Oyo Guber Polls: Akala Locks Out Seyi Makinde From His Radio Station

Emmanuel AmudaMarch 6, 2019

0 1 minute read

Ripples from the last moments leading to the gubernatorial election on Saturday, March 9 2019 reached a crescendo as former governor of Oyo State, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala openly barred the PDP governorship candidate, Engr Seyi Makinde from participating in a live interview programme on Parrot FM 101.1 owned by Akala in Ogbomoso this morning.

A statement from Seyi Makinde campaign organization, signed by Prince Dotun Oyelade revealed that Makinde had booked and paid for the one hour slot at the radio station 48 hours in advance, and came to Ogbomoso for the programme only to be turned back at the gate with the excuse that the slot had been allocated to his rival, Mr Bayo Adelabu.

Seyi Makinde told journalists and his teeming supporters that apart from Akala’s action being unconstitutional, it was democratically repugnant for any one, to deny the other the right of reply.

He said Chief Akala did not want him to expose the true reason why he (Akala) joined APC, a move that has dropped his political rating significantly.

He promised to bring the attention of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission to the ugly incident and to the former governor, he had this to say, ‘You can bar me from your radio station, but you cannot debar me from the government house if it is the wish of the Lord and the people.’

As Seyi Makinde left the premises of Parrot FM, a large crowd which had gathered, trooped into the radio station in protest of Akala’s action. Makinde rode slowly in an open roof jeep through the ancient city accompanied by his supporters.

He later went to Ajilete FM 92.1, also in Ogbomoso where he fielded questions in a live interview programme.