By Oluwakemi Ishola
A former member of the Federal House of Representatives and chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Hon. Banji Folaranmi has revealed the reasons while he rejected Governor Seyi Makinde’s appointment saying they state government was trying to relegate him politically.
Honourable Folaranmi Oyebanji was pioneer caretaker chairman of Surulere South Local Council Development Area.
The ex lawmaker said there was no how he would take the appointment as a board member of Emmanuel Alayande College Of Education – Oyo, considering his calibre, efforts, political record and offices he has held both at the State level, Nigeria and Internationally.
He said he was surprised that the Governor did not fulfil the agreement they had with him, as he disclosed that he had notified them that he won’t take anything below a board chairman.
According to him, “when Sen Hosea Agboola contacted me after they begged me not to be angry over the appointment of Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye as a commissioner, they asked me to name three parastatals I like and I would be made a board chairman of one, I wrote it and I gave it to him. But when I saw that two out of the parastatals I wrote board chairman names were released I contacted him and told him I won’t take anything less than a board chairman”.
The former member of the federal house of representatives and member ECOWAS parliament also lamented that if they were not trying to relegate him, he is the only former Federal parliamentarian from Ogbomoso Zone given a low profile appointment.
“If they are not trying to relegate me am the only former parliamentarian given a low profile appointment, Hon Segun Ogunwuyi, Temilola Adibi and another one from one Ogun were given DG but they said I should take board member.
“Looking at my pedigree I have served as a former member of the federal house of representatives, member ECOWAS parliament, former Local Government chairman, Former Treasurer of the PDP in Oyo State, PDP peace envoy to Zamfara and Kebbi state, and also Secretary Reconciliation committee of PDP during the process that brought in the Governor and many other positions.
However, he said though the Governor has not contacted him, he is still member PDP.
