The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State says opposition activities in the current political dispensation would be grounded to a halt as it has concluded arrangements to welcome heavyweight politicians from other political parties into its fold this Saturday in Ibadan.
Adebayo Alao-Akala, a former governor, Teslim Folarin, a former Senate Leader, and Ayodele Adigun, a former Secretary to the State Government, would lead the pack of defectors from Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party (AP) respectively while others like Taofeek Arapaja, Segun Odebunmi, Rauf Olaniyan, . Ayoola Makanjuola, Rasaq Gbadegesin and their teeming supporters would not be left out of the mother of all defections in the politics of Oyo State.
Akala, Folarin and Arapaja who are leading the pack to APC on Saturday are believed to be the strong forces that have been holding the PDP in the state since the demise of Lamidi Adedibu, the acclaimed godfather of Ibadan politics.
Their exit will mean that the opposition party has literally collapsed in Oyo State.
Olawale Sadare, Public Relations Officer of APC in Oyo State who disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday said some of the bigwigs who had joined its fold since last year and a whole lot of others just coming in would be unveiled at an unprecedented rally holding at the ancient Napoleon Hall, Ibadan on Saturday December 16, 2017.
“With the caliber of active and experienced political players coming on board to reinvigorate our great Party ahead of the 2019 general election, it is pertinent to state here that the battle for the soul of the state to determine who takes over from the trail blazer, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, would be fought and won only within the APC.
“With all intents and purposes, we crave for a viable opposition as a necessary impetus for good governance and democracy growth in the Pacesetter State but what the combination of PDP, LP and Accord Party had offered in the last couple of years fell below the standard thereby necessitating the need for the ruling APC to activate its check and balance mechanism for the good of the process.
“Apparently, the Sterling performance of Gov. Ajimobi in offering the last six years coupled with his exemplary leadership qualities must have appealed to the patriotic zeal in the new entrants who are coming in to strengthen the APC and thus put paid to irresponsible politics of opposition which some lazy bones and few unscrupulous elements still promote to actualize selfish goals.
“For the sake record, Ibadan will witness another epoch-making political event similar to the one we held for President Muhammad Buhari during the build-up to the 2015 general election. This time again, Sen. Ajimobi and Chief Akin Oke (our state chairman) will be on hand to play host to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, APC governors from other states among other dignitaries to welcome the defectors.
“What this indicates is that the unrelenting activities of Gov. Ajimobi in relation to his reformation, restoration and transformation agenda for the state would get another boost as many active stakeholders are getting more involved while the dream of a brighter future for our dear state is becoming more realizable by the day.” He added.
