By Our Reporter
A prominent group in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has contended that a fomer ally of the late former Governor Lam Adesina, Kehinde Olaosebikan, is ahead of the incumbent in the race for the Oluyole Federal Constituency of the state.
The group, Oluyole APC Solidarity (OAPCS), said it found out that: “Since she became the member representing Oluyole Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, she has never hidden her repugnance to the party that brought her to power.
“This is understandable, because she never truly knew the party. Without any known contribution or participation in the activities of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oluyole Federal Constituency, the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi imposed Mrs. Tolulope Sadipe as the candidate for the constituency in 2019.”
In a statement signed by the OAPCS chairman, Dr. Muftau Ajisefini, and made available to journalists in Ibadan at the weekend, it was alleged that Honourable Akande-Sadipe had abandoned the party in the local government.
“After she was sworn in, Hon. Tolu Shadipe abandoned the party as she formed her own group called CRV. For four years, she never attended the APC weekly meeting in Olomi Primary School.
“These are statements of fact known to everybody, including the state leadership of the party. The party had intervened severally without any cogent result.
“But when it was time for another election, Honourable Akande-Sadipe still got the ticket against those who had been loyal to Alhaji Waheed Akinleye’s leadership of APC. With the influence of Abuja, Akande-Sadipe got her way.
“As another cycle of election is here, the whole world is watching whether Akande-Sadipe will still use her Abuja connections against party members who have shown interest in the race.
“For Honourable Akande-Sadipe to get her way this time around is very doubtful. At the inception of the current 10th National Assembly, she was openly against the choice of the government and leadership of the party.
“She didn’t support the emergence of the Honourable Speaker, Tajudeen Abass. She voted differently.
And for her support for the President, which should ordinarily be the greatest in her federal constituency, the member is found wanton.
“We threw a challenge between her and the strongest aspirant for the Oluyole Federal Constituency seat by asking Google the stronger supporter of the federal government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between Honourable Akande-Sadipe and Mr. Kehinde Olaosebikan?
“Google answered that: ‘”Kehinde Olaosebikan seems to be a stronger supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He’s made bold pledges, like tripling votes for Tinubu in Oluyole Local Government, and has been actively mobilising support through the PBAT-KO Grassroots Movement.
‘“Olaosebikan has also praised Tinubu’s leadership, citing his vision, integrity, and decisiveness.
‘“While Honourable Akande-Sadipe is also a supporter, representing Oluyole Federal Constituency, there’s more evidence of Olaosebikan’s grassroots efforts and vocal backing for Tinubu,”’ it said.
The group also cited the recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by ex-Nigerian leaders, Theophilus Danjuma and Yakubu Gowon, saying that such are the kind of goodwill Olaosebikan had been drawing to the President in Oluyole Local Government.
“The former Heads of State actually nailed it on the head that they were in the Villa to appreciate and thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his excellent work,” the statement said.
It added that the pronouncement of Dr. Gowon confirmed that all those who had been supporting President Tinubu were honest and loyal Nigerians.
“Those who truly love the country today will support President Tinubu’s administration; that is what the elder statesmen have done. And Olaosebikan has not done differently. In fact, we can recall his call that President Tinubu’s votes would triple in Oluyole Local Government during the 2027 elections,” Ajisefini said.
