An elder statesman from Ogbomoso zone of Oyo State and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Saka Balogun has appealed to the people of Oke Ogun zone to see both the sacked and current deputy governors of the state as one and same from a family.
Apparently reacting to insinuations of rancour and bitterness among the people of Oke Ogun occasioned by the impeachment of Rauf Olaniyan and the swearing in of Bayo Lawal as a replacement, Balogun said there should not be any issue since both the former and current deputy governors are from the same Oke Ogun zone of the state.
Balogun said this while fielding questions from reporters after leading a delegation of Ogbomosho leaders, elders and political appointees on a courtesy call on Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal at the Agodi Government Secretariat on Tuesday.
Pleading for calm and togetherness among the people of the Oke Ogun, he said, “The Governor did not mince words, he complained that the emergence of the former Deputy Governor Olaniyan was not completely to his knowledge and he felt a little tricked to it. Maybe that was the basis of lack of complete understanding between him and the former Deputy Governor.
“We don’t want that type of situation to repeat itself. We know some of the details, we had opportunity of intervening. But, so far so good, now, with the new Deputy Governor, of course there will be some complaints here and there from the same Oke Ogun, but we will try our best to make sure that since the replacement is also from Oke Ogun, they should see it as part of the whole and that there should be no rancour.
“Maybe if the replacement is from another zone, there could be justification for complaints of being unfair to them. But, with this, we have been able to know how to deal with them so that we can work together. My appeal is to the people of Oke Ogun to see Bayo Lawal and Rauf Olaniyan as one and the coming from the same family of Oke ogun”, he added.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit to the new Deputy Governor, Balogun said the group came on a solidarity visit to assure Lawal of the support of Ogbomosho people in his new task.
He said: “The purpose of our visit is to show solidarity with one of us, the new Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal. He is from Kishi, Kishi is from Oke Ogun, Oke Ogun is part of Oyo North Senatorial District.
“Ogbomosho is the second arm of Oke Ogun in Oyo North Senatorial District. So, you see the link. We came to demonstrate that he is one of us, we solidarise with him and we will be too happy to cooperate with him to make sure that ‘Seyi Makinde’s administration is succeeding and that the second term will be taken on a platter of gold.
“That is the main purpose of our visit, to let him know that he has the support of Ogbomosho zone”, he stated.
While playing host to the group earlier in his office, Lawal pledged the commitment and support of the Governor ‘Seyi Makinde led administration to the people of Ogbomosho as well as other regions and zones of the state.
Addressing the visitors, Lawal assured of his unflinching support, pledging that the present administration in Oyo would continue to share the dividend of democracy equitably among various zones of the state.
Some of the Ogbomosho indigenes who accompanied Dr Balogun on the visit include; the Chief of Staff to Governor Makinde, Segun Ogunwuyi; Executive Chairman, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, Prince Dotun Oyelade; PDP House of Representative candidate for Ogbomosho North/South/Oriire Federal Constituency, Hon. Olufemi Onireti, Commissioners, other political appointees amongst others.
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