By Seyifunmi Odunuga
IBADAN – The Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Bayo Lawal has described aggrieved members in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state as immature.
He disclosed this on Saturday, October 31, 2020 during a popular radio programme, ‘Poitical Circuit’ on Fresh FM, monitored in Ibadan.
Lawal, who was the Director-General of Governor Seyi Makinde in the 2019 general elections, described Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeniyan, Chief Femi Babalola and some other PDP aggrieved chieftains as “political chickens who lack maturity.”
The Oyo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, said, Olopoeniyan, Babalola and some other PDP chieftains had differently expressed displeasure with Gov. Seyi Makinde’s style of administration as well as handling of party affairs.
He said furtherl that Olopeniyan, Babalola and others were immature for complaining that they have been sidelined, saying they are political chickens.
In hiis word, “Many of them have received their pay before the election, hence they have no reason to complain.
“The same Olopoeniyan who is complaining has been hosting the APC candidates in the last elections, Chief Bayo Adelabu and Sen. Teslim Folarin in his house. He has no stand to complain that he was not compensated.”
The commissioner boasted that Olopoeniyan cannot raise his head with him and the governor in Ibadan North East local government where they belong.
He advised Olopoeniyan to stop making public outcry over sideline by the government, urging him to channel his grievances to the Governor than making allegations.
Lawal continued, “Was Olopoeniyan the only one who worked for Governor Seyi Makinde in 2019? He needs to wait for report of reconcilition committee of the party before crying foul.
“There are 8 million people who are expecting good governance in Oyo state. He needs to be calm. There are ways we pay people in politics. If we construct a road linking your home, it is part of the benefits of democracy”.
On the coalition that brought the governor to power, Lawal said Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin and Sharafadeen Alli’s grievances are normal.
“We gave three Commissioners to ADC, but Lanlehin wanted us to handover the whole benefit of ADC to him. It is not news that Lanlehin went to APC. That is his style. He has been going round political parties,” he said.
The Commissioner commended Alli for his political maturity, but alleged him of presenting commissionership nominees for ZLP from local governments where other parties had presented.
“Sarafadeen Alli is a matured politician. You cannot see him going round making noise. He is the one to decide his political future. But he goffed when he said we cannot dictate for him when we asked him to bring slot for Commisioner,” Lawal noted.
The Commissioner said that “Sarafadeen Alli contributed greatly to the emergence of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja in 2003, but didn’t raise eyebrow for not being compensated for three years of his administration.”
According to him, “if Jesus becomes President of Nigeria, and Muhammed emerges the Governor of Oyo state, some people will still complain.”