It was ike a carnival on Sunday as the people of Inisa in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State came out in their hundreds to receive the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON, as he stormed the ancient town to pay a Sallah homage to the former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and now chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun.
The residents of the town and loyalists of the APC went to the streets to receive the former Osun Governor into the town with enthusiasm, joy and fanfare upon sighting him while many chieftains of the party had already converge on the Oyedokun’s residence to receive the Minister.
Recall that Alhaji Oyedokun alongside the former PDP governorship aspirant, Prince Dotun Babayemi recently defected from PDP to APC, an occasion that shook the political landscape in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the progressives’ family in Odo-Otin Local Government and beyond, Alhaji Shuaibu Oyedokun, expressed delight on the visit of the Minister saying it is a testimony to the good things coming to the town and state at large.
Oyedokun noted that the existing unity and oneness in the party – APC is a testimony of its readiness to return to power just as he reassured of their commitment to strengthen the party for future political victories.
“Let me correct this impression. The main road in our town that the Adeleke’s government has been claiming he is doing, is a blatant lie. The road was awarded by Oyetola and constructed to appreciable stage before he left office.
“We are not surprised that PDP led government has resulted to cheap blackmail and futile claims over many of the works that Oyetola did. I know PDP quite well. That is what they are used. I was with them and I know that, it is their style.
“So, no one should be surprised over this. What do you expect from a governor whose pre-occupation is to remove kings that had been legally installed; sack workers; attempted to remove Chief Judge of the State among other anomalies.
“Theirs is by the way. Today’s visit is significant in three ways. Today is Sunday. A day for worship. Today is international father’s day and today is Eid-el-kabir celebration for Muslims – meaning that His Excellency has come well to his home. We are glad to receive him today and I want to assure you that we are firm and upright politically”, Oyedokun noted.
In his short remarks, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, acknowledged the warmth reception from the leaders and loyalists of the party describing their commitment as unprecedented.
Oyetola specially extolled Oyedokun for his rare political sagacity, integrity, dignity and honesty as a national political figure whose wisdom and repository of knowledge had impacted many lives and changed many souls in the socioeconomic and political landscape of the country.
He said the return of the chieftain of the progressive party into the APC has been causing sleepless nights for the ruling party in the state saying a stone the builder rejected has become the cornerstone for the people who treasured it.
“I am happy to be here today. It is only the blind that would see Baba Shuaibu Oyedokun and say he didn’t see a human being of a human person. I have known him for long and I have many regards for him as a man of integrity. Though, we were not in the same political party then, but I was endeared to him for his diligence, commitment and integrity.
.”I am happy that today, we are in the same party. Loosing Chief Shuaibu Oyedokun to the APC is a collosal loss to them which they knew but pretended not to know. We have received a golden fish in our party and they (PDP) knew this fact, that is why they have been cloaked in fears and physically tattered, but it is late for them to retrace their heinous steps.
“We all knew PDP as a party of propaganda and it is not surprising that its government has been feasting on lies for survival. We left huge amount of money in the coffers of the state when we were leaving government. They initially denied it but later confirmed that they only saw partly 9billion naira out of 14billion naira that we left as a prudent and pro-masses government. This alone had shown to many what PDP and its agents stand for. No analysis on this because it is self expository and explanatory.
“But as a party, we are glad today that the good people of Osun have begun to see the genuine light not the pseudo light they are parading around. The people have seen that they don’t have anything meaningful for them other than propaganda, empty and futile claims and promises.
“As we all know, initially, these same people said Baba Shuaibu Oyedokun was a paper weight politician but they were running Helter Skelter to avert the doom that befell them due to Baba’s defection into our party. We heard everything. We knew the number of times and days they came here to appeal to Baba to rescind his decision not to leave the PDP, but gladly for us, all attempts to stop Baba failed.
“So, all I need from you is unity. Continue to be united. It is worthy of celebration that since we left government in Osun, we didn’t lose any party loyalist to another party, rather we are receiving a lot of people into our fold. Today, we are proud that our party is not only formidable but has continued to wax stronger day by day.
“The coming of our Baba and many PDP juggernauts into our party is a welcome development to us. This is another signal to future victories to our party. Baba Shuaibu Oyedokun had proven that no one can buy his conscience and we are proud of him.
“The successes we have recorded so far within the party is a testament that our party -APC is the most vibrant party in Osun state today. I am very grateful to the people of Inisa in particular, Odo-Otin and Osun in general. You have been proving to us that you are with us and we are seeing this milestone in and out”, Oyetola added.
In his remarks, Comrade Poju Odushola, a leader of the party in the local government expressed confidence in the readiness of the party to return to power come 2026.
Odushola appealed to the faithful of the party to remain steadfast and faithful to the party’s activities as they prepare to take the bull by the horn to record more electoral successes.
Earlier, the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Inisa, Comrade Peter Folorunso, expressed profound gratitude to the Minister who he described as a leader par excellence.
Folorunso who recalled the goodies enjoyed by commercial transporters during the administration of Oyetola decried what he regarded as horrible situation under the current government as many of the groups had been scrapped for no just cause.
“As national road leaders, we have been suffering since you left govt, we have suffered a lot. We all know the reality at the moment. That is why are praying God to return your party to government because what we are currently facing is nothing to write home about “, he added.
