Dr. Dotun Babayemi’s defection to the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has been described as a great boost to the chances of the party in winning the September 22 Osun governorship election.
The Gbongan-born politician had dumped the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) whatever he had aspired to contest the Osun West senatorial seat.
Babayemi did not leave the ruling party alone but pulled along no fewer than three thousand APC members to the ADP.
The large crowd of Babayemi’s supporters and members of ADP, who came from the 10 local governments of Ayedaade, Ayedire, Ola Oluwa,Irewole Isokan, Ejigbo Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Iwo that made up West Senatorial District had converged on Oke Church Area of Gbongan where the defectors were received into ADP.
ADP party chairman, Mr Toye Akinola described Babayemi as a politician with distinction saying his exit in APC is a big blow to its chances ahead of the poll.
According to him, the Gbongan-born prince has empowered thousands of youths, and women, whose trying experiences have been turned into beautiful testimonies after he positively and productively engaged them.
Describing ADP as a political party that respects people’s opinions and gives premium to equity and justice, Akinola said that Omooba Babayemi has chosen the right party where his aspirations would be met.
He recalled with nostalgia various humanitarian services like free healthcare services, scholarships and football competition which Babayemi has sponsored, saying his joining ADP, would guarrantee maximum dividends of democracy for the people of Osun state.
Speaking in same vein separately, ADP leaders including Elder Jekayinfa, Prince Soji Ajayi And Alhaji Azeez Adesiji, described ADP as a political party to look out for in all elections.
They recalled their days in APC, where they claimed their opinions were never respected. They subsequently urged people to support ADP for the growth and development of Osun state.
Oluomo Sunday Akere, the immediate past Commissioner for Information in the state, while addressing the gathering, said that Osun will only progress when grassroot politicians, like ADP governorship candidate, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti who know where shoes are pinching the citizens come to contest.
Akere, who lauded the bold step taken by Babayemi, in pitching tent with the ADP, emphasized the need for people of Osun West Senatorial District to support him and his new party, ADP.
In his remarks after receiving ADP flag, Omooba Babayemi, explained that before now, he has been putting smiles on the faces of the people and pledged not to renege in that regard.
He described ADP governorship candidate, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, as the best among the lot in the race, identified justice and equity as factors that distinguished ADP from other parties and implored people of voting age who have not got their PVC, to get them and vote Adeoti on September 22.
Recalling Adeoti’s antecedents in politics, Omooba Babayemi, assured the people of the state that, if supported, the for secretary to Osun state government would ake the state to the next level.
Babayemi expressed his conviction that ADP would form the next government in the state, adding that, “the time is ripe for the people of Osun to gain their freedom from the shackles of political colonial masters.”
Addressing party supporters, the ADP governorship candidate, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, appreciated the support the people are giving him and expressed his displeasure over how his former party, APC, disregarded the rights of people of Osun West to the governorship seat.
He also described as “callous” the refusal of the APC government to fix the dilapidated Iwo/ Osogbo and Ejigbo /Osogbo roads amidst other facilities that fall within Osun West Senatorial District and assured that the issue of modulated salary and refusal to pay pensions would be a thing of the past with him in the saddle as governor.
Maintaining that Osun is blessed with several natural resources and fertile land, Adeoti said if supported to win the September 22 election, the challenge of unemployment, under employment, hunger, high taxation and other inhuman programmes initiated by the present administration would be addressed.
Omooba Dotun Babayemi, is an epitome of service to humanity.The Gbongan prince and philanthropist has assisted thousands of people of Osun West Senatorial District in the areas of education,health,sports and employment opportunities.
It is on record that Omooba Babayemi has so far, given over 400 brilliant, but indigent students scholarship covering their university education.
Besides, in his vision to ensuring that the young lads were productively engaged, Omooba Babayemi, from time to time, organizes summer schools for private and public schools in the ten local government areas that make up Osun West District.
To therefore describe Omooba Dotun Babayemi as a good Samaritan, whom God has sent to relief the people of Osun West of abject poverty, is no gain saying, considering those, who in one way or the other, benefitted from his philantrophy in the area of free medical service.
Recently, he cleared medical bills of hundreds of people, who underwent eye surgery courtesy of his Kindness, Favour and Grace Foundation at a specialist hospital in Ijebu Mushin, Ogun state. Many of those who benefitted from this free eye surgery have hitherto lost hope about their vision being restored.
He has shown also concern about need for the people in Osun West to be healthy. This also led to the organisation of a free medical outreach where residents of Ede, Iwo, Ejigbo, Apomu, Ikire, and Gbongan suffering different ailments received medical attention.
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