The Oyo Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan has congratulated his kinsman, Barrister Bayo Lawal on his selection as the running mate of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde in the 2023 election.
Olaniyan who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he holds no animosity with Lawal.
He added that Lawal would always remain his elder brother and kinsman come what may.
He reiterated that he would continue to hold Governor Makinde in esteem and would not allow anything to cause personal rift between them.
He said his passion and commitment to serve the people of the state remains constant but would never fight anyone to occupy public position as an “Omoluabi”.
Recall that Olaniyan on Sunday made public declaration of the political switch after years of what would be described as ‘differences’ between himself and Governor Makinde.
However, at the press conference to declare his new political move, Olaniyan said he remains the Deputy Governor on a tenure that would lapse come May 28, 2023, having won the election with Governor ‘Seyi Makinde and sworn in on May 29, 2019.
He maintained that, by his defection to APC, he has not violated any section of the Nigeria Constitution as the issue had been decided in various courts of competent jurisdiction in the land including the High, Appeal and even Supreme Courts, arising from similar episodes.
Till date, Olaniyan has not made public if he is pursuing any political ambition in 2023. He was persuaded by Governor Makinde in 2018 to be his running mate in the 2019 election, that was won on the platform of the PDP.
It would be recall that, before he joined Makinde in the umbrella party, Olaniyan was a leading governorship aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the party he joined after leaving the APC when the party at the time made it clear that the governorship ticket would not be zoned to Oke Ogun region where he hailed from.