As part of bid to boost his second term victory, Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, has netted a big fish, his biggest in close to three years in office. The crisis in the All Progressives Congress, APC, claimed its first casualty its first casualty, it has lost an influential member.
Joseph Tegbe, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU-trained engineer, management consultant, tax advisor and senior partner and head, technology advisory and markets for KPMG in Nigeria, is no longer a member of the opposition party in the state.
Like a typical Ibadanman, he will move from Ibadan South East Local Government Area in Oyo South to his village in Ona-Ara local government in Oyo central senatorial district.
A source close to those who made the transfer a reality told Oyo Insight that deal as sealed last Tuesday night after months of intense pressure.
Tegbe, who became popular after running a less than four months campaign in 2018 until the APC settled for Bayo Adelabu as its governorship candidate, has been pencilled down as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Oyo central senatorial district, edging out Bisi Ilaka, Makinde’s former chief of staff, who had initially been considered for the ticket.
Monsurat Sunmonu, Tegbe’s ‘big sister’ while growing up in Oyo town where the latter’s father owned a bookshop, was at the centre of the deal.
”APC hasn’t treated him very though I am not happy with his movement. Engr Tegbe has a lot of followers. It will definitely affect our party,” another top stalwart of Tegbe’s former party said.
”That chief of staff position really affected Chief Bisi Ilaka. Before then, he was loved in Oyo, where he had a solid political base but everything went with the position. I pity him but it is what it is. He has contested more than twice,” said a PDP stalwart.
Asked for reaction, a top aide of Tegbe who preferred anonymity, asked this reporter to tarry a while. When he called back, he asked for time, saying that he has not been able to see “Oga.”
”He wouldn’t want it in the media for now. He was pressured. Sen. Monsurat was on his neck. He initially rejected it but the former lawmaker wouldn’t leave him. He has relationship with the governor too. They have met on several occasions,” said another aide.
