2015: Akala formally declares intention to return as Oyo governor

Immediate past governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, who publicly declared his intention to contest the 2015 governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, has said that his second coming as governor would be to eliminate the “anti-people policies” of the present government led by Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

The governor made his declaration at a massively-attended rally held at Watershed Event Centre, Old Ife Road, Ibadan.

The event was attended by leaders of the party across the state, including members of the national and state Houses of Assembly, as well as the South-West caretaker committee of the party led by the acting chairman, Honourable Lanre Orimoloye. The rally was also used to drum more support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election.

 Akala told the massive crowd that he would consolidate on his previous achievements in office, saying that the people had seen the difference between his government and that of the one currently in place, and were ready to right the wrongs.

Bemoaning what he described as the wanton destruction of means of livelihood, imposition of higher taxes, capital flight and outright dismissal of public servants based on flimsy excuses by the present government, Akala said: “When I went round Ibadan yesterday, I saw that people are suffering. I want to tell you that I am coming back to put smiles on your faces again,” he declared.

The former governor while seeking forgiveness from those he might have offended in his “desire to make life better for the populace,”, called on other aspirants to work together with him to deliver the state to the PDP.

The PDP in Oyo State has more than 10 aspirants for the party’s governorship ticket. Although his posters had flooded the state in the past months, Akala had been silent about the seat he was going to vie for in 2015 until yesterday’s public declaration.