The Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore has finally explained why he suddenly supported the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Gboyega Otedola in the return election in the state.
Omisore said on Thursday during a meeting with the members of the SDP from across the local government areas of the state, that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Osun State said his support was not needed.
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A former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi alleged that a former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar who was in Osogbo and wanted to see Omisore was prevented by the leadership of the PDP.
Atiku confirmed and adopted everything Farounbi said, explaining why he decided to support APC candidate who was ready to implement the manifestos of the SDP and for the best interest of the people of the state.
Omisore said, “I want to adopt all what Dr Farounbi said. We gave them (APC and PDP) our manifesto. We dwelled on payment of arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities, on local content, employment for our youths and the reorganisation of the educational system, among others.
“We went to negotiation with a clear mind that Osun must be free and thank God our coalition has produced a new future for the state.
“In addition to what Dr Faroumbi said, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomole, said clearly that our discussion was devoid of any financial commitment.
He said they were ready to work.”
Farounbi confidently said that Omisore’s action has earned him more respect because of his selflessness in supporting the APC candidate.
Explaining further why the SDP candidate supported APC, the former envoy said “Apart from these, we also said the state must return to 6-3-3-4. That contracts and services must be given to Osun indigenes; that infrastructural development and food security must be given priority because our people must not be hungry and they agreed.
“The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, was the first to come and he came from the airport to Ile-Ife with some senators and Dr Doyin Okupe. We gave him our manifesto and we waited for 24 hours but no response. We heard that they were saying that we wanted to reap where we did not sow. We heard that they said they would win without us and all that.
“Also, former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, who is the director general of Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation, called and said they were in Osogbo and they would come to see us. But they did not come.
“But former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called and expressed his regret for not being able to come. He said he wanted to come but the leadership of the PDP in Osun State said they should not come because they didn’t need us. That we should go and do anything we liked.”
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