Following an alleged and rumoured endorsement of PDP State Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji, in Oluyole Local Government for the next local government’s election slated for April 2024 in Oyo State, the notable PDP leaders at the council area have debunked the rumours.
They have, however, thrown their weight behind the current executive chairman, Hon. Popoola Olaide Settle for second term of office.
Hon (Prince) Olasunkanmi Salami, the foremost leader at the council area and 2-term Oluyole Local Government Council Chairman made this disclosure on settle’s endorsement by him and other twenty two(22) out of twenty six(26) notable stakeholders in Oluyole LG while speaking with news men in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
Among Oluyole major critical stakeholders whom he claimed having endorsement on settle’s candidature to vie for the seat again are enumerated as follows:
Hon (Prince) Olasunkanmi Salami – ( 2- term Oluyole Local Government Council Chairman, , 2-term Caretaker Council Chairman, One Term Councillor, also former State Honourable-elect )
Dr Gbola Adetunji – ( Former Commissioner, Former Chairman Hospital Management Board in Oyo State )
Hon Depo Oyedokun – ( 2- term House of Representatives member)
Elder Akinlade – ( 2-term Oluyole PDP Local Government party Chairman elect)
Hon Waheed Akintayo – State Honourable
Hon Francis Adewale Adetunji – Former State Honourable
Hon Olumide Akinlade – Former S.A to Governor Seyi Makinde on Oluyole Federal Constituency
Alh Hassan Boladale – Former Local Government Council Chairman
Hon Moshood Agoro
Alh I.A Mustapha Hamusthalad
Major Adeyemo Kayode
Hon Sikirat Sobaloju
Alhaja Toyin Adepade – Former Oyo Central Senatorial Women Leader
Hon Seye Awopegba – ( Former Chief of Staff, Oluyole LG)
11 PDP Oluyole Local Government Executives listed below:
i. Hon Taofeeq Ogunrinde – ( Vice Chairman, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
ii. Iya Aafin Alao Basirat Bamidele KENGBE – ( Woman Leader, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
iii. Mr Wasiu Kadiri – ( Secretary, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
iv. Hon Muritala Ogundare ( Assistant Secretary, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
v. Mr Nurudeen Adetunji – ( Auditor, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
vi. Mr Moses Ojo – ( Organising secretary, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
vii. Mr Akinade Femi – ( Legal Advice, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
vii. Mrs Bolanle ( Ex-Officio, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
ix. Mr Jamiu mojeed – ( Ex-officio, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
x. Mr Olasunkanmi Olaolu ( Ex-Officio, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
xi. Mr Arowolo Taoreed ( Ex-officio, PDP Oluyole Local Government)
7 Honourable Councillors out of 10
8 Supervisors out of 11
7 S.As out of 13
Labour Party Chairman
APGA Chairman
SDP Chairman and leaders and stakeholders from all the 10 wards across Oluyole Local Government.
Hon. Salami maintained that the decision to endorse Settle for another term was resolved at the stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday, 11th July, 2023 and which also had attendance of opposition leaders of APGA, Labour and SDP parties respectively.
Earlier, Salami said he had earlier represented the local government(Oluyole) at the stakeholders’ meeting held at the Governor’s office about 5 days ago where Governor Seyi Makinde asked us to present consensus candidates across the 33 local governments making the pacesetter state.
He added that, it was that meeting that orchestrated the meeting that gave birth to unanimous endorsement of Hon. Popoola Olaide Settle.
The PDP leader affirmed Settle as the party’s consensus candidate in Oluyole local government, as any other person apart from him, is only wasting his/her time and resources.
The PDP Leaders said, that their stance on Settle was consequent upon his sterling performances despite meagre resources, welfare of both party leaders and members, exhibition of good governance and his pro activeness to party’s affairs among others.
In another vein, Dr Gbola Adetunji, former commissioner and Ex-Chairman of Hospital Management Board in the state spoke in support of Hon. Salami regarding Settle’s endorsement for the council’s seat.
He added that, apart from majority of notable leaders in Oluyole who supported him, 11 PDP Oluyole Local Government Executives, 7 honourable councillors out of 10, 8 supervisory councillors out of 11, 7 SAs, three opposition leaders and stakeholders across 10 wards in Oluyole Local Government throw weight behind Settle.
Also, the lawmaker representing Oluyole State Constituency at Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Waheed Akintayo said in an interaction with him that, he was in support of party’s leaders, position of the party and decision of Governor Seyi Makinde on Oluyole local government for the next council election.
An anonymous respondent however disclosed that those who are hellbent on Akeem Olatunji’s purported endorsement are the set of people who are desperate to disregard both the decisions of Makinde and entire leaders in Oluyole local government.
He described them as paper weight politicians who are doing everything possible to impose Akeem Olatunji on the party at the local government area.
