16th September, 2023
A former aspirant for House of Representatives, Olayinka Oladimeji Segelu, has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to honour his late father, Chief Olusegun Moses Akintola Oladimeji Segelu, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP who was murdered 16 years ago.
Segelu, who is also a businessman said his father who was gruesomely on September 14, 2007, contributed in no small measure to the political growth and democratic advancement of Oyo State and Nigeria in general.
He wondered why the family of a man like his dad should be abandoned by the Oyo State government after all the sacrifices he made for the state and was “wickedly killed by fellow politicians.”
“I remembered vividly the words of the then sitting governor, HE Late Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala when my father, Chief Hon. (Dr.) Olusegun Moses Akintola Oladimeji Segelu was gruesomely killed. Knowing that the gruesome murder of my dad was politically motivated, the late Alao-Akala had, as quoted in the Nation of September 19, 2007, said that ‘Politicians should talk to themselves. This is politics of bitterness. If it were to be in another camp, they would be shouting Adedibu/Akala. These are people who never identified with our camp. We know them but God will definitely expose them.’
“I humbly request that my father’s name should be engraved in the minds of the people,” Segelu said in the statement he issued on Friday, a day after the 16th anniversary of his father’s murder.
He suggested that New Ife Road from under the bridge going to the Gbagi area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State be named after his father as ‘Segelu Express Road’.
In the alternative, Segelu suggested that the newly constructed ultramodern motor park in Iwo-road, Ibadan can also be named after his father.
“Interestingly, my father was the first private motor park operator in the entire city of Ibadan, with his Segelu Transport Service adjacent to his hotel, along Ife-road, Ibadan. His transport service company could boast of about ten brand new Peugeot 505 cars in his pool at the time,” he said while justifying while the motor park should be named after his father.
“I plead with Governor Seyi Makinde to consider the humble request of the family which I am conveying to him on behalf of the family, Segelu said while recalling his contributions to the election of the Governor.
“I have been a big fan and supporter of Makinde’s political ambition since 2018 till date. I personally donated a branded bus for his campaign with my team always being around in the 2018-2019 campaign. I branded two vehicles for his second-term campaign with full support. I pray my humble request is granted. I wish the governor well as he continues to work diligently round the clock to move the state to greater a height of development and prosperity.”
Segelu noted that his father held many important posts in his lifetime, hence, his name must not be allowed “to be wiped away.”
He fought for his people all his life. He started at the grassroots serving as a Councilor in Lagelu Local Government between 1988 and 1989. He was Chairman of National Republican Convention (NRC) Lagelu Local Government from 1990 to 1992.
He was Oyo State Coordinator for Alhaji Bamanga Tukur Presidential Campaign Organisation in 1992. I recall Alhaji Bamanga Tukur celebrating New Year with us in our Eleruko Village more than two times.
“He was deputy State Chairman of NRC in 1993 was elected Delegate to the National Constitutional Conference in 1994 – 1995 and became Chairman, of Lagelu Local Government in 1996.
“He became the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State from 1998 till his life was tragically cut short via a politically orchestrated assassination in 2007.
“He was elected as the State Chairman of the PDP in Oyo State 1999 -2001 and appointed Board Chairman, National Productivity Centre, Abuja from 2001-2004. Elected Member, House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja 2007 and was assassinated in his constituency office on September 14, 2007. Governor Seyi Makinde was then the candidate of Oyo South Senatorial District under ANPP.
“I am sure he must have heard about my father’s good deeds before he was killed. I made it a clear statement to the governor during one of my meetings with him that I deserve all the needed political support and assistance from him if not for my personal input in politics but for my father’s sake and the manner he was taken away from us.
Olayinka Segelu, an erstwhile Personal Assistant (PA) to ex-Speaker Dimeji Bankole contested to secure the ticket of PDP for House of Representatives in 2015 and 2023 to no avail.