Chris Steven, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has predicted that the on-going alignment of forces among the opposition political players in the state ahead of the 2019 gubernatorial election would end up in futility in view of the involvement of people like former governor Rashidi Ladoja who it described as a failed and confused politician.
It is recalled that the leaderships of known opposition political parties have, in recent times, been involved in talks geared towards evolving an alignment with a view to dislodging the ruling APC in 2019 using the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. Notable among the parties are; Accord, Social Democratic Party, Labour Party and the PDP.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued in Ibadan at the weekend by its Public Relations Officer, Olawale Sadare, the APC dismissed the threat of any alignment or re-alignment by the opposition in the state as capable of dislodging “a governing party that has distinguished itself as the only vehicle of good governance, peace and wholesome development desired by the majority of the people of Nigeria including the good citizens of the Pacesetter State.
“What they are planning is a civilian coup against the electorate but it would not see the light of the day for many reasons. Most characters involved in the gang-up have had opportunities in the past to impact positively on the lives of the people but they failed as a result of incurable traits of incompetence, selfishness and cluelessness.
“For instance, Sen. Ladoja who we can call the arrowhead was on a private radio last Saturday and all he succeeded in doing was display of his crass ignorance of workings of government, democracy and the rule of law. Those who monitored the interview saw in Ladoja a 73 year-old former governor who still would not come out bold on his ambition to contest the 2019 election.
“Ladoja said that his own idea of regional integration is about Ondo State sharing its crude oil resources with Oyo State or Lagos State sharing its internally generated revenue earnings with other south west states. He also stated that the newly established Technical University in Ibadan would not see the light of the day for no reasons just like he revealed that he had to backed out of an alliance with the present administration when he could not influence the Gov. Ajimobi’s decision. What a man!
“Among the co-travelers is a Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin who has a penchant for sneaking into Ibadan from his Lagos abode to cause political mischief like he did at the Olubadan palace few days ago only to run back immediately. Or are we to talk about a politically naive big spender and some troubled EFCC guests as capable of combining misplaced efforts to dislodge the APC in 2019?
“Above all, the PDP with which most of them looted the treasury at various times between 1999 and 2015 is dead and buried as it must be emphasized that Nigerians would not support any alignment, re-alignment or gang-up from the same set of fake characters in the future elections. Sponsors of such comedy and those planning to benefit from it should realize that it would end up in futility.” APC said.