The Progressive Group has challenged Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to account for the political agreements he entered into with allies who supported his emergence in 2019, following his allegation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu breached an agreement reached before the 2023 presidential election.
The group, led by its chairman, Adeoye Kolawole, questioned Makinde’s decision to accuse another political leader of failing to honour an agreement, recalling that several politicians abandoned their governorship ambitions and worked for his election in 2019 under a coalition arrangement.
It specifically recalled the roles of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator Sharafadeen Alli of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Barrister Bolaji Ayorinde of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who stepped down for Makinde after former Oyo State Governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, facilitated the coalition.
The group asked whether Makinde fulfilled the promises made to those political leaders and their parties after securing victory, noting that disagreements over the implementation of the coalition agreement later emerged.
Lanlehin subsequently accused Makinde of failing to honour the terms of their political understanding, while political stakeholders from the coalition also raised concerns over the implementation of the agreement.
Senator Sharafadeen Alli, who also stepped down for Makinde in 2019, is now the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 Oyo State election. Lanlehin has also moved to the APC, where he chaired the committee that reconciled Alli with aggrieved governorship aspirants.
The group further pointed to the political realignment involving other former allies of the governor, including former Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja and businessman Chief Dotun Sanusi, who have been identified among influential figures now supporting Alli.
It also recalled the role of Ladoja in building the 2019 coalition, although he is now the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The group asked: “If Governor Makinde is demanding that President Tinubu should honour a political agreement, can he explain what happened to the agreement that brought him to power in 2019? Did he keep his promises to those who sacrificed their own ambitions for him?”
The Progressive Group maintained that political agreements should be respected by all parties and urged Makinde to explain the circumstances that led to the breakdown of his relationship with some of the politicians who helped him secure power in Oyo State.
