Lanlehin accuses Makinde of failure to honour pre-election agreements

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2019 election in Oyo State, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, has accused Governor Oluseyi Makinde of reneging on the agreements reached with him before the election.

Five political parties had coalesced to confront the then governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The governorship candidates of the four other parties stood down for Makinde who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with an agreement to form a government of unity.

But in a statement yesterday, Lanlehin accused Makinde of failing to fulfill any of his promises to him since he was sworn in as governor.

The statement entitled ‘Makinde yet to Fulfill Promises,’read: “A lot of water had passed under the bridge since the gubernatorial election of Oyo State on the 9th April, 2019 which overwhelmingly threw up Engr. Oluwaseyi Makinde as the Governor of the State.

“In order to prevent the reoccurrence of the incidence of the Oyo state gubernatorial election of 2015, in which a gubernatorial candidate won the election with a minority vote of 32%, l Senator Olufemi Lanlehin the gubernatorial candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) (together with some other gubernatorial candidates) decided to drop the mandate of my party in order to support the candidature of Engr. Seyi Makinde of the PDP. This was with the consent of the party elders, leaders, and stakeholders.

“This in essence meant that at the end of a victorious election, a Unity Government would be formed comprising of the coalition parties in the ratio agreed upon before the election.

“The gubernatorial election had come and gone, won and lost. Won by Engr. Seyi Makinde of the PDP with the support of the coalition parties and lost by the APC.

“I Senator Olufemi Lanlehin of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), state unequivocally that l still fervently believe in the principle that berthed the Engr. Seyi Makinde government and give my total support to its success.

I also do state that l remain a committed member of my party, African Democratic Congress (ADC) whose members worked assiduously, and tirelessly in installing the Seyi Makinde Government and expect participation in same as agreed before the said gubernatorial election of April 2019. Candidate Seyi Makinde (as he then was) made some promises to me as the incumbent candidate of my party ADC. I willingly and absolutely agreed to surrender my gubernatorial mandate in the common interest of the people of Oyo State.

“I did not request for and was not given ANY financial compensation for so surrendering the mandate, but committed further resources to the gubernatorial election

“Up till date Governor Seyi Makinde has not fulfilled any of the terms of the agreement reached between him and myself.

“I believe the Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has not been able to fulfill the terms of the gentleman’s agreement between us (myself and himself) due to the very busy and demanding schedule of his state duties.

“I believe very firmly that the Governor will fulfill the said terms as soon as he so decides.

“I wish the Governor a resounding success in the performance of the onerous duties which providence has placed on his shoulders.

“May the Almighty God see him through.”