Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has claimed that the successful Senatorial bids of Barrister Sharafa Alli and Fatai Buhari in the 2023 elections were directly linked to his support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidencial bid.
Makinde stated this on Wednesday, September 25 during a congratulatory visit to the Ondo Street, Bodija, private residence of former governor, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on the occasion of his 80th birthday anniversary celebration.
Makinde, a two term governor, also the vice chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) made this remark while addressing issues surrounding his political differences with Oba Ladoja, who is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The governor in his address euologized Oba Ladoja describing him as a leading light in Oyo state. Makinde maintained that Oba Ladoja has a lot to still offer the state as an exemplary front line leader.
In his words, “Today is a special day for me and Oyo state as a whole as well as Ibadanland in particular because one of the leading light of Ibadan is celebrating his 80th birthday anniversary today.”
Speaking in a jovial mood, the governor said, “Baba once alleged me of being too stubborn and I told him someone else also told me you could also have been my biological father.”
Makinde, who disclosed that his political history could not be complete without mentioning Oba Rashidi Ladoja stressed the role the former governor played to midwife his emergence as the governor in 2019 to succeed Late Abiola Ajimobi.
Going down memory lane, Makinde narrated how he ventured into politics from the corporate world in 2002 to support the governorship ambition of Oba Rashidi Ladoja ahead of the 2003 governorship election, even when he (Makinde) had no political aspiration for himself.
While blaming politicians for fueling his political differences with Oba Ladoja and consequently blowing it out of proportion, Makinde acknowledged that he and Oba Ladoja have since reconciled after the intervention of Ibadan elders council.
Makinde noted that the political dynamics of the 2023 elections, asserting that his endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s aspiration played an important role in the victory of the two senators.
While noting that both winners and losers of the 2023 National Assembly election are children of the same father in Oba Ladoja, Makinde added that the senators on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) could not have emerged winner if the case was different.
He acknowledged that sometimes, it is one thing to have a plan and implement it, it is another thing to have the outcome of such plans as envisioned.
“If I had not done what I did back then, these two senators (referring to Senators Sharafadeen Alli and Fatai Buhari) here couldn’t have won the senatorial seats.” Makinde said.