You Will Only Smell Governor’s Office From Afar, Your Role in the Nullified 2006 Impeachment Still Hunts You — Oyo PDP Lambasts Folarin

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has on Wednesday described a statement credited to Senator Teslim Folarin over the impeachment of the former governor, Rauf Olaniyan as a dance of shame unexpected of someone holding such public office.

Folarin had in his reaction to what the Oyo State PDP described as the most peaceful and rancour free impeachment in the history of Nigeria, condemned the State House of Assembly as well as the 7-man judicial panel of investigation constituted by the Chief Judge (CJ) of the state, Justice Munta Abimbola, saying the erstwhile deputy governor would be vindicated at appeal court.

While reacting, the ruling party in a press statement signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji, stated that such expression is not of optimism but of reckless boasting that is more preemptive of the court than expression of hope, adding that Folarin was part of the most notorious, controversial, illegal and eventually nullified impeachment in the history of Oyo State in 2006.

Consequently, the party said the impeachment which did not only satisfy the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution also has the full backing of the people of the state who willingly handed the PDP it’s mandate for a period stipulated by law.

According to the press statement, Senator Folarin’s role in the nullified 2006 impeachment has perpetually placed the senator on the wrong side of history and posterity will continue to hold him to account because of the grave impact the illegality has had on the political landscape of Oyo State.

Describing the senator’s comment as good riddance to bad rubbish, the ruling party said Folarin has continued to conduct himself as a man lacking in personal dignity and honour with brazen show of unremorseful attitude for the 2006 atrocity on the people of Oyo state.

The party explained further that the likes of Folarin may only continue to smell the Governor’s Office from a far distance if they fail to repent from the political hooliganism and rascality brazenly displayed in a civilised society, noting that any man to be entrusted with the number one seat in the state must be a man of unquestionable character and record.

Mocking the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over its internal crisis, the ruling party advised the Folarin faction of the opposition party to note that every word and action it is taking in the name of playing opposition against the masses government are being noted by civil servants, artisans, market men and women, business operators who are eagerly awaiting to renew the current mandate come 2023.

The statement read: “It is not only sad but also unfortunate that someone holding such public office as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could use his political naivety, ignorance, and sheer brazen disregard for history, reduce the highly respected office of a senator.

“Do we have to keep reminding this senator of how he and his cohorts in 2006 supported the worst, most notorious, illegal and eventually nullified impeachment in the anal of Oyo State history? it is just 2006 and he and his likes in the Oyo State APC are already feigning short mindedness about the political brigandage, rascality and recklessness they participated in, that has had grave negative impacts on development of our political landscape?

“Folarin in his desperation to become governor will easily jump on anything anywhere that is readily against the present government and also acting like someone with respect for decorous political conducts, good conduct and character. The world know him for exactly who he is, which earned him the popular nickname as ‘Mr jagba’ which translates forceful snatch of what doesn’t belong to you.

“In a more saner society, such a man may only be able to earn himself a career in the comedy business. Certainly not in a serious business as either lawmaking or governance. He is a misfit and can do anything just to get political power by every means possible.

“The pulse around town since the entire process of impeachment lasted, was that of a maximum backing of the people with whom ultimate power to give mandate lies. In fact, the removal of the former deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan from office following established impeachable offenses against him, can pass as the most peaceful and rancour free in the history of Nigeria.

“In 2006 when a very popular former governor was illegally impeached with the support from the likes of Folarin, the entire state was thrown into darkness, an era we pray never to witness again in our collective history. That era witnessed the most horrendous period of brazen illegality, political rascality, and brigandage, and so unfortunately, it still such a man like Folarin that’s speaking in public.

“Folarin, a politically empty individual has been a man that can safely pass as the most opportunistic politician of this era. The first two times he served in the Senate was entirely on late Baba Adedibu’s sole DCCC support. His current place in the Senate was purely a product of the Buhari tsunami which every serious politician in the state can attest to so, we urge Folarin and his likes to continue in that self delusion till we hit the polls in 2023, it’ll be like APC didn’t even participate at all”, the statement added

In the meantime, the party has congratulated the newly sworn in deputy governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, urging him to continue in his usual self of humility, meekness, friendliness, loyalty, and strong character, saying posterity will always be kind to him for making Oyo State proud.