A former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Barrister Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, on Friday shunned the inauguration of the State Advisory Council constituted by Governor Seyi Makinde of the state.
DAILY POST recalls that Alli was the gubernatorial candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), one of the political parties that formed alliance with Makinde of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu during the March 9 election. https://dailypost.ng/2019/03/05/oyo-guber-poll-endorsed-seyi-makinde-lanlehin-alli-ayorinde/
Makinde had last week appointed Alli and other strong members of the alliance as members of the State Advisory Council.
The Advisory Council which has former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy matters, Senator Hosea Ayoola Agboola as Chairman, had Alli of ZLP, gubernatorial candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) Chief Bolaji Ayorinde and African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate, Chief Olufemi Lanlehin, Senator Monsurah Sunmonu and Hon. Mulikat Adeola Akande as members.
But, Alli instead of attending the inauguration; distanced himself from the ceremony, which was held on Friday.
It was gathered that Alli had allegedly turned down the offer, which was seen as a way to relegate members as mere ‘ministers without portfolios’.
Our correspondent also gathered that Alli boycotted the inauguration due to the fact that Makinde had allegedly deviated from the agreement he reached with other candidates who forfeited their ambitions to join hands with him to defeat Adelabu.
Those present at the inauguration, which took place at the Governor’s office in Ibadan, the state capital, were Makinde, his deputy; Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, his Chief of staff; Bisi Ilaka and the Head of Service; Alhaja Medinah Agboola, Sunmonu, Akande, Ayorinde and Senator Agboola.
Makinde, while speaking, hinted that the advisory council has a role to advise his government on implementation of programmes and policies.
He said, “The Council is to advise us on the implementation of development programmes and policies of our administration. This is part of our plan to run an all-inclusive government in our state.”
But, Alli while reacting said that he could not attend the inauguration because he got the message for the invitation too late.
Alli in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST said that he was away in Abuja when he received the message, hence, there is no way he can attend the inauguration.
The former SSG told DAILY POST that, “I was not in town. I just got to Ibadan. I was away in Abuja.
“I got the message too late. And I was not around. I was away in Abuja and I can’t leave what I was doing to attend the inauguration.
“I have been in Abuja for the past two days. I had a programme there.”
