The governorship tussle gradually tearing apart the Osun State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) seems to have been deepened with report of one of the main actors in the crisis, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi allegedly threatening to leave the party for another to realize his ambition.
Global Excellence magazine recalls that, Senator Ademola Adeleke, another leading light in the governorship bid, became the symbol of the PDP in Osun State following his emergence as the PDP candidate at the primary held on the 21st of July, 2018 at the GMT Hotel, Osogbo, the state capital.
Following his declaration as winner, some among his co-aspirants reportedly objected and kicked against the outcome of the primary which was organized and supervised by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State. Meanwhile, in order to achieve peace in the party, a peace meeting was held in Abuja a few days ago which had four representatives from each of the two camps present; the camp of Senator Adeleke and the aspirant who came second in the primary, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi. As a compensation, sources said that Ogunbiyi was appeased with the senatorial ticket.
However, according to Global Excellence magazine’s source, the issue of deputy governorship slot was also raised and discussed and three names were chosen among the names suggested while party leaders were given the privilege to pick one among the three. The shortlisted names are; Oluomo Oludaisi Aina, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa and Prof. Adeolu Durotoye.
Things however begun fallen apart when Prof. Durotoye left the party for ADP and emerged as running mate to Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, while Ganiyu Olaoluwa declared for senate, remaining only Oludaisi Aina.
While the defection and declaration went on, a Reps member who had been unavailable for possible substitution Hon. Albert Adeogun, emerged as the deputy governorship candidate to Adeleke. This, Global Excellence magazine learned, angered Ogunbiyi and allegedly made him to take a decision to leave PDP. His defection rumour went viral in Osun State all through last week.
It should be noted that, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi is a force to reckon with in Osun politics. He actually rocked the state’s political circle to the extent that within three months of registering his presence he had become a major topic in the State of Osun politics.
As the rumour of his planned defection spread after summoning his supporters to an interactive meeting on Saturday, 11th of August, 2018, stakeholders in the Osun State PDP naturally became worried and were eager to know what the outcome of the meeting would be. Ogunbiyi, however, did not dump the party. He not only declared that he would remain in the party but also gave assurance that he would work for the victory of the party in all elections.
Ogunbiyi who addressed supporters at his Ile-Ogbo country home, however lamented that Senator Ademola Adeleke failed to honour all the three conditions agreed to at the peace meeting convened by the PDP national leaders. The leadership of the party at the national level had, according to him, summoned the two of them to a peace meeting following the crisis that followed the emergence of Adeleke as the party’s candidate. At the Abuja meeting, according to Ogunbiyi, Adeleke was asked to allow his (Ogunbiyi’s) group to nominate the running mate in the election and also have the national and the state assembly seats shared between the two camps.
‘At the Abuja meeting, I neither asked that any condition should be met nor that I should have my expenses refunded or that we should share positions. It was in the wisdom of the party leaders that they came up with those conditions and the two parties agreed to respect the terms”, Ogunbiyi stressed.
Following the disclosure that the national secretariat of the party had asked former Senate President, Senator David Mark and the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki to intervene and secure peace in the state chapter , Dr Ogunbiyi said the peace makers need not come to him as he had ensured that he obeyed the directives of the party. He however declared that he remains in the party and urged his supporters to vote for candidates of the party in all future elections.
“I believe in the party supremacy and I don’t have any litigation in any court against him. So, when they come they should see Adeleke and ask him questions. My followers should work for the success of the party in all the future elections as I have no plan to leave the party.”
While reacting to Akin Ogunbiyi’s press conference, the Director, Media, Adeleke Campaign Organization, Olawale Rasheed, said “it is a family affair and the important thing is that Ogunbiyi remains in the party.”
-Akinlolu Abayomi