Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke is on his way out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and this is official.
Adeleke confirmed yesterday that he was already consulting on his planned dumping of the party.
He did not say where he might be pitching his tent next. However, his music star nephew, Davido, appears to have provided the clue in his latest song: From Umbrella to Broom.
Umbrella is PDP’s symbol while broom is that of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“New broom go sweep better…”, sings Davido in his latest release.
The governor’s spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, said in a statement in Osogbo that Adeleke met on his defection plan with the PDP leadership caucus which comprises the deputy governor, cabinet members, special advisers, federal and state lawmakers, among others, at the Government House, yesterday.
According to Rasheed, the PDP caucus passed a vote of confidence in Adeleke during the meeting and vowed to follow him to whichever party he desired to move to.
“Osun PDP leadership caucus passed a vote of confidence in Governor Ademola Adeleke, unanimously supporting any decision the Governor takes on the growing rumour of defection to another political party,” he said.
Continuing, the spokesman said: “The leaders, who praised the governor’s leadership and performance in office, mandated him to continue consultations with all stakeholders locally and nationally.
“The caucus meeting had in attendance representatives of all sections of the party and government, namely the National Assembly caucus, the State Assembly caucus, the State Executive Council, the State Executive of the party, the Special Advisers’ Forum, the elders caucus and the state chapter of ALGON leadership.
“After briefing from Governor Ademola Adeleke and exhaustive deliberations by leaders, the meeting issued a communique to signal its direction on the issue at the moment.
“In the communique, the PDP state leadership resolved to follow Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke wherever he goes. The meeting however recognised that the Governor is still consulting on next lines of action.
“The meeting was attended by Governor Ademola Adeleke; deputy governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; Senate Deputy Minority leader, Senator Lere Oyewumi; Hon Bamidele Sallam; Hon Clement Olohunwa; Hon. Taofeek Abimbola Ajilesoro; High Chief (Mrs) Modupeole Adeleke; South West Vice Chairman of the PDP, Engr Kamoruden Ajisafe and Osun State Chairman of the PDP, Hon Sunday Bisi.
“Also at the meeting were House Speaker, Rt Hon Adewale Egbedun; Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Ireyode Oyewusi; Secretary to the State Government, Hon Teslim Igbalaye; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Kazeem Akinleye; former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Senator Oluwole Alabi, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo and Alhaji Fatai Akinbade.
“There were also Rt Hon Lasun Yusuf; Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa; Rev Bunmi Jenyo; the state chairman of ALGON, Hon Sarafadeen Awotunde; the Special Adviser Politics to the state governor, Hon Muniru Raji; SUBEB Chairman, Hon Ibukun Fadipe; and the state secretary of the party, Hon. Bola Ajao.”
The governor had repeatedly denied that he planned to dump the PDP.
Rumour of his planned defection gained traction after the governor, his elder brother and Davido’s father, Adedeji, paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu at his Lagos residence during the last Eid el Kabir holiday.
Davido was part of the visit.
Adeleke was absent at last Friday’s meeting of the South West PDP Caucus held in Ibadan.
He was represented by his deputy Kola Adewusi.
The refusal of former vice president Atiku Abubakar to visit the governor in Osogbo when he went to attend the installation of Oba Adesuyi Haastrup as the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland in May had also kept political observers wondering about political developments in the state.
Atiku chose to visit and dine with former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, instead.
Aregbesola is now the interim National Secretary of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) of which Atiku is a chief promoter.
If Adeleke eventually joins the APC, he will be the third PDP governor to switch allegiance to the ruling party, taking after Delta’s Sheriff Oborevwori and Akwa Ibom’s Umo Eno.
Oborevwori, his immediate predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, his commissioners, special advisers and other PDP stakeholders in the state joined the APC in April.
Breaking the news of the Delta defection in April, the pioneer chairman of the PDP in the state, Senator James Manager, had said “you cannot be in a boat that is already capsizing, because I am a riverine man.
“Looking at issues the way they are, we have come to the inevitable conclusion to do something else. It is a collective decision for so many reasons.
“Few days ago, there was a resolution taken by the PDP Governor’s forum at Ibadan. Almost all the governor’s were there and they resolved that they are not going into coalition with any other party.
“But as disadvantaged as the PDP is now with about 11 governors, how do you go into a contest with an incumbent president? You think you can win?
“That particular resolution killed the spirit of so many PDP members.
“We lost election in 2015 as a result of a merger which even included splinter groups from the PDP.
“There are also other reasons.
“Today, Senator Anyanwu is the National Secretary of the party; tomorrow it is another person. The party must be positioned to go into an election to win.
“So you see that it is becoming very funny. The PDP is truly in trouble.”
On his part, Governor Eno of Akwa Ibom State said his defection was in response to the evolving political climate.
“We must be able to interpret the times, flow with them, and not swim against the tide.
“Having completed my consultations, I have now decided to align myself with the All Progressives Congress,” he said.
Akpabio hands over APC leadership in A’Ibom to Eno
Governor Eno formally took over the APC structure in the state at the first meeting of party stakeholders in Uyo on Friday.
The party structure was handed over to him by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Eno urged the party’s leadership at all levels to accept the movement and merger with open arms.
“This is a merger, and as the Senate President has said, we must, therefore, approach it with love, unity and understanding.
“There has to be some sacrifices from both ends,” he said.
“Let the leadership and members bring down the rhetoric so that we all can come together in droves and build a truly united All Progressives Congress in our state.
“We have heard stories where some ward leaders have brought out lists of requirements for people that want to join the party, as if it is a marriage ceremony.
“Honestly, that should not be. We should be happy that Akwa Ibom is getting united, and we are all better for it,” he said.
Pastor Eno assured the stakeholders, especially Senator Godswill Akpabio, of his readiness to work together with the party’s hierarchy and support the ideology and interest of the party for the overall good of the people of the state.
“I just want to tell our people and the party that I am here to work with you. I am here to contribute to the growth of the party.
“We will work with you and give you that honour that you so rightly deserve.”
Akpabio, who described Eno as a great unifier, a man of foresight and vision, said the governor’s leadership has brought peace and unity to Akwa Ibom and repositioned it for future growth.
The Senate President described Eno’s movement into APC as a merger and not an acquisition, and urged all members to join hands to work for the progress and overall interest of the state.
