Crisis hits Oyo multi-party coalition, as Lanlehin accuses Makinde of going against agreement

The governorship of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin has withdrawn from the coalition parties in Oyo State that dislodged the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state.

Lanlehin announced his withdrawal on Tuesday in a statement by his media office in Ibadan.

He said: “I, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (Solan), Oyo State Leader of the ADC, hereby announces forthwith, my personal withdrawal from the coalition with Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State Governor.”

According to him, his decision to quit the coalition is hinged on Governor Seyi Makinde’s non-compliance with the spirit and letters of the terms of the governorship pre-election agreement.

He however maintained that his party (the ADC) was at liberty to remain in the coalition, and believed it should, in fact, remain.

Insisting that he remained a committed member of the ADC, Lanlehin said he would adopt a siddon look posture in the governance of Oyo State and allied matters.

However, in a swift reaction, Governor Makinde in a statement by his political adviser, Babatunde Oduyoye, expressed shock over the claims credited to Lanlehin.

He said: “It is more shocking to read Senator Lanlehin’s allegation that his decision was hinged on Governor Seyi Makinde’s infidelity to the coalition agreement.

Read also: Oyo State ‘technically bankrupt’- Gov Makinde

“That allegation, to say the least, is a clear affront to the sincerity of Governor Makinde and his magnanimous disposition in handling all the discussions about the coalition.

“Let us also state without equivocation that the claim by the senator is untrue, unjustifiable and inconsistent with the reality of it all.”

According to Oduyoye, the governor could not be accused of non-compliance by any party because he had lived up to his promise to all parties to the coalition and in some cases “even bending backwards to accommodate all interests.”

The governor, Oduyoye insisted, has lived up to his promise, not only to Lanlehin but also to all members of the coalition, adding that the committee reached an agreement, which contained a template for sharing appointments and signed by all the parties and tabled before the governor.

“There was no dissenting voice from all the representatives of the parties at the meeting with Governor Makinde. Everyone commended how he handled the matter. Senator Lanlehin only had issues with the other leaders of the ADC on Monday when they were discussing how to share the positions allotted to the ADC.

“He should not in any way attempt to drag the name of Governor Makinde to the frustrations he is encountering in his party.

“If Senator Lanlehin withdraws from the coalition, he must have done so as an individual, because we are aware that the ADC as a party remains an integral part of the coalition as leaders of the party have repeatedly pledged their fidelity to the coalition.

“We believe that the coalition was not put together merely to further any personal aspiration other than the collective interests of the people of Oyo State.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now