I ’ll ensure victory for PDP on August 9 —Oyinlola

Against the backdrop of mounting pressures from the national leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, on Monday, vowed to ensure that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged victorious in the August 9, governorship election in the state.

Before and after the defeat suffered by the APC in the last governorship poll in Ekiti, the APC governorship candidate, who is also the incumbent governor of Osun State, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, Senator Bola Tinubu, erstwhile Governor Bisi Akande and the newly elected chairman of their party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had made spirited moves to curry favour and support of Oyinlola ahead the poll in Osun.
But, the army General, in a communique issued after a marathon meeting with his supporters across the 30 local governments and area councils, said "I remain "a cornerstone" of the PDP both in Osun and Nigeria at large and would ensure that the party attains victory in the August 9 governorship election in the state."
The communique, endorsed by the chairman, secretary and convener of the meeting, Mr Oladije Adeniji, Mr Abayomi Adegoke and Reverend Bunmi Jenyo, respectively, called on President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP leaders to return Oyinlola, as the substantive national secretary of the party as affirmed by the Court of Appeal.
It read in part: "The meeting affirmed that the immediate past chief executive of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is a worthy, dependable, reliable and trusted leader of the party in the state and passed vote of confidence on Oyinlola as a bridge-builder and rallying point for the members of PDP across the state.
"The meeting also affirmed that Oyinlola remains a cornerstone of the PDP in Osun and a strong pillar of the party at the national level, thereby debunked the speculations of his defection to the All Progressive Congress either in principle or otherwise and warned the campaigners and speculators of such rumour of calumny to desist henceforth."
Oyinlola also affirmed that he would not take any decision without considering the interest of his supporters, his party, the people of the state, as well as Nigeria at large.
"Oyinlola is a rallying point to record victory for the PDP during the forthcoming governorship election slated for August 9 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and will assist the national leadership of the party to reposition the party for victory ahead of 2015 general election," the communique added.
Dignitaries at the meeting include the chairman, Federal Emergency Road Maintainance Agency (FERMA), Engr. Olajide Adeniji, a former chairman, House of Representatives Committe on Defence, Hon Oluwole Oke, a PDP Osun Central Senatorial District Chairman, Mr Kayode Oduoye, a former Director General, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Chief Akin Osuntokun and host of other supporters in PDP