Can Olu Agunloye, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), spring surprise at the poll? At a time, the Erusu-Akoko-born former Minister of Power and was a member of the progressive family.
He served as the Personal Assistant (PA) to the slain Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige.
However, after his national assignments, he joined Ondo politics as an active participant under the ’Omoluabi’ platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
He was a governorship aspirant under the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2012 and mobilised support for himself and the party. But, following the emergence of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), a frontline lawyer from Owo, as the flag bearer for the election, Agunloye pulled out of the progressives camp and aligned with Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his Labour Party (LP).
Many observers blamed Agunloye for hurriedly dumping the ACN and embracing Mimiko, who later betrayed him. Agunloye thought Mimiko will give him the LP’s ticket for the Senate, but the ticket was clinched by Prof Ajayi Boroffice, who later dumped the LP for the ACN when he could no longer feel comfortable with Mimiko and his former LP.
Agunloye has been dreaming of becoming governor on the platform of any political party. but, sources said his inconsistency may hinder his plan. Analysts are of the opinion that he is not serious with his ambition, which they noted, might become a tall dream.
Few weeks ago, he dumped the PDP for the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Agunloye, who is also a former governorship aspirant of the PDP, said he defected to the SDP because of what he called “power of choice”.
The former Minister, who was received into the SDP by its National Chairman, , Chief Olu Falae, said he joined the SDP to realise his dream of serving the state.
He said: “It is from the vantage position of my right to power of choice, my constant and unabated interest in the progress and sustainable development of our state, my perpetual desire for youth employment and women emancipation, all of which have been established over a long period that I see a beacon of hope in the Social Democratic Party.”
Agunloye said the SDP remains the only party in the state that can proffer solution to the present predicament, dilemma and misfortunes of the people of the state.
He condemned the administration of Mimiko, saying the PDP led government has failed the people.
His words: “In Akure here, the seat of government, the situation is even more pitiable and sad. Once you factor out the government house, government offices, single and dual carriage roads erected by current and past administrations, we literarily run aground in a city with no vehicle-worthy roads, no electricity, no water, no sewage disposal system and no drainage”.
Falae said the SDP would provide an alternative opportunity for politicians, who are frustrated in both the ruling PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said the party would work towards ensuring that it wins the October election.
Falae said that the SDP is the party to beat in the state, adding that, after the primaries of the PDP and the APC, many aggrieved aspirants and supporters will join the SDP massively to ensure the party wins this year’s governorship election.
But, observers said the SDP has no political structure from the ward to state levels, and wondered how it would win the election. One of such observers wondered: “Which magic will the SDP use, even with its national chairman, Chief Olu Falae, coming from this state. Where is the crowd? where are the supporters? What is the antecedent of the SDP in the sunshine? These are the questions on the lips of many people.”
However, one of its state executive member who spoke in confidence said: “Wait and see, we are mobilising and by the time we absorb the aggrieved APC and PDP aspirants with their supporters after primaries, then you will know the SDP, the party through which the late MKO Abiola won votes across all states of the federation will make history to repeat itself.”
