The two major political parties in Ondo State have suffered defections as a commissioner with the Ondo State Oil Producing Commission, OSOPADEC, Chief Bisi Ilawole, yesterday resigned his appointment with the Ondo State State government.
Immediately after resigning his appointment, Ilawole, who hails from Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and joined the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, with hundreds of his supporters.
In his letter of resignation, addressed to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Ilawole thanked the governor for giving him the privilege to serve the state in the capacity of a commissioner in the intervention agency.
The letter reads, “I, Chief Ilawole Adeleke Adebisi, hereby tender my resignation letter as a member of Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, OSOPADEC.
“Sir, it is my profound gratitude for the rare privilege given to me under your administration to serve as a commissioner, representing the good people of Ilaje oil producing communities.”
Also, a two-time chairman and immediate past boss of Irele Local Government, Hon Nicholas Akinbiola and Daisi Onetufo, respectively dumped the APC and declared for the ZLP with their supporters.
In a related development, a former chairman of Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government and lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Folagbade Gbemibade, has also dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and defected to the ZLP.
All the defectors said that they joined the ZLP in order to rescue the state from the misrule of the APC-led government of Akeredolu in the state.
Speaking after he received them at the ZLP Secretariat, the state chairman, Dr Joseph Akinlaja, commended them for taking a bold step to join the party; assuring them that their interest would be taken care of.
The Ondo State Deputy Governor and candidate of the ZLP, Hon Agboola Ajayi, assured the defectors that free health would be restored in the Sunshine State if he is elected as governor.
Ajayi assured them of considerable reduction in school fee of the state-owned tertiary institutions, if elected as governor of the state and pledged to launch operation zero potholes so as to make sure all roads in the state are motorable.
