The newly elected national chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and National Chairman of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantale on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, led IPAC National Executive Committee to pay a solidarity visit to the former Minister of Power and current National Secretary of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Olu Agunloye.
It will be recalled that the former Minister regained his freedom last weekend after his detention for over one week at the Kuje Prison. An FCT High Court granted him bail in a case, alleging that when he was Minister of Power and Steel, over 20 years ago, he awarded a contract at zero cost to the Federal Government of Nigeria for the construction of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project on a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.
According to a statement by Amb. Rufus Aiyenigba, National Publicity Secretary,
Social Democratic Party, SDP, the IPAC Chairman had on his entourage, the Director-General of the Council, the Organizing Secretary, and National Publicity Secretary; while the National Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Shehu Musa Gaban and National Speaker, Women Parliament, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abdullahi were also on hand to recieve the IPAC delegation.
The delegation expressed their solidarity with Dr. Olu Agunloye, noting that he is one fomer public servant who enjoys the respect of millions of Nigerians for his track records in the service of Nigeria, having served the country variously and meritoriously as pioneer Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and as Minister of State for Defence (Navy), Minister of Power and Steel among other strategic positions of great responsibility. The IPAC Chairman noted that he had great confidence in the Nigerian justice system to deliver justice at all times, and that the team had a strong conviction that the former Minister who served as the immediate past National Financial Secretary of IPAC will be vindicated of the charges against him at the end of the day.
Dr. Olu Agunloye, who was in high spirit and unfazed by the unpleasant detention, thanked the IPAC delegation and reiterated his innocence in the matter as well as his expectations that the court will do justice in the case. He said he remain committed to the good of Nigeria and will continue to contribute his quota towards the greatness of the country.
Coincidentally, a team of well-wishers – men and women from Ekiti State chapter of his party stormed the SDP National Secretariat, almost immediately after, with their traditional drums, singing and dancing to express their solidarity with him. Their various traditional musical renditions extolled the high esteem with which the former Minister is regarded not only in South-West, but in the Nigerian society in general, and they prayed that he would live long and will continue to be celebrated.
