Encomium
‘We’re not afraid of anybody defecting to APC’
THE flag bearer of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Saturday, August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore has rubbished the tale that he was humiliated in Esa Oke, the hometown of late eloquent politician, Chief Bola Ige, during his ongoing electioneering campaign. He added that it’s all a figment of the people’s imagination, especially those in the opposition camp.
He said this while speaking with ENCOMIUM Weekly, via his Director of Publicity, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, on Sunday, July 20, 2104. The Ife born politician expressed total discomfort about the tale, advising those sponsoring it to invest their time in something productive rather than embarking on non-profitable ventures.
He further described the tale as not only frivolous but mischievous, labeling those behind it as disgruntled elements.
“My brother, there is nothing like that. There is no iota of truth in that information. However, it’s true we were in Esa Oke on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, as part of our campaign tours of the state but there wasn’t anything like assault on Otunba Omisore by the people of Esa Oke. We’re warmly received. How I wish you were there, you would have witnessed the whole thing. Even, the Asiwaju of Esa Oke also came. They were all happy to welcome the wind of change blowing in the South-West now. They also want a repeat of what happened in Ekiti in Osun. So, why would they humiliate the man bringing succor to their suffering in the hands of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state? So, it’s just the imagination of the enemies of progress and democracy that reside under the umbrella of APC. They are all mischief makers. But one thing I am sure of is that, very soon they will be out of power. We just have few weeks to go.”
Meanwhile, despite the reaction of Omisore, an APC chieftain, Mr. Wole Adegbenjo said the engineer turned politician and his entourage were booed at the campaign rally held in Esa Oke recently by the residents of the town as majority of them vowed not to welcome the alleged killer of their illustrious son, Chief Bola Ige, who was murdered in a controversial circumstance in his Ibadan, Oyo residence in 2001.
“Don’t mind them, you should know they won’t tell you the truth. They were humiliated in Esa Oke during their governorship campaign. They even left the town in shame as Esa Oke people have made their decision not to vote for Omisore who was indicted in the killing of Chief Bola Ige, a native of Esa Oke. I believe the man’s ghost will continue to haunt Omisore.”
However, on the report that all the close aides of former governor of the state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, including Yinka Ladoja, Rasaq Odunlami, among others, have decamped to APC, the development which is likely to brighten the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s chances of winning the guber polls come Saturday, August 9, 2014, Mr. Odeyemi reacted, “That can’t be our headache, whether they defected to APC or not. We can’t count the number of people that have defected to PDP in Osun State. Not even those unknown people that will jeopardize Omisore’s chance of emerging victorious on August 9, 2014.
“Let me also tell you, about 23 principal officers in Ekiti, including the two former speakers and a former governor, Segun Oni defected to APC, yet Fayose floored them in all the 16 local governments in the state, even right in their polling booths. I am very sure, the same scenario will play itself out in Osun, come August 9, 2014. We’re not afraid at all, let Oyinlola’s aides decamp, Oyinlola himself is still with us.”
Swiftly reacting to this, Osun Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sikiru Ayedun said, “Yes, they have decamped. More are still coming to APC. It’s a sign that PDP is not accepted anymore by the people of Osun State. We’re winning, come August 9, 2014. By Sunday, August 10, we will be celebrating our victory over PDP.”
– TADE ASIFAT
