have resolved to stand with the PDP as a result of the massive development projects executed across Oyo North Senatorial District by HE, Governor Seyi Makinde, in the last six years and some months.
“That there is a renewed zeal in terms of contact and mobilisation to make the PDP stronger across Oyo North Senatorial District and in terms of voter registration, which is ongoing across the country and we have resolved to prove the PDP superiority through the polls, as the PDP remains the Party to beat in Oyo North and Oyo State.
“Finally, the meeting enjoined our teeming members not to be deterred or daunted by the gale of defections currently rocking the party. The party will soon surmount the challenge, as our leaders are equal to the task. It is a passing phase that will soon ebb out.”
