Following the purported decampment of members of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) who are believed to be loyalists of former governor of Oyo state, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, governorship candidate of ZLP at the 2019 general election, Barrister Sarafadeen Alli, has said that the meeting of ZLP members with Governor Seyi Makinde was unauthorized.
In a report by by Sunrisebulletin Barr Alli, while speaking exclusively with one of its correspondent, Henry Odeh, via phone call when contacted on Thursday 18th February, maintained that ZLP has a negotiating team and non of the negotiating team member was part of the meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde.
It was reported in some sections of the media that ZLP members in Oyo state believed to be loyalists of a former governor, Chief Rashidi Ladoja had decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state and have perfected plans for smooth integration into the ruling party.
“Their meeting with the governor is not authorized and I believe it is not from Chief Ladoja.
“We have a negotiating team and non of those people who went for the meeting are members of the team so, that should let you know it is unauthorized.
“When we went to negotiate with the APC I believe you saw the pictures everywhere and non of the persons in the pictures were there on their meeting with the governor.
“We are still negotiating and we have neither decamped to APC nor PDD, we are still negotiating with both parties at the appropriate time we will make our position known,” Sharafadeen Alli stated.
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of ZLP, Comrade Wole Abisoye, had earlier led members of ZLP believed to be loyalists of Chief Ladoja to pledged allegiance to Governor Makinde and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Abisoye was reported to have expressed gratitude to Senator Hosea Agboola for facilitating their return to the PDP maintained that he stayed away from the recent meeting of some leaders of ZLP with the opposition spearheaded by the 2019 gubernatorial candidate of the ZLP, Chief Sharafadeen Alli.
According to Abisoye, “PDP is a better home. I can’t go back to the progressive that I left since Lam Adesina days.
“Senator Ladoja is aware of this meeting and that’s why you can see Lambash”, referring to former Governor’s media aide, Alhaji Lanre Bashir and a host of others from across the State.
However, Governor Makinde in company of Senator Agboola and the State Commissioner for Local Government, Chief Bayo Lawal, was said to have expressed readiness to accommodate the decamping ZLP members with the view to moving the state forward.
“Unknown to many, I am in constant touch with Baba Ladoja and we have exchanged messages this morning (Wednesday). Many don’t know and would carry unfounded rumours.
“I want to implore you to go back to your local government and am assuring you that there would be reward for your labour. I have simplified governance.
“I am not perfect but I am human who is fallible like every mortal. I have been trying my luck on the political turf since 2007 and it didn’t work until God said it was time.
“On my 2023, and the future, let the will of God be done. Even before I became the governor, all I have always prayed for was that the will of God be done in my life. Whatever God has in store for everyone, it would come at His appointed time, Makinde added,” Makinde said.
