Tinubu,Ajimobi and other chieftains formally received Adebayo Alao Akala,Folarin to APC

The National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC),
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State,
two other governors and other chieftains of the party
yesterday formally received the immediate past governor of
the State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate leader,
Senator Teslim Folarin and other top politicians to the APC.
Alao-Akala’s deputy while in office, Ambassador Taofeek
Arapaja, the only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member of
the House of Representatives from the state, Dokun
Odebunmi, and a host of others to the party were received at
a massive rally at Mapo Hall, Ibadan
The rally was to also celebrate the 68th birthday of Governor
Ajimobi.
Addressing the huge crowd of party supporters and others
who defied the scorching sun to witness the event, Tinubu
said the APC has all it takes to accommodate the political
heavyweights joining its fold.
Other defectors were a former Secretary to the Oyo State
Government, Ayodele Adigun, the immediate past PDP State
Chairman, Yinka Taiwo and five Accord Party members in the
state House of Assembly.
Also joining the APC were former Speaker of the state
assembly, Ashimiyu Alarape; a former member in the House
of Representatives, Kamil Akinlabi; a former Chairman of
Oluyole Local Government, Kehinde Olaosebikan; Senator
Brimoh Yussuf; former PDP woman leader, Mrs. Olanrewaju
Otiti, Folake Olunloyo, Rauf Olaniyan, Lukeman Oorelope and
Kemi Jaiyeoba, among others.
With the calibre of the new members, Tinubu and Ajimobi
said opposition was dead in the state.
The rally was attended by Osun State Governor, Rauf
Aregbesola and his Ondo State counterpart, Oluwarotimi
Akeredolu, the National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Chief
Pius Akinyelure and the Deputy National Chairman (South),
Segun Oni.
Tinubu said the APC has “a stainless kitchen” that is large
enough to accommodate as many cooks as possible.
Allaying fears on how to manage the political differences of
the political heavyweights joining the party, Tinubu noted that
the APC has a variety of menu in the political kitchen for the
future of the country.
He said: “We have a stainless kitchen and we can
accommodate as many cooks as possible and because we
have a variety of menu in the political kitchen of planning
this future, we love those bigwigs and we can accommodate
them all. It is in the same forest that you find a hippo that
you find an elephant and you will find a rabbit. In political
platforms, you must look for the addition not the minus.
“You can see that the opposition is dead in Oyo State. Today
is important for us because it is the birthday of the Governor
Ajimobi and things that have never happened in the history of
Oyo State have started happening.
“Thank God for my friend Alao-Akala and the others for
seeing the light. All of you that joined will also join in building
the party. The APC house is great for all of us. We are proud
of you for joining us. APC is the only progressive party in
Nigeria and Africa.”
He pointed out that it has become very clear that APC would
win in 2019.
While welcoming the defectors in their separate remarks,
Aregbesola and Akeredolu said that the resources and
experiences of the individuals would be useful to build a
more formidable party ahead of the 2019 general elections.
Odebunmi said as the only elected PDP officer from Oyo
State, his defection to the APC signaled its final death.
The lawmaker said he has found out that only the APC and
Ajimobi have good programme for youths.
Alao-Akala said dynamism in politics requires that politicians
move with time.
His words: “To God be the glory. I am moving with time.
There is dynamism in politics. We have only one party now in
Oyo State. To God be the glory. There is no more PDP in
Oyo State. Everywhere, it is APC. By God’s Grace, Oyo State
is now fully APC. I thank Governor Ajimobi for making all the
defection possible.
“He opened his arms all the way and supported efforts to
bring people into the fold. By God’s grace, all the defectors
have worked under me. The room Ajimobi gave us made all
these possible. We shall work with him to move the party
forward. We shall be good party members.”
Ajimobi described the event as one of the unprecedented
incidents marking his tenure.
He called on politicians to forgive themselves of past sins
and assured that they will not regret joining the APC.
Akala, Arapaja, Folarin and Odebunmi later held the APC flag
and waved it to the crowd as a seal of their membership of
the party.
APC Chairman in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke welcomed the
defectors, saying they should feel at home.
He said the presence of national officers and the governors
at the welcome rally was significant.