My visit to a PDP Chieftain, Fadahunshi not political, says Aregbesola
….As ex customs boss dismisses defection rumour
2015 Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Osun East Senatorial District, Prince Francis Fadahunshi, has dismissed insinuations that he is considering leaving the party.
This was just as Governor Rauf Aregbesola described his visit to Fadahunshi, a PDP chieftain as a “personal visit”.
Governor Aregbesola during the visit to Ilase country home of Fadahunshi had disclosed that he came to pay homage to a senior Ijesa man and brother and urged people never to read unnecessary political meaning to the visit.
A statement signed by Sam Progress, a media assistant to Prince Fadahunshi, copies of which were obtained by newsmen in Osogbo on Saturday stated that Fadahunshi is not considering dumping PDP as being insinuated.
The ex customs officer, according to the statement, while acknowledging the divisions within PDP fold, expressed firm believe in amicable resolution of the whatever issue causing rancor in the party.
The statement reads in parts: The Peoples Democratic Party Senatorial Candidate in 2015 general election, Prince Adenigba Francis Fadahunsi is not considering dumping his party.
“He urges his supporters to dismiss the rumor of his decamping to the ruling party APC in its entirety.
“This response became necessary following insinuations that the visit of his younger brother and governor of Osun state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola to his residence was to facilitate Fadahunshi’s defection to the APC.
“The visit of Mr. governor was a private one, and that of a brother paying homage to his elder brother. The governor during the visit also made it clear that his visit was not a political visit but a private one.
“The governor also said the visit to Ilase also afforded him opportunity to see the community and look at some of its need. Aregbesola also said some of those things identified as needs of Ilase can be fixed before the expiration of his tenure.”
Some personalities that received Governor Aregbesola to Fadahunshi’s Ilase home include; Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Oba of Ibokun and Alase of Ilase, among others.
The visit according to observers however may be a marching strategy towards the 2018 gubernatorial election just as it played out in the buildup to the 2014 governorship election. Chieftains of the ApC including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubub, Chief Bisi Akande and host of others alongside the governor visited bigwigs of the PDP then which culminated to the decamping of former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and late senator Isiaka Adeleke. Chief Francis Fadahunsi is known to be an astute politician who gave the APC run for their money at the 2015 general election. Fadahunsi and senator Babajide Omoworare had to slug it out with a senatorial rerun before the APC candidate won by little margin.
Input: Alapa Oladapo Clinton
