The chances of Teslim Folarin, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, looks brighter as leaders of the Labour Party, LP as well as those of the African Action Congress, AAC, met him and declared support for his guber bid.
Represented by the deputy director general of his campaign, Yemi Aderibigbe and local organizing committee chairman, Idris Adeoye, Folarin said he would carry everyone along in the scheme of things
According to him, nobody would be discriminated against as he believes that everyone has something great to contribute.
Aderibigbe, who spoke on his behalf, said that “You can take it to the bank. Whatever we do today will not be taken for granted. We understand what you have done. We will not disappoint you. Our candidate, Sen. Teslim Folarin that you are supporting is the best. There is no problem with us with your coming into our party. Nearly all the LGA have been won. We want you to repeat the feat you did last week. We will enjoy the benefit together.
Corroborating Aderibigbe, Adeoye explained that Sen. Teslim Folarin is a progressive-minded who makes sure everyone is not left behind. “He is someone who would carry everyone alone. We know all you did last week during the presidential election. So be rest assured. You have become a greater part of us.
Speaking earlier, pioneer chairman of AAC in the state, Rotimi Ogunlana, said they decided to team up with Folarin not because of anything but because of the love of the state. “We believe that things cannot continue to go this way. Folarin is experienced and has track record. We believe that if we support him, he will do well. We are moving from agitation to participation.”
State secretary of LP, Gabriel Ogunlana said that “We are all for the same thing. We were not more than 4 when we started LP. Because of democratic principles that I have, the leaders of this party gave me opportunity to be made secretary. What brought us here is that we don’t have a solid gubernatorial candidate that can challenge the incumbent who has performed woefully. After the presidential election, we learnt that those who don’t have influence met Governor ‘Seyi Makinde that they want to work for him. But rather than call for a congress to approve what we will do, they declared support without talking to us. So we called a meeting. When we now met, majority of us, 23 LP LGA chairmen, decided that Sen. Teslim Folarin of the APC is our best bet.
“When we started initially in LP, we set out to be fighting for the masses. When we were in AAC and in LP, we were all contributing money to fund the party. So we are not here because of money. We are not hungry before coming here. I trust our people; they were spending their personal money. I am a chartered accountant. We want to work. I was coming from a reconciliation meeting. One of the leaders, Bashiru Apapa called me. He appealed that the governor wanted to see us, that I should go with the chairman., I said no. I am the youngest, they only honoured me by making me state secretary. What we are doing today, I know they will victimize us. This is to say that you must be ready to accommodate us. They betrayed us, that is why we are here.”
Wale Akinremi, who brokered the meeting, expressed joy at the reception, adding that “I know the strength of LP in Oyo State. I know the activism of AAC. I recall how our senator-elect, Oloye Sharafadeen Alli would tell me that I am an activist in politics. We thank God for everything. Despite all what LP did last week, these people still honoured me by coming here. I thank you.
John Aremu, state youth leader of the party who spoke at the party, enjoined them to see them as members of the family.
Former deputy national youth leader of the party Afeez Bolaji, who also spoke, said it was good the LP is teaming up with the APC.
Others at the parley included Wasiu Rufai, Taiwo Okunlola, Kazeem Sanni, Sayo Fatoki, Ismail Teslim Kunle and host of others.
