Intra-party defection hit PDP in Ogbomoso triggering re-alignment
Khalid ABRAHAM
Advertisement
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogbomoso is being hit by a political wave triggered by ideological differences between a leader of the ruling party in the state, Engr. Muftau Open Salawu, who’s the Director General of the Oyo State Project Monitoring Agency, and some of his loyalists led by Isaac Adeeyo Adegbite a.k.a. Eyo.
A little misunderstanding has led to an open disagreement which has forced the aggrieved party to move out to join another camp in the party, one led by the formidable Chief Ebenezer Segun Ogunwuyi, Chief of Staff to the Oyo state governor, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde.
According to sources the misunderstanding stemmed from an untamed rivalry that tore through the Open-Salawu camp involving Eyo, the chairman of Ogbomoso North local government (who is not a member of the group) Hon George Ogunlade and his vice Hon Salawu Taofeeq among others. Tte Open-Salawu group was said to have supported the emergence of the duo, in fact, Hon Taofeeq belongs to the group from the onset. However, the group complained of not enjoying adequate political patronage commensurate with its contribution. That was the genesis of the crisis cumulating in the intra-party wrangling and defection as Eyo was said to have been blamed for the turn of events.
“This became unacceptable to Eyo and his band, and perhaps aggrieved by other issues, they defected to join forces with the Chief of Staff group,” a source informed ogbomosoinsightonline.com.
Adegbite in a Facebook post Tuesday affirmed his intra-party “defection,” when he stated, “Have taken my entitlement and empty drum to the Canopy of Hon Ebenezer Segun Ogunwuyi,indeed you are a politician with a difference. Please let us respect our mutual desires and positions as I team up with a leader whose diplomatic level cannot be questioned. My appreciation goes to Hon Oyedokun Oyeniyi,Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke for their unflinching support and encouragement.Comrade Adeniran Isaiah( Senator )and the entire team,you are very dear to me.”
Advertisement
It is recalled followed his erstwhile boss to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the wake of alleged imposition of House of Representatives’ candidate in Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Oriire federal constituency towards the 2023 general elections.
Meanwhile, efforts to speak with Open-Salawu were unsuccessful but one of his aides informs “he is unperturbed,” adding, “political migration and re-alignment is normal in politics, since it’s mostly dictated by interest.” This as a political watcher who however prefers anonymity notes that the development would weaken the Salawu group due to “the influence and intellectual contribution Eyo always brings to the table.”
