They’ve sidelined me’- Oyo deputy gov speaks on defection to another party

By Akinwande Soji-Ojo

The deputy governor of Oyo State, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, has revealed that he was not involved in the “selection” of PDP candidates for the 2023 general elections in the state.

But he said he did not need anything from the decision makers.

Fielding questions from journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday, Olaniyan also disclosed  that no fewer than four political parties are wooing him with their governorship tickets.

He stated that the rumours surrounding  his defection to another party was spreading like wildfire because he had stayed aloof. 
Olaniyan described  the primaries  that produced  PDP candidates in the state as “shenanigans.”

He said: “You are not suppose to guess because on Sallah day I told the people the truth from my heart. I am a Muslim, let Almighty Allah determine your movement. So, if Allah says, wait in PDP, I’ll wait, if He says I should go to APC, I will go, and if He says I shouldn’t go to either APC or PDP but go elsewhere, that’s what I will do. If He says I should go away from politics, I will go away. I am not looking for what to eat or drink, let’s just wait for Almighty God to speak and we will know what to do.

“Why the speculation is always coming up is because I have decided to stay aloof, all through the nominations and so. I haven’t bought any nomination form and I didn’t participate in the PDP shenanigans. I called it shenanigans because we know all the anomalies that has been going on.

“You can claim some people are not important, but let’s wait and see. Like I have been telling people, I am still a bonafide member of the PDP as at now, but 24 hours is a long time in politics. Anything can happen anytime.”

When asked on the rumour of being courted by some parties in the state, the deputy governor said: “About five parties are wooing me with their ticket. Four of them are wooing me with their  governorship ticket. 

“I have paid my dues in so many parties. I was part of the founding members of ADC in Oyo State. The parties all offered me tickets but I have told them to allow God to speak. To be the governor is not my headache.

“I may not have money but I have two things. I have my omoluabi ethos and I have people who cherish omoluabi. In Yoruba land, if you say money and integrity, we place premium more on integrity more than money.

“I did not confirm to you that I have joined another party or left the PDP because I haven’t actually.”

On why he did not participate in the politicking and endorsement of PDP candidates in the state, Olaniyan said: “Because when they are doing things, they sideline me. Should I pretend that they called me? No.”

While reacting to the meeting the governor had with members of the  House of Assembly on Tuesday, Olaniyan cautioned  people to stop  speculating. He  noted that the governor has the right to meet with the lawmakers on any issue at anytime.

“The governor of the state has the right to meet with state lawmakers for the state to move forward. There are more burning issues that they have to be discussing. What is wrong with the governor meeting the members of the state House of Assembly? People are just speculating what is not, please don’t join them to make any issue out of nothing. I also know that the governor has a right to meet the House of Assembly members,” the deputy governor said.