PDP Chieftain, Adeleke’s Aide Bicker Over Gov’s Continuous Stay In Private Residence
GOVERNOR Ademola Adeleke’s continuous stay in his private residence in Ede, Osun State, has attracted criticism from an embattled chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Dotun Babayemi.
Babayemi who is currently fighting his expulsion from the PDP, asked Adeleke to stop running the affairs of the state in his private residence and relocate to the Government House which is the official quarters of the Governor.
Featuring on Diamond FM’s talk show on Wednesday in Ilesa, Babayemi urged Adeleke to make governance more effective and efficient for the people of the state.
The former PDP governorship aspirant in the state said: “The administration is almost a year old, yet, it is unclear if any of government decision has been taken in the government house or office, this is not good for the image of the state.
“The way they run PDP affairs in Osun is not good enough. When some aggrieved members of the PDP wanted to protest against an appointment, they protested at a private residence where the affairs of the party were being run.
“Those who are aggrieved are the people who are against the bad way of how the party is been run. They are only carrying a few people along in the running of the party in a private residence.
“It is almost a year now, I don’t think they are making any decisions in the government house and office, we want the government to come to Osogbo which is the capital.
“I urge Governor Ademola Adeleke to seek advice from the party elders, he should bring everybody together in the party and state.
“In PDP, six people from Osun are members of the Board of Trustees, they are: ex-governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Shuaibu Oyedokun, Senator Olu Alabi, Tajudeen Oladipo, Erelu Olusola Obada. What is the contribution of these elders to this government? They can’t be part of this government and things are going the way it is in the party today.”
Babayemi, however, affirmed that he is still a member of the party but berated the leadership of the party for shutting out people from the PDP.
In a swift reaction, the Spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Rasheed Olawale, said Babayemi lacked the knowledge of governance process in the state.
Olawale, in a press statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER, tagged Babayemi as a former PDP member who has been in political oblivion for long and cannot grasp the beehive of activities the Governor’s office has become since Adeleke assumed office.
He said Babayemi has continued to live in the wilderness, thereby cannot comprehend the amazing positive development the Adeleke administration has brought to Osun.
The statement partly reads: “Former member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dotun Babayemi is ignorant of governmental process in Osun state, hence his imbecilic statement on alleged governance from private homes.
“Babayemi has been in political oblivion for long and cannot grasp the beehive of activities the Bola Ige House, the Governor’s office, has become since Governor Adeleke assumed office.
“With several events, including State Executive Meetings and the ongoing treasury board meetings held at the government secretariat, Babayemi is deep in the wilderness thereby unable to comprehend the amazing positive development the Adeleke administration has brought to Osun.
“The expelled party member is equally in the dark as to the ongoing transformation of the Government House where the Governor even recently hosted the outgoing state police commissioner.
“We affirm that the machinery of government is running efficiently from relevant government offices and more importantly, the Governor stays late in the renovated White House to conclude serious state matters on several occasions.
“The style and approach of Mr Governor is producing amazing results as evidenced in a series of accolades even from those who previously backed the failed usurper, Babayemi during his desperation to steal the governorship mandate.
“If Babayemi is begging for re-absorption into the party, he should first own up to his many treachery against the party and the government that was popularly elected by the voters of Osun state.”
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
