In Oyo, SDP guber candidate steps down for Makinde

AHEAD of this governorship and house of assembly election, governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, Michael Lana has stepped down his ambition and endorsed the candidacy of Governor Seyi Makinde of the People’s Democratic Party.

At a press conference in Ibadan on Tuesday, Mr Lana alleged that some of those at the helm of affairs within the SDP at the state level sold out for a pittance and declared for the opposition without the consent of other stakeholders in the party.

According to him, as a result of that action, other stakeholders decided to take a decision that will be in the best interest of the neglected, aggrieved party members, the candidates and the generality of the people of Oyo State.

Mr Lana concluded that after several consultations, the party stakeholders resolved to align with Governor Seyi Makinde of the PDP.

The statement read in part: “We have also consulted widely. We have talked with some national officers of the party and my supporters among the trade unions, traditional rulers, market associations and religious bodies.”

“As you are aware, in almost all radio interviews I attended, I was asked whether, as it had become the habit of this party, I too would step down at the end of the day. Believing I was in the midst of ideologically sound members, and knowing myself as a principled person, I always answered in the negative.”

“However, events of the past few weeks proved me wrong. Some people believed only in money politics and victory by vote buying. In fact, I became persona non grata, the moment some people within the party realized that monies sourced solely for the purpose of electioneering would not be shared among them.”

“I thank God that this attitude came to the fore now and not after we might have won the election as I wondered what they would have done to the Oyo State treasury. Their interest is not in winning the election and elevating our people from their suffering but in enriching themselves now.”

 “After several consultations, we resolved that the best thing for Oyo State right now is to align ourselves with a really progressive candidate.

We were in fact captured by an emotional statement by a 70-year-old woman who said Governor Seyi Makinde not only paid her pensions promptly but also took care of the aged women and men during the Covid 19 Pandemic.”

  “This is the trait of a person that has set out to write his name in history and ensure an upliftment of the downtrodden in our State.”

“We have therefore resolved to inform all our teeming supporters to vote massively for Governor Seyi Makinde of the People’s Democratic Party on Saturday 18th March 2023 and get him elected as Governor of Oyo State.”

In his remark, the People’s Democratic party state chairman, Dayo Ogungbenro warned politicians in the state not to turn the state into battle ground of violence due to their ambition but allow People’s will to decide who will be the governor of the state.