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Support Tinubu’s 2027 Re-election But Don’t Dump Your Party, Group Urges Adeleke

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3 weeks ago

April 25, 2025

As the sun sets on 2023, the Justice, Development, and Peace Movement (JDPM) of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, is poised to host its much-anticipated 2023 Annual Farmers’ Forum. Purposed to revolutionise the agribusiness landscape with a focus on innovation, expertise, and economic empowerment, this year’s Annual Farmers’ Forum is themed “Towards Effective Proficiency in Agribusiness”. The forum is organised by the Rural Development Programme (RUDEP), a pivotal department under JDPM, which serves as the social arm of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo. Set to unfold on December 14, 2023, at the JDPM office, opposite Ajiga filling station, Mabolaje road, Oyo town, the event promises a congregation of farmers, agriculturists, agricultural enthusiasts, stakeholders, and others alike. A release from the JDPM office, jointly signed by the Programme Manager of RUDEP, Anthony Ogunnupebi, and the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Aseyori Adeniyi, revealed the grand aspirations of this year’s forum. The overarching goal of the occasion is to bridge the gap between stakeholders in the agriculture sector and hardworking farmers by creating a platform for the exchange of knowledge, showcasing agricultural produce and innovations, and disseminating pertinent information on agribusiness. With the theme “Towards Effective Proficiency in Agribusiness”, the forum underscores the importance of honing skills and embracing modern methodologies to bolster agricultural and economic development. It further serves as a nexus for fostering collaboration, encouraging dialogue, and ultimately contributing to the imperative of ensuring food security. As the curtains rise on this agricultural spectacle, it beckons participants to immerse themselves in a day brimming with insights, advancements, and opportunities, cultivating a harvest of progress and prosperity for the agricultural community in Oyo State. Justice, Development and Peace Movement (JDPM) of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo is a faith-based, non-profit and non-governmental organisation, which was established to cater for all people, with emphasis on the poor and the vulnerable, irrespective of religion, race, age or gender.

A political interest group, Osun Leaders of Thought (OLT), has advised Governor Ademola Adeleke against defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging instead that he remain in the party while fully supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by Comrade Adesola Adigun, OLT’s Chief of Public Affairs, the group cautioned against rising pressures on Adeleke to cross over to the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that such a move could destabilize both state and national political alignments.

“We take note of mounting pressure from far and near to get Governor Ademola Adeleke to cross over to the APC. This is ill-advised and unnecessary. The Governor should remain in PDP and continue the good work he is doing for the good people of Osun state,” the group said.

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While reaffirming support for President Tinubu’s 2027 ambition, the group described it as a matter of ancestral and regional loyalty, noting that Osun, being Tinubu’s ancestral home, has a moral obligation to support his second term.

OLT stressed that defecting to the APC would be counterproductive for both Adeleke and Tinubu, describing the move as a political distraction that could upset the fragile balance in Osun’s political structure.

They cited four reasons: Adeleke’s unmatched political appeal in Osun, the internal crisis within the state APC, the historic rivalries among top Osun political actors, and the existing bipartisan sentiment among voters in support of both Tinubu and Adeleke’s re-election.

“To win Osun, Adeleke’s brand is a must for the President without dilution,” the group noted, while also warning that merging the Governor with former adversaries within the APC could reignite unresolved tensions.

The recommended a strategic alliance between Adeleke and the Presidency, without a party switch. “We call on Mr President and the Governor of Osun State to enter into a mutual supportive agreement. Nothing like defection should be included. We speak on behalf of many silent leaders of thought across Osun State,” the statement read.