Political dust blew into the eyes of Oyo residents in the early hours Thursday announcing the arrival of Engr Joseph Tegbe from the All Progressive Congress (APC), His arrival was also greeted with mixed feelings and reaction, when he, Tegbe was touted to replace Chief Bisi ILAKA for the ticket of Oyo Central Senatorial district.
Tegbe a former governorship aspirant, who was asked to step down, together with others, for Bayo Adelabu in the build to the 2018 primaries of the APC, is the new bride of PDP, adding that the reasons for decamping to the rulling PDP was due to the irreconcilable factional crisis rocking the All progressive Congress (APC) in the State.
Chief Bisi ILAKA who has contested for the Oyo Central Senatorial District for a third consecutive times, coming 2nd in all contest was immediately rumoured to have been axed out of the race for Oyo central Senatorial ticket.
Ilaka, Akéde Ọ̀yọ́ recall that was Sacked along with Makinde’s commissioners last year, but remain calm and was focused on his senatorial ambition, source close to the Ladilu of Oyo Kingdom confirm to this Newspaper that the Tax trained Lawyer has been working round the clock, strategizing on correcting all his electoral mistakes to ensure he comes out victorious this time around, only to be hit with a shocking News of a Newbie edging him out after he was anornimously decleared the consensus candidate by the leaders of Oyo Central and was ratified by the committee led by Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja.
A member of the governor’s in-house caucus who don’t want his name to be mentioned told Akéde Ọ̀yọ́ that ILAKA was loved by all, he has remain calm in the face of uncertainty, gave his unalloyed support to the governor despite him been sacked from office, it will be disastrous to muscle him out just like that, besides Tegbe is from the South, he said.
Confirming the latest update after 48 hours of uncertainty, A source told Akéde Ọ̀yọ́ that “Everything has been resolved. forces mounted pressure on the governor about Chief Ilaka who has a lot of support, lovers around the governor’s in-house caucus.
ILAKA is loved by all Everybody within the governor’s circle for many reasons, one of which was the way he has comported himself since his removal as chief of staff. his capacity to have midwife the leaders of Oyo central Senatorial district over the last couple of months to address all the lingering issues, and his stern support for the government of governor Seyi Makinde despite not being in office.
“Engr Olasunkanmi Joseph Tegbe was popular during his 4 month campaign, still fresh in the walters of politics, Having claimed Ibadan South East Early in 2018, They’ve decided that Chief ILAKA remain the Choice of the Oyo central while Engr Tegbe Contest the Oyo South Senatorial ticket” our source added.
Teslim Folarin, the current occupier of the Oyo central Senatorial District for a record third time, aims to run for the governorship Seat comes 2023 under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) leaving Chief Bisi ILAKA to battle it out with other new entrants is in Oyo central senatorial district.
Meanwhile, eyebrows have been raised from the camp of the incumbent Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Sen Kola Balogun the only serving PDP Senator in the State, He won the late immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Sen Abiola Ajimobi in what can be termed as protest vote, no doubt the Oyo south Senatorial results was instrumental to Governor Seyi Makinde’s Victory at the 2019 polls.
It would be recalled that the defeat of late former governor Abiola Ajimobi by Balogun, who was poached from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, opened the floodgates of victory for Makinde and 26 out of the 32 assembly members on the platform of the PDP. This was despite the fact the APC had won two senatorial and 9 reps seats in the 2019 elections.
It is yet to be known whether or not Balogun, who is the younger brother of recently installed Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, would defect from the PDP or stay back.
Tegbe Source confirm that is expected to meet the executives of the party in the state, senatorial district, all the 9 local government areas and his Ibadan South East local government. Apart from the council chairmen, he is expected to meet major stakeholders within the party, immediately the party grant him waivers.
