Gbenga Sodeinde reports that the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition Social Democratic Party in Ekiti state may be working out a mutual relationship with the recent meeting between Governor
reports that the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition Social Democratic Party in Ekiti state may be working out a mutual relationship with the recent meeting between Governor Biodun Oyebanji and his SDP opponent in the last governorship poll, Segun Oni.
The widespread impression among SDP members and sympathizers that the poll was rigged, further strained the already frosty relationship and partisan gulf between the two eminent politicians. To confirm this, Oni had prior to the February 25, 2023 presidential poll, allegedly authored a statement, debunking his readiness to support the candidacy of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He predicated this on the strength of his belief that the All Progressives Congress rigged the governorship election against him.
The Ado -Ekiti born Owolabi, was the State Chairman of the pro-Tinubu power -wielding political machinery named Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju, fondly called SWAGA before he defected to SDP to align with Oni. On the day of the visit, Governor Oyebanji arrived the Ifaki residence of the former Governor at around 10.35am. With the way the two embraced each other, one could easily conclude that it was one day the two of them had anxiously been expecting with so much hope. It was a moment of ecstasy for the two political giants and their backers.
Governor Oyebanji, who expressed appreciation to God for making the meeting possible, described Oni as a role model who had contributed immensely to the development of the state and needs to also benefit from the fruits of his labour. “I’m pleading with you in the interest of our people, in the interest of Yoruba nation, in the interest of Nigeria”.
The Governor, who noted that Oni’s tenure remained a reference point in the annals of the state, called on all leaders in position of authority to make use of the opportunity God has given them in the interest of the people, to use their wealth of experience to develop the state by attracting more goodies from the federal government.
Oni who said the meeting was the best he had attended this year in view of the sincerity of the Governor, stressed the need to build a virile Ekiti State based on unity of purpose because Ekiti was already left behind among comity of states and all hands should be on deck to reposition the state by making all communities, development centres to engender true development.
Reacting to the visit, the APC , Ekiti State chapter, described Oyebanji’s action as a normal thing a good leader, who is questing to build an all-inclusive and participatory governance will do. But the SDP State Publicity Secretary, Ganiu Salau, periscoped the visit from a different prism. He believed that the visit by the governor was just a way of showing courtesies and respect to a statesman. He was emphatic that Oni won’t return to APC.
The meeting, which lasted for an hour, saw the two leaders discussing issues bordering on socio-economic and political development of Ekiti State and how to reposition the state for greater prosperity. However, Oni lost across all hierarchies of court. The courts dismissed his petition and upheld Oyebanji’s victory.
Sign that the permutation was clandestinely altering and tilting emerged when Oni’s Chief- strategist, Hon. Ife Arowosoge visited Oyebanji in his office at Oke Bareke in Ado Ekiti. It was at this point that rumour started flying around that there was a deep crack and confusion within the ranks of the Ekiti SDP as to what the future holds for them.
The question now on the lips of ardent watchers of Ekiti politics is, will Oni return to APC after severing political tie with the party? Rumour had earlier filtered into town that the former governor was contemplating returning to the Peoples Democratic Party, where he served as governor between 2007 and 2010.
He said: “I am here to debunk the notion that you don’t return from court and become friends. I am here to greet my senior brother and my leader whom I have great respect for. “We belong to different political parties, but when it comes to Ekiti development, God has put you as pathfinder and you are an Ekiti man to the core. You love this state. And sir, we campaigned on a mantra of prosperity, and you just spoke about it that we need to develop the state to a point where every indigene of this state will be prosperous irrespective of where they find themselves. We can only do that by creating development centres in our local governments and communities.
Oyebanji said :“I gave an advice sometimes when you were Governor that why don’t we have a conclave of former Governors, a replica of Council of State in Ekiti where all former Governors will sit down, give advice and assess the government. “But I did not have the opportunity of working with Governor Fayose. So, I usually call him to seek his opinion on some issues and he would readily oblige me. I have that relationship with him and I want to have same with you. I want to be able to consult you, seek your opinion on some knotty issues”
“Let me summarize everything, first gratitude to God for preserving our lives, gratitude to the Governor for deeming it fit to visit me and gratitude to Ekiti for giving all of us the opportunity and the best way for us to make that gratitude full is to contribute our best to his government and the state.
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