The governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Teslim Folarin, on Tuesday, came hard on a former deputy governor of the state and current deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (South), Taofeek Arapaja, over his remarks on a live radio station in Ibadan.
It was reported that Arapaja was featured on the programme on Tuesday morning in Ibadan, the state capital, and called Folarin and other APC chieftains unprintable names.
Folarin, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yekeen Olaniyi, described the former deputy governor as a frustrated politician, adding that no amount of blackmail on his person will save the sitting governor, Seyi Makinde, from defeat in the governorship poll of Saturday.
The statement read in part,
“I am a democrat, civil and responsible statesman in the state. Therefore, I won’t respond to blackmail, propaganda and irresponsible attacks from any politician. I want to confirm to the people of the state that Arapaja is under intense pressure following a gale of endorsements in my favour and continuous exodus hitting the ruling PDP and other opposition parties in the state.
“No amount of blackmail, propaganda and irresponsible attacks from Arapaja and his co-travellers can save Seyi Makinde and other PDP candidates from imminent defeat in the March 18th elections. The assurance is that the Almighty God and the downtrodden masses are behind the Itesiwaju Ipinle Oyo 2023 project.
“With due respect to other candidates, I remain the most experienced public administrator and closest to the grassroots, having represented Oyo Central Senatorial District for three terms with verifiable track records of achievements and toured 351 wards of the state on countless occasions.
“I am contesting governorship seat of the state to holistically improve security, education sector, agricultural sector, health sector, empowerment and employment of our youths and women, to grow our economy, welfare of civil servants and pensioners, to ensure local government autonomy, urban renewal and rural developments, clean environment, wealth creation and lots more.
“I’ve the capacity to do better than the current administration in the state.
“I urge the good people of the state not to listen to cheap blackmail, propaganda and irresponsible attacks. I have the capacity to deliver masses-focused governance as the Executive Governor when elected.”