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The governorship candidate of Accord in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has described both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates, Governor Seyi Makinde and Sen Teslim Folarin respectively, as people without stakes in Oyo State because they have no investments in the state.
Adelabu, who was the candidate of the APC in the 2019 governorship election, made the assertion in a BBC Yoruba video interview, which has gone viral on social media.
Adelabu said that the duo, who obviously have enough wealth to invest and employ hundreds of jobless residents only take their money abroad, confirming that they do not have genuine love for the people of the state, whereas he keeps investing in the state to confirm his love for the progress of Oyo State.
”Before Governor Seyi Makinde was sworn-in in 2019, he declared N48 billion assets. The APC governorship candidate, Sen. Teslim Folarin has represented Oyo Central Senatorial District three times, meaning he has been collecting government money for 12 years. Please ask both of them why they have not established a single factory, even if it is a pure water factory that will employ at least five persons, in Oyo State?
“Why are they taking all their money abroad? They are like birds which fly as soon as the tree falls. They are portmanteau politicians. If anything negative happens, they will easily relocate abroad. I can not leave Oyo State because my treasures are here.
“Wherever your treasure is where your heart goes. Since I lost election, I have not relocated from Ibadan. I have met and engaged more people that can be of help in my election. And I have also learnt and invested more in the state. There has been no year that I did not add new investments in the state since 2019 because as a stakeholder, I won’t want the state to regress or collapse. All my businesses and family members are in Oyo State. My friends are here. I grew up here,” he said.
The Accord governorship candidate said he joined politics and was willing to serve the people because those who did well in serving people in the past have written their names in gold. He cited the example of his grandfather, Chief Adegoke Adelabu, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe, and Tafawa Balewa, among others whose names remain memorable by reason of service to humanity.
“But we don’t remember the rich people of yesteryears. We don’t remember them because they only lived for themselves, their families and friends. Those we still remember might not be very rich but they served the people creditably. That is why we still remember them. That is why I also paused in pursuing money to seek opportunity to serve,” he added.
He said love for the people should be the number one criterion in recruiting leaders for public office, stressing that anyone with high academic qualification or monetary wealth without deep love for the people will end up a selfish leader.
However, the duo of Makinde and Folarin faulted Adelabu’s claim, describing it as irrelevant.
Makinde described the Accord candidate’s claim as thin on reality. He said his investments were not for charity, adding that he has been doing charity for the people of the state since 30 years ago.
Reacting through the chairman, Communication Committee of the Seyi Makinde Campaign Council, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the governor said: “The allegation of Chief Bayo Adelabu is thin on reality. Only a few months ago he was recorded pouring encomiums on Seyi Makinde’s achievements within four years.
“His so-called investments in Oyo State are not for charity but to make money whereas Makinde’s investments date back to 30 years ago when he constructed a laboratory for his alma mata as a veritable charity.
“Adelabu did well by investing in hotels for the wealthy while Makinde used the people’s resources in his care to buy back LAUTECH, pay over N20 billion debt to pensioners, increase IGR from N1 billion to N7 billion, pay monthly salaries promptly, re-energise the economy and open up the rural areas for our farmers.
“If Chief Adelabu brings in a dozen Marriot and Raddison hotels to Ibadan this year, he will still be a million miles away in comparison to his nemesis.”
Also reacting through the APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Olawale Sadare, Folarin said: “We would like to ask him (Adelabu) what individual candidate’s choice of business has got to do with political campaigns? The statement credited to the Accord gubernatorial candidate has further portrayed him as a learner in the field of politics. Whatever success he is laying claim to in the business world was there in 2019 when he ran an uninspiring campaign for the same post and he lost scandalously.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Sen. Teslim Folarin has been involved in the business of government at the zenith level in the country for more than 20 years now and he has never been found wanting. His chain of business in the corporate world did not matter to us when he was seeking the ticket of our party because neither the Electoral Act nor the APC Constitution requires him to submit the record of his private business engagement.
“If Mr. Adelabu feels he is the best investor in the world, he should leave politics for the serious players and strive to compete favourably with the Dangotes, Adenugas, Elumelus or even Bill Gates of this world. The fact remains that the remnants of Mr. Adelabu’s bloated ego will be finally deflated in the next general election and the shame of electoral defeat would make him run away from future contest. We at APC will never take him seriously because he is not ready to learn at all.”
