A former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and a former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olabode George, are currently engaged in a verbal conflict over the latter’s aspersions on the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM).
Mr George had in a recent interview criticised the leaders of the movement which Mr Oyinlola heads as its national coordinator.
He had in the interview dismissed the CNM movement led by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying it would have no impact on the outcome of the 2019 elections.
The former Osun State governor knocked Mr George for his interview, eliciting a reaction on Sunday from the former PDP national officer.
“I read today the untidy, uncharitable and irritable vituperations of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola against my good self. I was rather astonished at the level of uninformed , reckless, misleading verbiage against me,” Mr George’s statement read.
“Prince Oyinlola was very junior to me in the military. I am very senior to him in age. It was my humble self and the late Chief S.M. Afolabi who introduced him to our former President and my Egbon Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. It was through me and the grace of God Almighty that he was elected Governor of Osun State.
“Oyinlola should not dabble into issues he does not know anything about at all. I have served several generals with hundred percent loyalty. I have no grudge against our former President. I have a lot of respect for him. I greet him wherever we meet with deep respect and reverence as a well born Yoruba man.
“Oyinlola, please don’t start to open any can of worms that you do not know where it will widen and spill over. When one is sent a slave’s errand, you should behave like a true, well born.”
However, Mr Oyinlola’s statement on Sunday noted that he only told Mr George, in a statement on Saturday, to stop throwing stones at his benefactors.
He said his admonition to Mr George was that as an officer and a gentleman, it was uncharitable to repay good with evil by attacking his (George’s) benefactors, particularly Mr Obasanjo.