The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oyelese

  • Buhari is incorruptible, Oyelese insists

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Elder Wole Oyelese, has described as unfortunate the attack on his personality by the state leadership of the party.

    The PDP chieftain said most politicians at the grassroots lack knowledge of what politics is about.

    He insisted that President Buhari is one incorruptible Nigerian.

    In a telephone chat, he said: “I’ve never been a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and have no intention to be. The writers are very ignorant of what politics is about. It is unfortunate that most politicians in Nigeria, especially at the grassroots, are not knowledgeable about what politics should be. To them, politics is just the quickest avenue to get rich. National development and development of human and material resources do not matter to them. The welfare of the common man does not matter to them as long as they have their clique in positions plundering the commonwealth.

    “I did not say anything derogatory about the PDP. My antecedents do not suggest that I condone corruption. Since I left office as a two-time minister and once as a Special Adviser, nobody has invited me to account for anything. So, I utterly disdain corruption. This extends my love for President Buhari as a person who I have known to be incorruptible.

    “Secondly, as the President, I know he is laying the right foundation for development of Nigeria. I admit very much that people are suffering in the country, and this is bad. This is an area I will want President Buhari to do more and bring succour to the people.

    “I still repeat that President Buhari is one person I respect, and I maintain that he is incorruptible. I challenge anyone to publish any bank account containing huge sums of money or buildings in Nigeria or any part of the world that belong to President Buhari to prove he is corrupt. Otherwise, they must be quiet.”

     

  • Oyo PDP: Oyelese is APC mole in our party

    The Oyo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described a former Minister of Mines and Power, Elder Wole Oyelese, as a mole of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the capital, by its Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji, Oyo PDP said it was embarrassing that during a radio interview programme in Ibadan, Oyelese made “unsolicited praises” of President Muhammadu Buhari by calling him the “only honest and incorruptible politician” in the country.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the PDP in Oyo State has been drawn to a radio interview granted by Elder Oyelese on IBR FM 92.5, on Tuesday afternoon, and the party was highly embarrassed and surprised that a leader in the PDP could describe President Buhari as the only honest and incorruptible politician in the country.

    “As luck would have it, a distraught Nigerian called in to disagree with him, citing the cases of Abdulrasheed Maina, Babachir Lawal, $20 billion Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) contract and many others in which President Buhari was alleged to be aiding and abetting corruption.

    “The PDP is less bothered that Elder Oyelese had to go on air to disparage the leadership of the party but gave unsolicited praises to a man who symbolises suffering, collapse of the nation’s economy and insecurity across the country.

    “One could deduce a very germane fact from the interview. There is likely an ongoing grand plan to destabilise the PDP in Oyo State with the likes of Elder Oyelese, who has shown disdain and hatred for the leadership of the party in the state and at the national level.

    “It is time for everyone of us to be wary of those around us. We can’t just toy with 2019 elections; they are a must win for the PDP. Remember: some are planted to destroy the party and go the other direction.

    “The present crop of PDP leadership under Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha will rather leave politics instead of joining APC, which has only come out to put the masses into the suffering of unimaginable magnitude.

    “Oyo PDP, therefore, assures all aspirants on the platform of the party of a level-playing field as demanded and mandated by the leader of the party and former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

    “This is a new and rejuvenated PDP under the national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus. And going by the current strength of the PDP in the state, we promise to make 2019 elections 33:0 against APC or any other opposition party.”

  • Ladoja can’t intimidate Oyo PDP, says Oyelese

    A former Minister of Mines and Power and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Elder Wole Oyelese, has decried the threat by former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja to dump the party.

    Oyelese emphasised that Ladoja cannot intimidate the party.

    The former minister said bad history was repeating itself in Oyo State PDP.

    In a statement he signed yesterday, Oyelese said: “At a time the people of Oyo State, irrespective of party affiliation, are looking up to the PDP to liberate them from the clueless administration and gruesome misrule of the APC in the state, it is sad that an individual would now decide to threaten the party with his exit unless things are done his way, as if the 2019 electoral fortune of the party solely depends on him.”

    The former minister advised PDP’s national leadership not to be perturbed by what he called Ladoja’s empty threat, but to cooperate with himself and other party leaders to arrest the drift.

    He said: “They should not be bothered by the threat, as it may, after all, be a great blessing. If Chief Ladoja is prepared to be part of the collective leadership arrangement that would be put in place and which will, by the grace of God, resolve all outstanding issues, then he is still welcome in the PDP. Any attempt by him to lord it over the party and major stakeholders will definitely not work.

    “It is common knowledge in Oyo State that the overbearing attitude of Senator Ladoja led to the refusal of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala to join the PDP. It was also responsible for the exit of Dele Adigun, a former strong ally of Chief Ladoja, who had earlier joined the PDP through my intervention. I arranged Dele Adigun’s joining the PDP with Dr. Olafeso, but Dele was not comfortable with Chief Ladoja’s leadership style.

    “One may ask why Dr Bukola Ajaja (a former member of the House of Representatives) and her group refused to join the PDP, preferring instead to remain in the Accord Party. It is this same attitude of driving people away from the party. One wonders what it will take Senator Ladoja to take a critical look at his political style, which also led to the decimation of the Accord Party.

    “I have no doubt in my mind that the people mentioned earlier and many more political leaders in Oyo State will move over to the PDP, if Senator Ladoja goes through with his threat.”

    Oyelese said Ladoja would learn the greatest and most bitter lesson of his political life if he leaves the PDP, adding that the parameters that helped him in 2011 are no longer there.

    He added: “One would have thought that the experience of 2015, when a lame duck governorship candidate was wickedly foisted on the Oyo State PDP, was enough lesson for everybody. Some people, at that time, insisted on having the party their way, instead of listening to well-meaning party leaders who were on the ground in Oyo State.

    “The rest, as they say, is now history. The party cheaply gave the state to the APC in an election we had no business losing. Now, unfortunately, we are at it again in another form.”

    The former minister recalled that when he set the final process in motion for Ladoja to dump Accord for the PDP, he meant well for the party.

    According to him, he believes everyone has something to contribute in building a virile PDP in Oyo State.

    Oyelese added: “The fruitful discussion that I set up between Chief Adewolu Ladoja and Dr. Eddy Olafeso led to Chief Ladoja giving his condition for joining the PDP. He had, at that time, requested for the national leadership to discuss with him. It was that request that led Dr. Olafeso to facilitate the visit of Senator Ahmed Makarfi and some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to Oyo State. That visit led to Chief Lodoja joining the PDP. At no time during discussions was it said that the control of the party would be given to him or any other individual.”

  • Ibadan aspirant should get PDP ticket, says Oyelese

    Ibadan aspirant should get PDP ticket, says Oyelese

    Former Minister of Power Elder Wole Oyelese has said an Ibadan aspirant deserves to represent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State next year.

    He was addressing reporters in Ibadan, the state capital, on his governorship ambition.

    Oyelese is the Coordinator, Group of Seven (G7) governorship aspirants of Ibadan origin. The group has been making a case for an Ibadan aspirant to emerge the party’s candidate next year.

    He said the party’s ticket should come to Ibadan  because former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala has represented the party three times.

    Alao-Akala hails from Ogbomoso North Local Government, which is part of Oyo North Senatorial District.

    The former minister said Alao-Akala held a joint ticket with Senator Rashidi Ladoja in 2003, became governor in 2006, and contested in the 2007 and 2011 elections. He said it was only fair for the ticket to return to Ibadan, which forms a large part of the remaining two senatorial districts.

    Oyelese said: “I’m the most experienced among the PDP aspirants today. I was adjudged the best local government chairman once, became a minister twice and a founding member of the party.”

  • Oyelese slams Ladoja for comments

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Elder Wole Oyelese, has urged the party’s national leadership to conduct fresh primaries from the ward to state levels.

    Oyelese accused former Governor Rashidi Ladoja of insulting members in an interview published by a national newspaper last week.

    He said for someone who became a governor on the PDP’s platform, Ladoja’s description of the party as a “casino” was an insult.

    In a statement entitled: “Don’t prove Ladoja right on Oyo PDP”, Oyelese said: “Not a few concerned members of Oyo PDP felt insulted by Ladoja’s description of the PDP as a ‘casino’ on the front page exclusive interview he recently granted a national newspaper.

    “For a party that gave him relevance in Nigerian politics, one should castigate Ladoja for the uncharitable action of casting such aspersion on the PDP. However, a close look at the way the state PDP crisis is being handled by the national body may eventually lend some credence to Ladoja’s vituperation, as insulting and bitter as it may be.

    “It is therefore imperative that urgent steps be taken to right the wrongs and save the party in Oyo State. It is currently being circulated by some individuals that there is a party executive in Oyo State, which is recognised by the National Executive and this kind of false propaganda is not healthy for the party in a volatile state as ours.

    “The sad fact is that there are three different executives in Oyo PDP and none can be described as legal. This kind of position is not good for the PDP at a time when members are defecting out of frustration and other parties are ganging up to fight us.

    “Some individuals are creating an ugly impression out of the inability of the National Working Committee (NWC) to attend the reconciliation meeting on December 18.

    “Those of us who know the national officials well enough know them as men of high integrity, who cannot be compromised. To reposition Oyo PDP, I urge the National Executive to urgently organise fresh party congresses from the ward to the state level. Anything short of this cannot work and delay is dangerous.”