Osun PDP slam Wole Oke over defection, tags him ‘irrelevant’
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
Appointees of the Osun State Governor, elected officers, and key stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Ijesa North Federal Constituency have criticized Hon. Wole Oke over his recent remarks following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oke, a House of Representatives member representing Ijesa North, stirred controversy on social media when he claimed that some PDP members in Obokun, Oriade, and surrounding areas remained in the party only because he “allowed” them to stay and “enjoy the fruits of their labour,” implying they would have otherwise followed him to the APC.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Awe Femi (SSA to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Political Matters), Alawiye Olaosebikan (SSA to the Office of the Governor), Ajayi Olugbemiga (SSA to the Governor), Chief Sesan Orija, Engr. Segun Otegbayo, Hon. Tope Abiola, and Elder Rótìmí Oloyede, on behalf of all the governor’s appointees, PDP stakeholders from Obokun and Oriade LGs, and concerned patriots of Ijesa North Federal Constituency.
The PDP stakeholders described the comments as “uncultured, uncivilized, and delusional,” and criticized what they called Oke’s arrogance, saying it demonstrates a disconnection from reality and his fading political relevance.
“After spending over 20 unproductive years in the National Assembly with no tangible project or legacy to show in his hometown, Esa Oke, Hon. Oke now absurdly assumes he can determine the political direction of Osun PDP. That is not only a laughable overestimation of his importance; it is a sign of political dementia,” they said.
The stakeholders pledged continued loyalty to Governor Ademola Adeleke, affirming that Ijesa North remains a stronghold of the PDP.
In a separate development, PDP leaders in Iwo Federal Constituency also dismissed Oke’s recent claims of impending defections from their axis to the APC as false and delusional.
In a statement jointly signed by Hon. Sulaiman Akanji Bello (SEEBEE), Iwo PDP Leader; Hon. Alidu Tiamiyu Adeoye, Iwo PDP Chairman; and all PDP leaders in Iwo Local Government, they accused Oke of attempting to fabricate relevance by orchestrating artificial support through secret meetings across the state.
