• Senator Adeola lauds Obasanjo, Osoba, Amosun for backing Ogun West

From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has apologised to its former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, over what it desribed as injustice meted to him in the party, which led to his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee on reconciliation mission in Osun State,  Sarafadeen Ishola, led a delegation of the party chieftains to Oyinlola’s country home in Okuku, on Tuesday, where they expressed the party’s apology and asked for his forgiveness.

Although Ishola said the visit was not to lure Oyinlola back to the party,  there were indications that it was a strategy to win his support, ahead of the governorship election in the state, in  2018.

“The decision to be member of any party is a personal one and we respect that decision of yours. Our mission is to come and ask for forgiveness and we admit that what happened to you was an injustice and an error,” Ishola said.

Thereafter, all the members of the caretaker committee  prostrated to Oyinlola to appeal for his forgiveness.

Among the party leaders that went for the apology were former deputy to Oyinlola, Erelu Obada, former speaker of the House of Assembly, Adejare Bello and former member of the National Population Commission, Alhaji Lere Oyewumi.

Oyinlola who accepted the apology however said: “I want to say that I did everything humanly possible to make sure that the division did not come from me. I went to the extent of writing to the leader of the party, to draw his attention to the issues that were eroding the unity of the party but, it seemed my own sincerity about the whole issues were misconstrued.”

The former governor who said he felt vindicated by the visit and the apologies tendered, maintained that politicians must rub minds together and exploit all avenues of peaceful resolution of conflicts.

“I want to take recourse to the Bible which says ‘ if your brother transgesses, rebuke him; if he repents, forgive him. It is on that score that I want to say I have forgiven and forgotten all that was done to me.”

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In another development, Ishola also led a delegation of party supporters to woo Fatai Akinbade, candidate of Labour Party (LP) during the 2014 governorship election.

The visit was aimed at reconciling with him, after the crisis in the party prompted him to defect to Labour party.

After the appeal by the leaders, Akinbade announced his return  to the PDP. 

He said his decision was based on the yearnings of the people of Osun.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Solomon Adeola, has commended Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and erstwhile governor of the state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, for their call that Ogun West Senatorial district should produce the next governor in 2019.

Adeola, who is popularly called Yayi, commended them during an interactive session with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), traditional rulers, community development associations, artisans and different trades groups in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government Area of the state, yesterday.

Adeola, also called Yayi, said Ogun West senatorial district, which comprises Yewa, Awori and other ethnic groups has not produced a governor since the creation of the state 42 years ago and added that it would not be fair if the next governor of the state does not come from the area.

“It is only fair and equitable for all justice and equity loving  leaders of Ogun state to acknowledge the injustice and inequity against the people of Ogun West. The two other districts have virtually monopolised producing the governors for the state. 

“I want to thank our fathers, General Obasanjo, Chief Osoba and the incumbent governor, Senator Amosun, for making open declarations on the need to have a governor from Ogun West in 2019 in the spirit of justice, equity and fair play.

 “Indeed their stand shows conscious attempt to redress the age-long injustice as well as lay a solid foundation for a holistic and sustainable development of the state.”

Adeola also appealed that a level playing ground be provided for all aspirants of Ogun West origin when the