Ogun APC mocks Amosun’s godson, Akinlade
… Describes his defection to PDP as good riddance
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Ogun State has derided the 2019 Governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) Hon Adekunle Akinlade describing his reported defection to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as good riddance to bad rubbish.
Backed by the immediate past Governor of the State, Sen Ibikunle Amosun, Akinlade and other loyalists of the former Governor had in 2019 left APC for APM to pursue his failed Governorship ambition.
The former lawmaker representing Yewa South/Ipokia Federal constituency had about a year after losing the gubernatorial contest to Gov Dapo Abiodun returned to APC.
Akinlade had however left the ruling party again last week alluding to injustice meted out to him and his supporters.
The former lawmaker, amid fanfare last Friday, officially decamped to the opposition party, PDP and was immediately handed the Deputy Governorship ticket of the party ahead 2023 Governorship race in the State.
As things stand, Akinlade is to serve as the running mate of Hon. Ladipupo Adebutu, the 2023 Governorship candidate of the party.
Reacting to the latest defection of Akinlade, the APC, Ogun State, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hon Tunde Oladujoye disclosed that Akinlade’s allegation of injustice against him was not only spurious but laughable saying that he (Akinlade) was only hiding behind a lame excuse to justify his long expected departure from the party.
The party who described Akinlade’s decision to leave the ruling party as good riddance to bad rubbish said that it was never surprised by the former lawmaker’s latest course of action, because his body language and series of clandestine activities had hitherto given him and his well known sponsor away.
The party said, “He once left the APC in 2019 to contest the gubernatorial election of Ogun State on the platform of now defunct Allied Peoples Movement (APM); and suffered excruciating defeat despite being backed by powerful state machinery.
“Although he claimed to have returned to the APC after his loss to Governor Dapo Abiodun at the polls, he was more remembered for playing politics of division in the party rather than contributing to its progress.
“That he has again left the APC is indeed, a good riddance. And that he plans to run as a deputy governorship candidate also revalidates our position that Akinlade has never being a governorship material field the gateway state.
“That a 2019 governorship candidate has reportedly decide to run as a deputy to a 2019 governorship aspirant, shows a very desperate ambition to return to public office after four uneventful years in the National Assembly.
“We insist that Hon. Akinlade has never been a loyal party man. He worked against the interests of APC and it is generally believed within the party circles that he will not hesitate to re-enact his morbid hostility at the slightest opportunity.
“Recall that as the APM governorship candidate, Hon. Akinlade signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the factional governorship candidate of PDP, Ladi Adebutu, ahead of the March 9, 2019 governorship election.
“This MoU highlighted power sharing deals between the parties as well as the political appointments and infrastructural projects of interest, all in a desperate bid to stop the emergence of Prince Dapo Abiodun as Governor.
“Now that Hon. Akinlade has jumped ship for the second time, is it now clear that his decision might be a move to renew the ill-fated 2019 APM/PDP alliance for the 2023 project? If indeed he was a party man, Hon. Akinlade ought to have remained in the party and work in tandem with teeming loyal members for the electoral success of APC in 2023.
“However, we acknowledge the fact that political association is about free entry and free exit. There is no compulsion in membership. We can only wish Hon. Adekunle Akinlade well in future endeavours. He may have left the APC, but thousands of willing individuals, have freely embraced and are still joining the membership of our great party. Therefore, Ogun APC will not miss serial defectors”.
