By Sola Jacobs
Mixed reactions have been trailing the alliance of the Social Democratic Party candidate in the just concluded governorship election, Otunba Iyiola Omisore with the All Progressives Congress which translated to the victory of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola in the State of Osun.
While speaking with individuals in Osogbo and Ile-Ife respectively Osun Defender gathered that some people see Omisore’s alliance with APC as a right step in a right direction, if truly he is in the contest to develop and cater for the welfare of the people.
Barrister Gbenga Omiwole at Ile-Ife commended the effort and the collaboration of Omisore with the APC , as he said that it transcend the interest of the Social Democratic Party flag bearer, but a synergy for the development of the state, particularly Ile-Ife, which has been relegated politically.
He added that the acceptability of the party in Ile-Ife will bring improvement to the town, as Omisore is back in progressive fold where Ife belongs and his return will ends the hostility between Ife and the progressive fold which started during Akande’s administration.
Also, a member of Peoples Democratic Party in the city, Mr Adeolu Adewole said, Omisore played a spoiler game by aligning with APC, instead of supporting the PDP candidate Senator Ademola Adeleke.
He stated that Omisore’s support for candidate was a rape on democracy, as the people of Osun are tired of APC government which takes the welfare of Osun people for granted in the last eight years.
Mr Adewole said that with Omisore’s alliance with APC, nothing good could come out of it as other former stalwart in such as former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Chief of Staff Elder Peter Babalola strayed into their fold but left, when they discovered that they were deceived.
In Osogbo, a member of Social Democratic Party, Alhaja Alirat Ibrahim said that some members of her party are disappointed in Otunba Omisore’s decision as it does not represent the collective decision of the majority members of the party.
She stated further that it is his personal decision, nevertheless, the SDP remains intact as some of them will still contest in the forth coming 2019 election into the state House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate in the state.
Meanwhile, investigation within Ile-Ife revealed that some members of the party are jittery about the alliance of the party with Otunba Omisore, as they believe that he could dominate the existing structure of the party in Ile-Ife and its environs.
Others are of the opinion that, his alliance will give the party more acceptance among the people and as well provide quality leadership for the party in the area.
Some of the members who spoke on condition of anonymity advised the leadership of the party to watch Omisore before entrusting him and his supporters with viable position, so as not to destabilize the peace and tranquility that is existing in the party.
Meanwhile, the generality of the people of Ile-Ife praised the effort of the leadership of APC at the National level for deeming it fit to right the wrong of the past, by wooing Omisore back to the progressive fold where Ife belongs as most of them are of opinion that Ife is the home of the progressives which is evident in the life long relationship of Ife people with late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the founding father of the progressive party.
