What betrayal? This is main reason Ogunwuyi dumped Makinde, and he gave him 2 mths’ notice – Afoo, ex-Makinde appointee

What betrayal? This is main reason Ogunwuyi dumped Makinde, and he gave him 2 mths’ notice – Afoo, ex-Makinde appointee

Ayoola TAIWO

Afoo

Advertisement

Hon Joshua Olusola Afolabi, who recently renounced his appointment in Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration as member of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), has shed light on why Hon Segun Ogunwuyi resigned as Chief of Staff to Governor Makinde.

Hon Afolabi made this disclosure during a chat with ogbomosoinsightonline.com Tuesday after a meeting of loyalists of Hon Ogunwuyi in Ogbomoso South local government, held at Baptist Basic School, Ijeru, Caretaker, Ogbomoso.

Fondly called “AFOO” in the political circle, Hon Afolabi who addressed the mammoth crowd which attended the general meeting disclosed that Hon Ogunwuyi left Allied People’s Party (APM) because he never was consulted or carried along before the governor’s decision to pitch tent with the new party on whose platform Makinde is now seeking his presidential ambition.

Advertisement

He insisted it was never a betrayal as Engr Makinde, he said, was informed two months earlier by Ogunwuyi that he was not in tune with APM, hinting of his likely defection. He explained Ogunwuyi just woke one day and was informed they were now in APM, adding that none of them had APM membership card including the governor.

AFOO who declared Ogunwuyi is his leader having found him a reliable politician and a man of integrity, stressed he is bound to follow him in whatever political adventure he embarked upon, adding his own supporters have also moved en-mass out of APM.

“What betrayal, my leader, Hon Segun Ogunwuyi never betrayed Governor Seyi Makinde, that is out of the question. He supported the governor wholeheartedly until the purported defection to the APM. Hon Ogunwuyi was not carried along when the decision was being made, he never was consulted, no round table meeting of party leaders or of the top hierarchy of the administration was held, we just learned one day we are now in APM, who does that? None of us has APM membership card, even the governor does not have the membership card, that is a ruinous path our leader refused to tread on being an experienced politician.

Advertisement

“I have no option than to move out with our leader out of APM as he is reliable and a man of high integrity. He cares for his followers and fixes them appropriately while in government. You can see the number of followers and leaders that have moved out of the party, not only in Ogbomoso but across the state, it is massive.”

Hon Afolabi who was chairmanship candidate of the African Democratic Party (ADP) for Ogbomoso South in 2021, now noted Ogunwuyi was senior to Makinde in politics.

“When Hon Ogunwuyi was serving as member of House of Assembly, Governor Makinde was still an engineer, he had not found his footing in politics; and when Ogunwuyi rose to become a member of the National Assembly, Makinde remained an engineer, still groveling to find his path in politics. So, Hon Ogunwuyi is not small in politics and he knows what he is doing.”

Advertisement

Afolabi who also sought to represent Ogbomoso South state constituency in 2023 before being asked to step down for Hon Sanjo Adedoyin (presently Majority Leader in the Oyo State House of Assembly), stated he is one hundred percent loyal to Ogunwuyi, while expressing confidence the All Progressives Congress (APC) would win the next general elections.

“With the game on the ground, yes of course, APC will win in 2027. Defection has not stopped, it is just the beginning, you are saying they are paper weight. We will see.”

He said Ogbomoso would vote APC and that the town would benefit, assuring, “We won’t regret voting APC. Ogbomoso will benefit under APC government, federal and state.”

Meanwhile, at the meeting, supporters and loyalists reaffirmed their loyalty and commitment to his political leadership of Ogunwuyi.

Speaking at the event, a former chairman of Ogbomoso South West LCDA, Engr. Dr. Damilare Amusan, expressed delight at the turnout.

Advertisement

Dr. Amusan, who recently resigned as chairman of the Governing Council of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, appreciated the supporters for the confidence they had continued to repose in Hon. Ogunwuyi, describing their presence as a display of loyalty and solidarity with their political leader.

Also speaking, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state executive committee, Hon. Doja Agbejinmi, acknowledged Ogunwuyi’s contributions to her political growth and opportunities.

She said, “If not because of Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, I would not have been considered fr appointment as a member of the state executive committee for two terms. I was also in SUBEB. It was through this great leader.”

Advertisement

Similarly, Hon. Afolabi Olushola Joshua, conveyed greetings from Ogunwuyi and urged the supporters to remain steadfast in their loyalty, noting that some of those present had been associated with Ogunwuyi for close to 2 decades.

Afolabi urged them not to abandon a leader who had contributed to their growth and development.

“Let us not bite the fingers that feed us. Hon. Ogunwuyi remains our leader. He leads, we follow,” he said.