Akala set to declare governorship ambition

Alao-Akala

A former Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala, on Tuesday made it known in Ibadan that he would be declaring his interest to run for governorship position in the state in 2015. Alao-Akala will be seeking to run as a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party. The former governor lost to incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2011.

Leaders of the PDP in the four council areas of Ogbomoso (Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Oriire and Orelope local government areas) paid a courtesy visit to Alao-Akala a few months ago where they urged him to contest for the position he left three and a half years ago.

Speaking in Ibadan on Tuesday, Alao-Akala said having consulted with stakeholders in the party over the four councils’ request, he had decided to contest for the governorship position, saying that the people of the state deserved a better government than what they currently had.

He said, “After wide consultation with our elders and people of the state, I have decided to run for governorship again. On Thursday at Watershed Event Centre, Ibadan, I will be declaring my intention to run for the Oyo State Governorship election in 2015.

“I have a lot to say, but wait till Thursday (today) when I will declare my governorship ambition in 2015 general elections,” he added.

Also on Tuesday, a group named as Team Akala 2015 Project told journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalist secretariat, Iyaganku, Ibadan that market women, artisans and other various groups in the state were clamouring for the return of the former governor.

Coordinator of the group, Niran Adeyoju said, “The professionals, youth, students and women in Oyo State are coming together under this umbrella, speaking in one voice, calling on the citizens of Oyo state to make a critical choice in 2015.”