Oyo 2019: Why I didn’t join ADC, PDP – Ex-Oyo Governor, Alao-Akala

Former Governor of Oyo State and gubernatorial candidate of the Action
Democratic Party (ADP), Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala on Monday
said the fear of the unknown and perceived ideological differences
stopped him from returning to his former political party, the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Alao-Akala, we recalls had penultimate Saturday announced that he has
boycotted the gubernatorial primary election of the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC), due to what he described as alleged
imposition of a certain candidate by the state governor, Senator
Abiola Ajimobi.

The former Governor was later given a Certificate of Return to contest
under the ADP. The leadership in the certificate presented to
Alao-Akala yesterday in Ibadan added that the former Governor had
fulfilled the requirements to fly the party's flag in the 2019 general
elections.

But, Alao-Akala while speaking with journalists on Monday in Ibadan,
declared that he decided not to join PDP or ADC in order to avoid the
bitter experience he had while in APC and PDP.

According to him, moving to either PDP or ADC after he boycotted the
APC governorship primary that produced a former Deputy Governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Bayo Adelabu may end up exposing him to
another round of unpalatable experience likened to that of 'from
frying pan to fire".

He said, "I have seen what APC did to us and we must be highly
cautious this time. We didn't join APC because of positions and I told
my supporters too that they shouldn't expect much there. I, however,
hinted that if we were offered positions, we would accept them.

"I have been governor before and there is nothing new in my aspiration
again if not for the need to heed the clarion call of the masses. I
have left the APC and I am now in Action Democratic Party.

"I am his senior in PDP and we left same time. He has gone back to
PDP. He is a gifted personality with the rare gift of bringing people
together. But maybe because of the people around him, he didn't listen
to advice. I can't join forces with PDP this time around although no
permanent enemy or friends in politics.

Alao-Akala while speaking on the Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso crises said, "LAUTECH issue normally
brings sadness to me because I saw it's current problems coming when I
was in office and that was why I moved to severe the relationship with
Osun. We have shared our assets before I left but I became worried
when the government of the day reviewed it and this is where it has
led us."

On the shutting down of his business complex in Ibadan, Alao-Akala
said he called the attention of the Oyo SSG to it and he denied the
government's knowledge about it.

He said, "And for me, among animals, they have leaders. Among humans,
it is the same. I have been a leader here in the state and nobody can
wish that away. And as Yorubas, we should know how we treat ourselves
with respect.

"They ought to come to me and say excuse, sir, you are owing so so
amount and I would have told them that we have been paying only that
we need to streamline the payments. We have been paying to the local
government in charge and in fairness to the said council, they are in
charge".