Former governor of Osun State and one-time National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has revealed that the weight of presidential pressure on political leaders has become unbearable — even for those in the ruling party.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News Channel’s Prime Time show on Sunday evening, Oyinlola disclosed that discussions among political stakeholders have centered on the growing trend of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he described as worrisome for Nigeria’s democracy.
“If you look at the communique, it was clearly pointed out, why should everybody be crossing over to the APC?” Oyinlola said. “That was the core of the discussion.”
He went on to recount a personal encounter with the current hovernor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, explaining that the governor broke down in tears over the magnitude of pressure on him coming from the Presidency.
“When I was having a discussion with him, the Osun State Governor, he shed tears,” Oyinlola revealed. “How can you withstand presidential pressure? It is too much for anybody to bear, no matter who you are.”
The former governor’s remarks came amid growing debate over the dominance of the ruling APC and the shrinking space for opposition politics in Nigeria.
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