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Former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala at the weekend stressedthat he is still a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing reports that he had made a return to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Akala, who spoke in Ogbomosho, at an empowerment program by a member of the State Assembly representing Ogbomoso North State Constituency, Hon. Olawumi Oladeji, restated that he and his followers are still card carrying and committed members of the ruling party APC.
There had been speculations that Akala had followed the path of another former governor, Rashidi Ladoja and returned to PDP after he was visited in his New Bodija, Ibadan by Ladoja.
Akala had reportedly held a political meeting with the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Senator Teslim Folarin and other top political heavy weights. They were pictured in London just before he rturned to Nigeria to receive Ladoja.
Recall that the caretaker chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, as part of his resolve to bring aggrieved members back to the umbrella party, visited the Bodija residence of Alao-Akala, where he was received by the supporters as the former governor was away outside the country at the time.
But, the immediate past Oyo state governor at the weekend said: “I’m not in other political party than APC and for the sake of doubt, I’m saying my followers and I are still in APC. Don’t let anybody deceive you.
“From the onset, Ogbomoso has always aligned with the ruling party at the federal. That is the reason we in Ogbomoso remains in APC with all my followers.”
Asked about his political aspirations in 2019, the former governor responded by saying: “We don’t have to talk about 2019 in 2017. We are on course to get our acts together. Everything is in God’s hands and when we get to the bridge, we shall cross it”
Akala expressed joy at the success of Hon. Oladeji who had been empowering her constituents. He described the lawmaker as her political daughter who has proven her worth. He pointed out that she used her personal money to fund the empowerment programme because “constituency allowance was not released to the members of the house.”
While speaking at the event, Speaker of the state Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Adeyemo who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Musa Abdulwasi said the donor of the empowerment materials has the love of Ogbomoso land at heart.
Hon. Oladeji, who is chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development thanked the constituents for giving her the opportunity to serve and also hailed Akala for his purposeful leadership in the zone as it related to the last general elections.