Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, a former Chief Press Secretary to former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Onanolapo Adesina, has said the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, worked against the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the 2023 presidential election.
Olaosebikan said this in a statement on his Facebook page at the weekend.
Adelabu, who was the gubernatorial candidate of Accord in 2023, is the minister representing Oyo State in Tinubu’s cabinet.
Olaosebikan, who had earlier served as Chairman of Oluyole Local Government Area, was the Chairman of the Media and Publicity committee of APC Presidential Campaign Council during the elections.
He said it is unfortunate that Adelabu who was the candidate of Accord, one of the parties that gave Tinubu’s candidacy the toughest opposition in the media, on the streets and during the polls was allowed to represent the state in Tinubu’s government.
He described the nomination and confirmation of Adelabu as unfair to the APC members who worked for Tinubu.
He said, “Yes, we made this happen. We mobilised and gathered the highest number of people for a presidential campaign in the history of Oyo State, exactly a year ago. Under the leadership of the State Coordinator of the APC PCC, Senator Teslim Folarin, state APC Chairman, Chief Isaac Omodewu, our energetic Campaign Director-General, Dr. Isiaka Kolawole and his indefatigable deputy, Asiwaju Yemi Aderibigbe and the seasoned progressive leader in the state, Alh. Fatai Ibikunle, we organised and sustained the best and most successful presidential campaign in the political headquarters of South West against all odds.
“In spite of the late arrival of our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who came in at about 7pm, over 11 hours after our party leaders and members; supporters and the good people of Oyo State had gathered under the scorching sun at a time when there was no cash to buy ordinary pure water, we were able to keep the over 500,000 people who lined the streets from Iwo Road to Mapo.
“But, sadly and in the most unfair arrangements, the person representing Oyo State in the Tinubu’s cabinet today was the leader and guber candidate of Accord, one of the parties that gave Tinubu’s candidacy, the toughest opposition in the media, on the streets and during the polls.
“I was personally confronted in my polling unit by an Accord agent who said their leaders directed them to mobilise for Accord and vote for the presidential candidate of Accord, not minding that he would lose. I was shocked.
“Thanks to Facebook for reminding me of this blatant injustice and unfairness to the APC family in Oyo state. We are, however, still loyal and committed to the party and tirelessly working and praying for the success of President Bola Tinubu’s government. Tinubu will succeed, in sha Allah. APC!”.
But the Special Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the Minister, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, in his reaction, said Tinubu’s relationship with Adelabu predates the 2023 election.
In a telephone conversation with OsunDailyNG on Tuesday, he insisted that everyone knew the people of the South West region worked for Tinubu.
“We have passed the period of politicking, this is the period of governance. In any case everybody is aware of the relationship of Tinubu and Adelabu even before the election.
“So why will someone say that he never worked for APC Presidential candidate? We all know the relationship between Tinubu and Adelabu. We all know that everybody in the South West worked for the ambition of Asiwaju Tinubu ” he said.
