Senator representing Osun West senatorial district, Adelere Oriolowo has has stated that his relationship with Governor Adegboyega Oyetola remains cordial, describing the rumoured rift as work of politicians.
Oriolowo said this on Saturday in Iwo, when he organized a special prayer for the reelection bid of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
The lawmaker, who used the avenue to officially declared his intention to run for another term, said the relationship between him and Oyetola dated back to their days in the last administration.
He said, “all those saying the Governor and myself have strained relationships are blackmailers. It is not true. There is nothing between the Governor and me. I have no single disagreement with my Governor. We are always together.
“You know when some people want to gain attention or familiarity, they believe they achieve that be bringing some other persons down or tarnish their image by spreading falsehoods.”
“We were together during famed ORAMP programme which the World Bank subsequently awarded as the best. That project was the pillar of our success (in the last administration). I was the project supervisor and the Governor was the Chief of Staff to the Governor. He used his position to be of great help to the project, especially in financial management. Anyone acquainted with project management knows that the project may succeed or fail therein, but we did not fail; because the then Chief of Staff (now Governor Gboyega Oyetola) was our backbone.”
Speaking on why he decided to organize the programme, Oriolowo said, “Today we decided to have a special prayer for the second term bid of our amiable governor, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola who is contesting for a second term in office in about two months time.
“And to pray for me, his son, Senator Adelere Oriolowo for the second term in office as well. Also to pray for victories at polls for our party, the All Progressives Congress, APC at local, state and national levels. We prayed that may Governor Gboyega Oyetola succeed with gallantry in the coming gubernatorial election.” he said.
Furthermore, Senator Oriolowo boasted that he would never be afraid of contenders, if any comes to contest the Senatorial seat with him.
He said he had contested many positions in life and God has given them to him.
“It would be recalled that I rose from the position of Pupil Engineer to Permanent Secretary, the highest position in the civil service. This (secont term senatorial bid) is not going to be different. I am not afraid because I have done well.
“I am going to say, as it has been said severally that, ‘no Senator in the history of this state – I am not saying in the West alone – has performed as God has helped me to. Be it first timers or otherwise.
“All these have been achieved through the good office of the Governor. And that’s why I am part of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s performance, so if I have performed, he has performed.”he said.
He subsequently appealed to the people of the state to reelect the Governor and himself into positions for the good work to continue.
Some of the participants at the programme also commended the lawmaker for his performance.
Present are Alhaji Liadi Tella, Halil Uzamot, traditional rulers, Islamic clerics and many more.
