From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
Alhaja Bose Adedibu, the wife of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Ariyibi Adedibu has said that the former governor of Oyo state, Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala should have been a party leader to fill the vacuum of Alhaji Adedibu considering his experience in politics to solve myriads of problems in People’s Democratic party (PDP) in Oyo state instead of contesting for governorship seat.
Alhaja Adedibu and one of the PDP leaders in the state also described the former governor as a disloyal party stakeholder who should not have left PDP to Labour Party in the state saying he did that only to create a scene.
In this exclusive interview with Daily Sun, Alhaja Adedibu bared her mind on varying issues border on former Senate leader’s emergence as governorship flag bearer of the party and the crises ensues thereafter.
Excerpts:
Take on decamping aspirants in PDP to other parties?
I believe they are not a lover of their political party that is, PDP. If you love your party, you will abide with whatever decision reached there. There is always a fight but you settle it instead of going to another party as a last resort.
But as one of the party leaders, these aspirants believe you don’t want them….
You will learn that most these aspirants left, did that before the election of the candidate while others left after the primary. Like Engr. Seyi Makinde would have waited for the outcome of the primary before he left instead of going to court to seek redress over primary that has not been conducted. Don’t you think these may pose serious challenges to PDP in general elections?
It can affect PDP chances in winning general elections. And defection is not synonymous to PDP. You can see what is happening in Accord party for now? Accord members left for another parties, PDP to another parties and now new SDP and others. All these people decamping are not loyal to their parties, a reason they are moving from pillar to post.
What about Otunba Alao Akala, can we say he is not loyal despite his strong recognition in PDP?
I don’t know that but if he is loyal, he will stay in his party. What is sending him away from the party he created and built? The party where he had been a deputy governor and governor even contested under its platform in 2011 as governor. He has benefitted from the party a lot and also considered as a respected elderly person. He knows this game very well. Somebody cannot deceive Akala from PDP. I believe he just want to create scene. Even when I was told he is going to Labour Party, I said brother Akala cannot do that because he is not a pushable person but only wants to create a scene.
Do you agree with what Senator Folarin said that Otunba Alao Akala supposes to be a party leader and be a part of solution to the party problems?
I quite agree with him. He wouldn’t have contested; he would have been a father like Baba Adedibu. He understands this game very well and so he would have taken such position and would have earned him better respect. I even sent somebody to go and tell him that he should not contest but rather should be a godfather and a party leader so that he can move the party forward in the state. People would have respected him more because they need his brain. It is better to quit the field when the ovation is loudly.
Why Senator Folarin is the anointed candidate ma?
By who?
I mean by the party leaders ma…
I am not a delegate. Delegates voted for who they wanted.
What about the backing of national party leaders?
All of them have their people in Abuja. Engr. Seyi Makinde has his own, Otunba Akala has his own, Senator Folarin has his own and many others.
But how Senator Folarin was able to hold sway?
How would I know? I am not in Abuja.
How is PDP going to surmount these challenges to win general elections?
The problem of decamping is not synonymous to us. We are anyway trying to solve it.
What about party members that have left with the aggrieved aspirants?
I am still saying the same thing. If they love their party, they would not have left with them. The parties they are going have their own problems too. And the people they meet there will allow them to be lorded over them and therefore line up behind. If not former governor Alao Akala who is formidable, he would have lined up behind. There will be insults hurled at them which they may not able to bear.
