Ayeekooto Is Wrong: Folarin and Oyo APC Were Thrown Under The Bus – Hon. Sola Abegunde

The above is a general bilief by the Yorubas which Diran Akindele Ayeekooto obviously forgot or refused to take to account while attempting to castigate Senator Teslim Folarin, gubernatorial candidate of the APC for the 2023 general elections in Oyo State.

I see that it was convenient for Diran Akindele Ayeekooto to heap blames of the party’s failures in the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections on Folarin.

I also see that it was even more convenient to overlook obvious acts of betrayals by certain individuals within the party, which, rather than Folarin, contributed to the failure of both the party and its candidates.

I am not surprised that people like Ayeekooto are suddenly springing up, trying to finish what some dissidents started before the elections.

After all, they must ensure that both Folarin and the party in Oyo is completely buried in favour of their sponsors who ensured that the efforts of loyal and committed party faithfuls were wasted on the altar of greed and gluttony.

It is sad that the fellow could accuse Senator Folarin of not reaching out to perceived disgruntled aspirants and/or individuals and that he did not take to Asiwaju’s advice to make concessions.

I put it to Ayeekooto that Senator Fatai Buhari, Senator Sarafadeen Alli, Baba Abu Gbadamosi, Honorables Lafi, Sadipe, Fijabi, and others are individuals who Folarin reached out to and being Godfearing, embraced reconciliation and stood with the Party for the general good.

That is apart from the likes of Honorables Ajibola Muraina, Remi Oseni, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe who actually joined from the PDP.

It is a known fact that Teslim Folarin, more than any other gubernatorial candidate strive to bring politicians from different political backgrounds to strengthen the Party.

Against the position by Ayeekooto, Teslim Folarin joined the APC long before Bayo Adelabu who joined around 2018 and within five months picked the gubernatorial ticket!

It is not true that Teslim didn’t reach out to the likes of Sunday Dare, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, Niyi Akintola SAN, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, Akeem Agbaje , Soji Akanbi and others. They chose to play the spoilers and remained irreconcilable.

I hope Ayeekooto still remembers how Bayo Adelabu got the ticket in 2019 and how the likes of Niyi Akintola SAN and others reacted?

The unfortunate thing is that Ayeekooto never mentioned in specifics how Folarin ought to have pacified those who apparently appeared to be sworn to destroy the party since things didn’t go their way.

It is unwise to defend the undefeatable.

The fact that Teslim and the Party were thrown under the bus by greedy politicians in the state, who had at several times in the past and present benefitted from the Party is the bitter truth.

Those who served as the vehicles for the failures of the Party are not denying it.

I don’t know why Ayeekooto is wasting his time on a matter that the persons concerned have admitted to doing.

Chief Adeniyi Akintola SAN was with Seyi Makinde at Ido when the latter went for a campaign Rally.

Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, Soji Akanbi and Niyi Akintola SAN were on live Radio to campaign for the candidate of the opposition, Seyi Makinde against Teslim Folarin.

It is also common knowledge that these individuals, including Mrs. Florence Ajimobi were the ones who spread misinformation to the then presidential candidate and having succeeded at that, they went further to misinform the public that the Party at the top have surrendered Oyo State to the PDP.

Of course, for their efforts, they have been rewarded with slots for Commissioners.

If that doesn’t amount to throwing their Party and Its candidates under the Bus, what will?

Will Ayeekooto feign ignorance that he was not aware that Governor Makinde actually appreciated Mrs. Florence Ajimobi and her co-travelers for “their support”? “….awon APC naa support wa…” were the exact words of the Governor!

The advice by Ayeekooto to Folarin regarding his future is preposterous. He and his sponsors are not God and they and not Folarin should be the ones to worry about their future.