Chief Sakariyau Usman Oyedeji a.k.a MABRO, was a leader of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and one of the key former chieftains of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun.
Recently, he spoke with Newsmen in Osogbo the state capital on the way and manner he was maltreated by some members of the PDP in Osun, which forced him to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) among other sundry issues. Excerpts:-
You were known to be a strong leader of PDP, what has led to your recent defection to the APC?
If I say I am one of the founders of the PDP in Osun today, I am not mistaking and I am not boasting. I was one of the staunch leaders of the party, and when the party crumbled and the ruling APC took over power in the state, I, with some other chieftains were the one financing the party. In Osogbo Local Government, I singlehandedly ensure that the party did not die, and I remained the major financial, putting things together to ensure that PDP comes back to life.
As events unfold, the party members were increasing day by day through my singular efforts, then, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo was nowhere to be found. With the assistance of Dr. Olu Alabi, We tried all we could to draw Alhaji Oladipo back to our fold, but all to no avail.
He (Oladipo) later joined when the party regained its stand in Osogbo local government.
Subsequently, the issue of who becomes the chairman of the party in the state came up, and before then, I have pitched my tent with Senator Iyiola Omisore’s camp who wanted Dr. Bayo Faforijin to be the chairman of the party. Suddenly, I noticed that Alhaji Oladipo has also joined the group and because of my principle and ideology, I left the camp and joined Hon. Soji Adagunodo’s camp, we held a congress and Adagunodo emerged the state chairman of the party (PDP). This development made Omisore’s camp to leave the party and joined another party, of which Tajudeen Oladipo went with them.
Oladipo, out of his greediness left Omisore’s camp having joined SDP and when he didn’t realise his selfish interest there or probably he was maltreated by the leaders he met in the party, he returned to PDP and started romancing with the party leaders especially the party’s candidate for the just-concluded election.
To put the record straight, when the party members was to be mobilised for the recent governorship election, Oladipo, instead of me was used as contact, knowingfully well that he could not win his polling units for the party not to talk of winning his ward. I am from the same ward with Oladipo and I know my impact which people can testify to when it comes to winning an election.
Immediately I heard this, I contacted Dr. Olu Alabi who also supported the move and I told him am okay with it. I then went there to collect the mobilisation fund for my ward and on getting there, they asked me to swear to an oath with gun that I will not divert or used the money to work against PDP. I felt embarrassed and told them that I was leaving the party that day because despite the ordeal I encountered and my money spent to rebuild PDP in Osogbo local government, I could still face such humiliation.
So, I see majority of those in PDP as greedy people, though, I still owe some of the leaders of the party in high esteem, but personally, I don’t celebrate failure which Alhaji Oladipo represent.
By and large, I know they don’t want me purposely because I was not supporting their candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke as they all knew that Dr Akin Ogunbiyi was my preferred candidate whom I know was the authentic winner of the PDP primary election held at GMT Hotel in Osogbo.
Knowing that I was not in support of his brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke called me on many occasions, asking me of what to offer me to get my support, but I told him that, I am contented with the little given to me by the Almighty Allah while I don’t need anything either from him personally or the entire Adelekes. Similarly, Dupe Adeleke called me saying the same thing, but I remain adamant.
Subsequently, I decided to cross over to APC from PDP not for any personal gains and infact I mobilised people in large numbers in Osogbo local government to ensure APC’s victory and then I thank God for the outcome of the election.
It was after I have decided that Chief Tunde Badmus called me appealing to me to work for Ademola in Osogbo local government but I told him I have taken my decision and am not going back. It is not that I disrespected the set of people appealing to me here and there, but I was pushed to the wall in PDP.
There is an understanding that you are a lone ranger, as nobody defected to APC with you?
I want to tell you that, immediately I defected, all my followers and supporters followed me to the APC without thinking twice and I will like to mention some of them to you. About 5000 members of Association of Polythene products sellers of Nigeria, 600 members of the Vegetable Growers and Sellers Association, 6,780 members of the Video Club Proprietors Association of Nigeria in only Olorunda and Osogbo local governments, 6000 members of Osun State Youth Movements (OYM), and another 6000 members of Voice of Love Grassroot Empowerment Initiative, Osun Chapter among others that I cannot mentioned here followed me. In all, those who went to APC with me were about 15,000 only in my local government alone.
