By Solomon Odeniyi
More facts have been unveiled over the real reason for the defection of a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of Osun, Alhaji Fatai Diekola to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Inspite the denial of the state chairman of the PDP, Honourable Soji Adagunodo that every governorship aspirant would be given a level playing ground, a reliable source within the party told OSUN DEFENDER that Diekola defected after the assurance of the party leadership that Senator Ademola Adeleke representing Osun West Senatorial District would secure the party’s ticket.
It would be recalled that the aspirants of the PDP were reported to have recently warned Adagunodo-led executive against conceding the party’s ticket to Adeleke, an allegation that had been severally denied by him.
However, fresh facts have shown that the ticket had been conceded to Adeleke, a situation that has started bringing up fresh acrimony within the party.
At a meeting of the party leadership, with the National Chairman, Uche Secondus in attendance prior to the party’s South West mega rally in Osogbo last weekend, it was gathered that though some leaders were left in the dark over the concession of the ticket to Adeleke, it had been agreed that none of the aspirants would leave the party if they eventually lost the ticket.
The calculation, according to the source is that “Adeleke would be given the ticket, his deputy would be chosen from Osun Central senatorial district, while Alhaji Fatai Akinbade would be given senatorial ticket for the Osun West”.
“The agreement was made because the party leadership sees that it is only Adeleke family that has the capacity to spend money for the retrieval of power from Rauf Aregbesola who has been boasting that the APC will continue to rule after his tenure.
“If not for the fact that such agreement had been reached, I am sure that Diekola would not have decamped because he is only interested in where he can enrich himself. You remember that Diekola was a friend to Chief Bisi Akande, but they became enemy when there was nothing more to eat, the same thing with Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and now Aregbesola”, the source said.
It would be recalled that the former APC chieftain had openly said that he had been with the Adeleke’s family for a long time and was ready to support the family to produce a governor, even after the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, saying he was the one that encouraged the ambition of Ademola Adeleke.
However, the alleged concession of the ticket to Adeleke’s family has started dampening the spirit of the other aspirants who felt they could pull their weight towards getting the PDP ticket, as some of them have been grumbling, a situation that might degenerate to another crisis.
An aide to one of the aspirants who pleaded anonymity said, “if we should give Adeleke the ticket, we have lost that election, because Adeleke is not seeing as a serious person to rule Osun, especially at this critical time.
