My removal as PDP National Secretary Led to the Party’s Downfall-Oyinlola

By Ibraheem Allli

Two years after he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has said that he has never for once regretted leaving the then ruling party.

Oyinlola said his removal as the National Secretary of the PDP was responsible for the downfall of the party, lamenting that he was humiliated and frustrated out of the party.

The former governor disclosed this while answering questions on an Osogbo based radio station, Rave Fm programme named Frank Talk, on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of the state.

He lamented that he was left alone by the PDP members in Osun state during his trial and travail in the party.

Oyinlola said:“As a leader, I advised Oyiola Omisore to shelve the ambition of running for governorship, because I believe he has an albatross on his neck that would not allow us to scale through. But Omisore ignored my advice, went ahead to contest and got the result he deserved.

“Later he came to meet me in Abuja that he would love to contest. That was what caused the whole mess. Omisore became uncomfortable and when he realized that my position as the secretary of the party might disturb his ambition. Omisore pitched his tent with Goodluck Jonathan and the worked for my removal.

“Many prominent people, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President David Mark and others pleaded on my behalf but the president refused. That was what led to the formation of new PDP.

“Where were Osun PDP members when I was being ridiculed as a member of the National Executive Committee of the PDP being asked to appear before disciplinary committee and illegal disciplinary committee in Osun State? Where were they? They were all laughing and mocking me.

“They were conducting the affairs of the party in the state without reference to Oyinlola because they felt Oyinlola was of no electoral value. It was until when they wanted to start campaign that they came to meet me, after my suspension as the party’s national secretary has been enacted.

“They came to me because there was nothing for them to campaign with. What did Omisore do as senator? It is the worse of Oyinlola that PDP had in Osun, that is the truth. Where were these people that say I should not decamp when all these things were happening?

“When the entire national working committee of the APC visited me in Okuku and pleaded with me to join the new movement, the PDP people were there doing nothing. They were so sure that with the dollar money and other things, they would get things in their favour. They have forgotten that the law will not allow anybody to do anything funny.

“It is my own personal conviction to join politics and decamp to the APC. Those who believe in me followed me to the APC. It is my personal decision to be a politician and when I see that issues are not going to favour me and the people I represent, I took a good decision.

“It is not about how many of them approached me when I was removed as PDP national secretary illegally, not even a protest came from Osun State. None! Oyinlola was left alone in the battle. I went to court of appeal and even to the President, nothing changed.

“Let me remind our people that it was the removal of Oyinlola as secretary that led to the movement of those PDP governors that left the party for the APC. I warned them-the PDP! I made a press statement on the 13th of November 2013 where I told them pointedly that if I don’t return as secretary of the party, the PDP would stop being a ruling party.

“And I said the party would tear from top to bottom. God is answering the prayer now. After I made that statement, the next thing I heard from Chief Babatope was that Oyinlola was playing God. I told them that I was not playing God; that they are the ones that have cheated the son of God and he will fight for me. God is doing that happily.

“When I was moving to APC, I told my followers that I am not moving because of political appointment. God has been so good to me in my life. If you look at my life from beginning, who would have thought that an orphan at 9 years of age would grow up to become what the Lord has made me to.

“I am contended with what I am at any given time. As of today, I have no children in school that am paying for. When I was offered the position of House of Assembly after joining APC, I made sure I gave it to those we met in the party, because I don’t want my first benefit in the party to be found in my pocket.

“I have been governor for 10 years in Nigeria. If not for gluttonous attitude, a cow’s head is enough to take cassava flour. How many people in Nigeria have the grace of God to have governed two states? Whether you like it or not, I was a governor in Lagos and Osun States. To God be the glory.

“My wish and prayer is that the good Lord will continue to prosper us and allow us to achieve the dreams of our forefather who founded the state. May the good Lord continue to bless our dear state.”