Enough of the pushings and shovings. We won’t allow someone from Owo to dictate to us here in Akoko who we should vote for.
By Julius Alabi, Akure
A group under the auspices of All Progressives Congress (APC) Akoko for Good Governance has warned all Akoko-born political appointees of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu not to fuel any unending crisis in the area.
The political appointees were particularly warned to desist from working against their people by endorsing a stooge of the governor.
The group, while condemning what it termed as an attempt by Governor Akeredolu to impose a particular candidate on the people, called party leaders, particularly the National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu to wade into the issue.
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The group said the National chairman should call Akeredolu to order and allow party members to choose a candidate of their choice at the primaries.
The coordinator of the forum, Comrade Abdulaziz Akorede, in a press statement issued late Sunday, said that although there was a provision for a consensus candidate in the constitution, it should be a true consensus whereby all the aspirants would sign a written document to show they agree with the consensus.
“In the spirit of justice, equity and fair play, our great party should allow all the senatorial aspirants from Akoko to go for the primaries. Let the people determine who will represent them,” Akorede said.
Akorede expressed surprise over an emergency meeting summoned by Akeredolu appointees in Akoko land to force the people to support a purported governor’s candidate, saying such an effort will surely bring hatred and disunity in Akoko land because all the three aspirants from Akoko are qualified to represent them at the National Assembly.
He warned against a selection process that would amount to imposition or any semblance of it, describing the governor’s effort as a deliberate plan to cause disaffection, crisis and disunity in the party and Akokoland in general.
“We have received from a reliable source that there is the message being circulated in Akoko among our people by political appointees of Governor Akeredolu that there will be a meeting on Monday at Ogbagi Garden, where they want to surreptitiously impose a particular candidate on the people. We want to say categorically that we, members of the Akoko For Good Governance, and indeed a large percentage of our people are not a party to the meeting.
“We speak as trueborn Akoko indigenes who do not support any aspirant. However, we stand for a free, fair and unbiased primary election that will usher in a better future for Akokoland.
“We state here without fear or favour that the three senatorial aspirants from Akoko for the Ondo North Senatorial Districts ticket are all well-qualified Akoko sons who have earned their good names in their different fields, Therefore, we ask that they should be given free hand to go to their people to seek their votes. We say NO to imposition and fake endorsement which will only lead Akoko to war.
“Come to think of it, is Gbenga Elegbeleye, a one-time member of House of Representatives representing Akoko North/West constituency in the Green Chamber; Chairman of Akoko North East and Also chairman of sports commission not qualified enough? Talk about Rear Admiral Samuel Ilesanmi Alade, a one-time Provost of War College, who retired from the Nigerian Navy with accolades not qualified? These are people who have given their best to Akoko and Nigeria. We asked that they should be allowed to exercise their rights.
“Enough of the pushings and shovings. We won’t allow someone from Owo to dictate to us here in Akoko who we should vote for. All that we are saying is that there should be a level playing ground for all the aspirants.
“We call on all Akoko sons and daughters, especially APC stakeholders in Akoko not to attend the meeting because it will do us no good because it is planned to divide us more,” it added.