Osun 2022:Babayemi's Aspiration Receives Boost as Ex-SSG Rallies Support .....collapses structure for him

It was more of a political carnival on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at the Osogbo GRA residence of Alhaji Fatai Akinade Akinbade, when the former Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG) who was a one-time Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the state, handed over his political structure to the party's governorship candidate,Omooba Dotun Babayemi. This was in sync with the promise made by Akinbade fondly called Soludero, to support anyone among them that eventually emerges as the PDP governorship candidate. The epoch-making event which was graciously attended by some of the governorship aspirants, including Mr. Dele Adeleke and Sanya Omirin, who was represented by Hon Jide Bakare and a host of other party leaders who came in their numbers to witness the occasion, was a major boost to the aspiration of Babayemi to become the next governor of the state. Enthusiastic party supporters and stakeholders from across the 30 local government areas of state, were adequately represented amidst singing and dancing Retired permanent secretaries from the state civil service and related technocrats who are ardent followers of Akinbade, were also in attendance to solidarize and express their support for Omooba Dotun Babayemi's candidature. Addressing the gathering, Babayemi, the PDP governorship candidate, assured all about the authenticity and the validity of his candidature in the eyes of the law contrary to rumours being peddled by some people. While thanking Akinbade for his support as reflected in the massive turn out of the meeting,he charged his supporters to go to back their respective localities and work vigorously to ensure the victory of the party at the July 16 governorship election. Promising to run an all-inclusive administration when eventually elected, Babayemi urged members of the party not to see his mandate as belonging to him alone but rather a collective property of all PDP members.

Addressing the gathering earlier, one of the party's governorship aspirant, Mr Dele Adeleke, stressed the need for all party members to remain united as all cases before the courts would soon be resolved in favour of Omooba Babayemi. Also speaking on the occasion, representative of Sanya Omirin, another governorship aspirant, Mr Jide Bakare stressed the need for members to shun rumours likely to confuse them but rather stick to the right path which they have chosen. Appreciating all his supporters for heeding his invitation despite the short notice, Akinbade narrated all his past efforts to avert the current factionalisation in the party. Going down the memory lane, the former SSG said he was not surprised at the outcome of the party's governorship primaries, noting that Babayemi's emergence is divine. He therefore advised the youth to always be patient and learn from the party elders and leaders as the future belongs to them.