The African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Oyo State, Adegoboye Taofeek Adegoke, has insisted that he is the authentic candidate of the party in the state, despite a parallel primary and legal challenges to his candidacy.
Adegoke, who spoke in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, said the Independent National Electoral Commission had published his name alongside his Form EC9 on August 22, while he also presented what he described as his certificate of return, signed by the party’s national chairman and national secretary.
He said, “I’m the authentic candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Oyo State. Apart from INEC publishing my name, this is my certificate of return.
“The whole world can see it.“Signed by the National Chairman and the National Secretary. So, that’s the certificate of return given to me by the party. So, that’s why I brought it.
“And the three of them, Alagbe, Abolishade, and Adebitan, participated in the parallel primary. We were five aspirants that took part in the screening in Abuja. Myself, Dr. Adebitan, Gbemileke Alagbe, Abolishade.
“But three decided to participate in the parallel primary conducted by the so-called legacy schools.
“Only two of us, myself and Chief Bisi Ilaka, participated in the right primary conducted by the appropriate committee.
“So, Bisi Ilaka didn’t go to court. If he had gone to court, I would say, okay, no problem. But the other three that took part in another parallel, not where I took part.
“That’s why I said you can’t do something or nothing. I said, why are they taking me to court? They should take themselves to court then.
“And the funniest thing is, Gbemileke Alagbe that has dragged the party to court, and Adebitan that has dragged the party to court, they were carrying two different results from the same primary committee, signed by the same chairman that the so-called Adisi.
“So, that is to tell you that they don’t know what they are doing.
“He is saying he is the winner. In the same primary. While in my own case, we are two of us.
“Only two of us. Myself and Chief Bisi Ilaka participated. There is only one result, which is mine.
“They are confused. That’s number one. I hope you are following the trend.
“So, two of them are in court carrying two different results, signed by the same Adisi. So, you see they are confused among themselves.
“Adebitan is in court now. Alagbe, as I am telling you, has filed to join the case filed by Adebitan in Abuja Federal Court. That of Gbemileke Alagbe is in the Federal Court.
“So, now it is good because they are carrying two different results. If that is even good for me, no problem. So, that’s number one.
“Apart from mine, that’s why I said, my party also issued this to me. I said, we were 28, 28 took government because others are also in the elections. So, I am the right candidate.”
Adegoke also said the party’s presidential candidate recently invited its governorship candidates to Abuja for a meeting, arguing that his invitation further demonstrated that the party recognised him as its candidate.
He said, “Just last week, our presidential candidate invited all the governorship candidates to Abuja for a meeting. The chairman, we met with the national chairman. We went to the five presidential candidates together with his aides.
“Why were they not called? They were called because somebody is pursuing him to cause destruction. But at my level of experience, I cannot be distracted.”
Adegoke further alleged that Gbemileke Alagbe had not resigned from his employment at Wema Bank.
He said, “The same Alagbe, in fact, has not resigned from Wema Bank. I am telling you. He works at Wema Bank.
“He paid Wema. So, you can see the type of funny people we have. You cannot give what you don’t have.
“Is that the same person that wants to rule your state? That wants to hand over your state to me?”
He also claimed that 15 of the 33 local government chairmen from what he described as the legacy or aborigine group had met with him and were ready to support his candidacy.
He said, “Fifteen of the legacy or aborigine chairmen, 33 local government chairmen, that have been supporting him to make noise, they came to meet with me on Saturday. They are ready to vote for me.
“They have now found out that I am the true, the real candidate. I am very with them. That’s how it is.
“The others are coming in. They are leaving him in droves. They are coming to meet and vote for me.
“So, that tells you that the guy is no longer… You will see. You will stand down in the next few days.
“So, I don’t have a problem. If they want to go to court, I am there. My lawyers are there.
“Let’s face it in court. And I know that, like the national chairman said, he said, you are the party candidate and we are going to support you. Whoever goes to court, we will support you, our candidates.
“Because the list… There was a letter signed by the national secretary and chairman, sending the names of all the candidates to INEC.”
On his strategy for the governorship election and his economic agenda for Oyo State, Adegoke said he considered himself a candidate who could attract support from different political groups.
He said, “I will tell you that, of all the three major candidates from the three major parties in APC, APM and ADC, I’m the middle. And the beautiful bride.
“The other two are tainted. The APM candidate is tainted by the government of Seyi Makinde.
“That’s why, when you go to Oyo State, their slogan is Omituntun 3.0. That’s an extension of the current government. So, everybody believes that that means Seyi Makinde is coming back for a third time.
“It’s there. Where it’s good for me, politically, they’ve cleared themselves by saying Omituntun 3.0. So, they are telling us that Seyi Makinde is coming back.
“And the issue of godfather that is in. That’s why I said they are tainted. God is my godfather.
“All I’ve done is media. And also, by the way, I host a radio station, Solutions.
“So, I have a diverse business interest.
“That’s why I said, for instance, a friend of mine printed 50,000 posters for me because he has a printing company.
“It’s based on performance. I’m a competent man. I’m from a competent industry.
“So, it’s based on competence.”
Adegoke said he intended to develop a real estate economy and ensure that economic opportunities and spending remained within Oyo State.
He said, “I want to develop a real estate economy.
“And I don’t want that the money that should operate in the economy… I develop a real estate economy to go outside the state.
“By bringing in… I would not bring in contractors from Delta, from Rivers, from wherever.
“I’m telling you that truthfully.
“So, I said I’m the only one that is not tainted. Therefore, the people of Oyo State know that. I’m the only one that is not tainted.
“I mean, I’m in the middle. And people from both sides are already working with me. And I’m telling you that.
“I don’t say they should leave their party. But I’m going to defeat them.”
He said his development strategy would also focus on agriculture and infrastructure, including opening up agricultural areas of the state.
He said, “My strategy, let me tell you that, is to develop real estate. To develop real estate.
“And that is the agricultural base. That’s why they call it the food basket of Oyo State. But it’s really developed.
“So, we need to open up that place. And part of my plan is… I will open…
Asked about the proposed rail line’s cost, Adegoke said, “200 kilometres. Like 3 million dollars.”
He added, “Go and check it. 3 million dollars.
On his broader development agenda, Adegoke said his campaign slogan was “Solutions 2027”, with the letters representing different areas of his proposed programme.
He said, “You see, my slogan is Solutions 2027. And everything I plan to do… Where is security of life and property?
“If you want to develop any country, any state, any city, whatever, security is important.
“Otherwise, you are not able to attract the right investment. So, security is key.
“The first S there is security. That’s why I call it Solutions.
“The O is organic development of agriculture. By the way, I read a great economist from the UFA before I became a chakaraka. So, I know what is going on and how to develop agriculture. So, organic development of agriculture.
“That’s the O. That’s part of my plan. The L is let there be jobs.
“That’s the L. Because we have to create jobs. That’s the L.
“Then, the U is urban renewal. Let me give you a good example. I told about this in my presentation back in 2022.
“Inside, that’s the interior of the family house. So, there must be urban renewal of major cities. That’s the L.
“That’s why I said urban renewal means turning around the whole place and making it look better infrastructurally, economically, and make it better for people.
“The T, turning around of health and education sector. That’s the T.
“The I, industrial revolution and infrastructure development. That’s the I.
“The O is on-the-job training for teachers because I want to concentrate on sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“So, that’s why I said on-the-job training, especially for teachers and others.
“The N is talking about new governance. New governance.
“Yes. Agile. You know that’s what you call where you eliminate waste. That is Lean. And then you maintain quality.
“That is Six Sigma. So, then the last S is talking about socio-economic development for your state.
On how he would finance the proposed rail project, Adegoke said eliminating middlemen and consultants could reduce costs.
He said, “For 100 kilometres of rail line. Go ahead. It’s possible.
“All the consultants that are hiding 10 percent, 5 percent, I can tell you that.
Adegoke also outlined a proposed intervention for elderly residents, saying, “For instance, I said I’ll ban people from 75 years and above. I will start giving them a place to live.
“Even if you take 6% of 60 years and above… That’s 40,000. 65 and above is 2.7%. Magic. So, how much does it cost to give these people? How much? What’s the benchmark of price?
“It’s 3.5 billion Naira. Because 75 years and above is between 1% and 1.7% of the 8 million population in your state.
On education, he proposed reducing class sizes and building additional classrooms.
He said, “If you enter any school, especially primary school, you have about 1,900 people sitting in the class.
“And for teachers to be able to give them the right attention and teach them very well, you need to reduce to about 30 people sitting in the class.
“It means, for every class that you want to do that, you need to build two additional classes.
“To build two additional classes means capital will work. People will work. Persons selling cement will work. They’re creating jobs.
“We are talking about 20 additional jobs. So, teachers, you employ them. You give them jobs.
“That means you are pumping money into the economy through employment.”
On financing his proposed development projects, Adegoke said government could seek external development support and sovereign guarantees.
He said, “The money does not have to come directly from the pocket. It is taken.
“You can seek development assistance. You can take sovereign guarantees.
“Think ahead about the things you have to do, how to raise capital for development purposes.”
Boluwatife Enome
Follow us on:
