GBENRO ADESINA/OSOGBO

Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola,  former national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, former governor of Osun state,  has painted President Goodluck Jonathan in unflattering colours, describing him as a traitor and betrayer.

Although, he did not elaborate, it was clear the basis of Oyinlola’s arrows: Jonathan’s falling out with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had made his remarkable ascent to the nation’s number one seat possible and Jonathan’s refusal to allow Oyinlola take back his position as the scribe of the party, despite court orders.

Oyinlola who is now a member of the opposition All Progressives Congress , spoke today in Osogbo at the mega rally of his new party, where the party’s flag was presented to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as the torchbearer in Saturday’s election.

Oyinlola urged the people to reject both  the PDP candidate, Iyiola Omisore in Saturday’s election  and President Jonathan Goodluck next year.

 He described President Jonathan as a traitor and betrayer who did not only betray the people of South West but the entire Nigeria adding, “Omisore is a selfish person. He is not worth being your governor.”

Oyinlola listed several reasons why the people must not vote for PDP among which is what he termed the deceit of the party by ‎its leaders and the total sidelining of Yoruba in national scheme of things under the PDP government.

 Oyinlola said that President Goodluck Jonathan deceived the former President Olusegun Obasanjo to get his backing to become the President in 2011.

He averred that immediately after he got the people’s mandate, Jonathan abandoned Yoruba agenda in the quest to get top political appointments at the federal level.

Oyinlola pointed out that it was because of the deceit of the PDP that he decided to dump the party for APC when it became clearer that the party has nothing to offer other than deceit.

He stated that people need not be told of the massive support for Aregbesola who he described as a grassroots politician, noting that if all the former governors who had ruled in Osun before are in support of Aregbesola’s second term in office, he will also be part of them.

In Oyinlola’s words, “In 2010, President Jonathan sent for me and told me that he wanted to contest for the Presidency. I asked him to consult Bab‎a Olusegun Obasanjo. It was through Obasanjo that he became President.

“Instead of paying people who worked for the realisation of his ambition with good, he paid them back with deceit, all he promised them was not given them.

“Yoruba people should be wary of voting for PDP and its candidate. In Jonathan’s cabinet‎ there is no Yoruba, who is in the rank of first to twenty in federal setting power hierarchy.

“Their candidate in Osun is selfish and is always c‎oncerned about himself and his associates. All of his associates are those who were with him in prison over the brutal assassination of the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, late Chief Ajibola Ige.”

Oyinlola therefore asked rhetorically whether only people of doubtful character can only aspire to political offices in the country like the PDP’s candidate and his followers in Osun.

The Okuku prince noted that the PDP’s house in Osun is now in total disarray and all the bigwigs in the party have venture‎d into a prosperous and progressive party as APC.

He cited notable former PDP members who have decamped into APC, including the first Executive Governor of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; himself (Oyinlola) and his former Chief of Staff, Elder Peter Babalola among others.

Describing the PDP in Osun as an empty shell, Oyinlola said those who have not left the PDP for APC have left for the Labour Party. He listed the former Secretary to the Government under his government, Engr. Fatai Akinbade as another prominent PDP leader who had left.

On his part, the national chairman of the APC,  Chief John Odigie-Oyegun  appealed toPresident Goodluck Jonathan  and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ensure that Saturday August 9, 2014 governorship election is free, fair and credible. Otherwise, Oyegun said,  they  should be prepared for war.

  “From now on, the battle line is drawn. APC will not recognize a governor that emerges in a fraudulent governorship election. We will not allow our mandate to be stolen as it was stolen in Ekiti State. APC is prepared for free and fair election and if anybody steals our votes, we will proceed to set up the kind of government people want. If they fail to listen to our call, then, they should prepare for the consequences.”

Governor Rauf Aregbesola displaying APC flag presented to him by Chief John Oyegun

Governor Rauf Aregbesola speaking at the rally, to his left his deputy, Titi Tomori Laoye, to right, wife Sherifat, Ibikunle Amosun and others

In the same vein, the former governor of Lagos State and a chieftain of APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu said that the party would match PDP power for power and strength for strength stressing, “We can’t allow them to steal our votes. You people, monitor your votes.”

He assured the party agents of the party’s total support  should they fall victims of the Federal Government harassment and intimidation during the election. He pointed out that any of them that is wrongly arrested in the course of performing his legitimate function would not be abandoned.

 Governors of Edo and Imo States, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Rochas Okorocha urged the people to stand by their votes and ensure that they are not stolen. 

First civilian governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke said, “Don’t vote for a prisoner. Monitor your vote to the collation centre and make sure that they announce the result in your presence.”

Aregbesola  took his time to enlighten the voters  on the electoral process and how to cast their votes properly. He promised to continue with the good works he has started and gave the assurance that the people of Osun would witness more  development during his second term .

He was officially presented with the party’s flag as the  governorship candidate during the election. 

Other dignitaries in attendance were: Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Senator Ibikunle Amosu, governors of Oyo, Ekiti, and Ogun State and the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, former governors of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Engineer Segun Oni, former APC Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Bukola Saraki, Babajide Omoworare, and Lagos State Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his Osun States counterpart, Hon. Najeem Folasayo.

.Updated with the full report of what Oyinlola said at the rally