Governor Ademola Adeleke has clarified the report claiming he had a private meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
Adeleke last Friday led a delegation from Osun State to visit Makinde at the Oyo State Government House lodge in Abuja, but the PDP loyalist has now refuted claims that he had a closed-door session with Makinde.
Adeleke also rubbished reports that he begged and prostrated to Makinde who was a member of G5 that worked against PDP’s presidential ambition.
Adeleke clarified the visit to Makinde after Sahara Reporters reported that the Osun governor visited his Oyo State counterpart over his interest in who becomes the next National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the PDP.
The news platform added that the visit by Adeleke to Makinde was to solicit his support and endorsement for his (Adeleke’s) candidate to replace the late National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the party, Hon Soji Adagunodo.
Adagunodo who was once the chairman of the PDP in Osun State died in May 2023 after a brief illness in the United States of America.
Sahara Reporters also reported that Adeleke begged Makinde to forgive him in whatever way he must have wronged him.
Responding on Monday, Adeleke described the report by Sahara Reporters as fake news.
The statement from Adelele’s office, sent to PM News by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, revealed that the Osun governor only visited Makinde to see the newly renovated Oyo State Government House as Osun state government is embarking on similar renovation of Osun Government House located within Asokoro.
Adeleke noted that he never begged Makinde during the meeting which happened in the presence of many PDP loyalists.
The statement from Adeleke’s office reads in full: “Our attention has been drawn to a planted fake news about a purported private meeting between Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state.
“The concorted lies in the said story have no basis in truth as at no point did Governor Adeleke had any private talk with his Oyo state counterpart.
“Governor Adeleke had visited the Oyo state Governor’s lodge to see the newly renovated Oyo State Government House as Osun state government is embarking on similar renovation of Osun Government House located within Asokoro.
“It was also an opportunity for both leaders to review state of relationship and chart a path to strengthen the Peoples Democractic Party within the South West zone including the issue of filling the vacancy existing within the party zonal leadership.
“The interactions were in the open and at no point did the question of begging and prostration arose as there was nothing to plead and beg about. The venue was in the living room with photo opportunity. In the presence of everybody, the two leaders resolved to unite for the party in the zone, hence the need to call an emergency zonal meeting to hold later this week.
“All insinuations about infighting either among Osun Government functionaries or otherwise are the handiwork of those profiting from the lack of substantive leadership for the party in the zone. There is no infighting within Governor Adeleke’s cabinet over the planned meeting nor any disagreement as to when and how to hold the zonal meeting.
“The two Governors will surely feel embarrassed by the fake news as it was targeted at truncating genuine efforts to relaunch the party with a new leadership after recent happenings.
“We therefore urge members of the PDP across the South West to ignore the fake news and focus on making a success of the forthcoming zonal meeting in the best interest of the party.”