The candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the last 2019 gubernatorial election in the state, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, has made a rejoinder statement to counter Chief Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) over coalition movement.
In what seems to be a swift counter, Sen. Lanlehin, who later joined coalition movement with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has reacted that he never met with Chief Adelabu for coalition agreement in the 2019 governorship election which was held in the state.
This surfaced after Chief Adelabu was asked to speak on his loss in the 2019 general election, on a live radio programme, Political Circuit, on Saturday.
While responding, Chief Adelabu made it known that they’ve learnt their lessons, claiming that it was the coalition movement that failed on their (APC) part, that brought in Eng. Seyi Makinde of the PDP.
However, to clear the air after his name was mentioned by Cheif Adelabu, Senator Lanlehin has made a press release to reiterate that he never negotiated, either directly or indirectly, with the former.
Sen. Lanlehin said, “I listened with rapt attention to comments made by my by aburo, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Oyo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 polls, while answering questions on Fresh FM’s flagship sociopolitical programme, Political Circuit, today, Saturday, 20 June, 2020, particularly on the Coalition that heralded the victory of Engr. Seyi Makinde, then candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and specifically as it related to my humble self negotiating with him to explore possibilities of working as allies, in the build-up to that election.”
Speaking on the essence of the rejoinder, he claimed it was imperative as the comments made by Chief Adelabu were “capable of misinforming and misrepresenting the issues in the eyes and minds of the good people of Oyo State”.
According to him: “I did not negotiate with Chief Bayo Adelabu, either directly or indirectly. In fact, it was Dr Kayode Fayemi, the Ekiti State governor, who approached me on his behalf, but I respectfully turned him down, without much ado.
“Despite ongoing Coalition talks at that time, I still gave audience to Governor Fayemi, a man for whom l have a great deal of respect, and who I’d had a wonderful relationship with, right from our days in NADECO. I respectfully turned down his passionate plea that I aligned with Bayo Adelabu and the APC.”
He further stated: “Despite my progressive roots, which Governor Fayemi alluded to in that meeting, l explained to him my reasons for turning him, and indeed, Adelabu down. The crux of our discussion then, was that every politics is local, and that it was in the best interest of Oyo State at that time of its history, that I coalesced with Engr Seyi Makinde, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to win the gubernatorial election.
“I wish to conclude, that despite the advertised failings of post-victory agreements, I sincerely do not have any regrets for being an active participant in the Coalition that brought in Engr Seyi Makinde, as it was honestly, the best decision, in those circumstances, and sincerely, in the interest of Oyo State.”
