ABEOKUTA–Former Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission and prominent All Progressives Congress leader in Ogun State, Hon. Kayode Oladele has said that governorship aspirant, Abayomi Hunye, lacked the political structure and support base across the state to contest for governor.
He therefore said Hunye’s advisors did him a disservice, adding that the outcome of the primary election clearly demonstrated the overwhelming preference of party members for Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, who eventually emerged as the APC governorship candidate for the forthcoming governorship election having previously been declared as the consensus candidate of the Party.
According to him, the scale of massive support enjoyed by Senator Adeola Yayi across Ogun state made it evident that Hunye entered a contest for which he lacked the necessary political structure, grassroots network and broad based acceptance among party members to say the least.
Speaking on the outcome of the exercise, Oladele said the primary election served as a clear test of the popularity and acceptability of all governorship aspirants before APC members, adding that the results reflected the collective will of party faithful across Ogun State.
He noted that Hunye was overwhelmingly rejected by party members throughout the state, a development he said should not have come as a surprise given the aspirant’s limited political reach within the party even in his ward.
“Mr. Hunye was ill advised to enter the race without first establishing a formidable political structure and cultivating the support necessary to compete effectively in a statewide contest. The results spoke clearly and unequivocally. Party members across Ogun State overwhelmingly voted for Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi because they believe in his leadership capacity, experience and vision for the state,” Oladele said.
The APC chieftain further pointed to the voting pattern in Tube Ward in Ipokia Local Government Area, Hunye’s home ward, as evidence of the aspirant’s inability to command support even within his immediate political constituency. According to Oladele, party members in Tube ward voted massively for Senator Adeola Yayi, “demonstrating that you cannot build something on nothing; even those closest to Hunye preferred the eventual winner of the primary election;
“The fact that Senator Adeola secured overwhelming support in Mr. Hunye’s own ward of Tube is significant. Hunye was outrightly rejected in his ward. Politics begins from one’s immediate constituency. When an aspirant is unable to secure any support from his own ward, it becomes difficult to convince others that he possesses the statewide appeal required to win a governorship election,” he said.
“I don’t know what was his motive for contesting because victory could not have fallen on his lap just like that, even though, there are speculations that he is being used by certain opposition elements to scuttle the Ogun West Agenda. Whatever it was, time will surely tell but it is a fact that you cannot cut your nose to spite your face”.
Oladele maintained that the APC primary election was transparent, credible and reflective of the wishes of party members across the three senatorial districts of the state. He argued that the outcome confirmed Senator Adeola’s status as the most widely accepted aspirant in the race.
He added that Senator Yayi’s victory was the product of years of political engagement, strategic grassroots mobilization and sustained investment in the welfare of party members and the people of Ogun State.
According to the former federal lawmaker, APC members must now focus on strengthening party unity and consolidating the momentum generated by the primary election rather than dwelling on issues arising from the contest.
“The primary election has come and gone. The party has spoken through its members and produced a candidate who enjoys broad support across Ogun State- something that had never happened before in the history of the State. The responsibility before all of us now is to work together, close ranks and ensure victory for the APC in the forthcoming election. Personal ambitions must give way to the collective interest of the party and the people of Ogun State,” Oladele stated.
He warned against actions and statements capable of creating divisions within the party, stressing that APC’s chances in the forthcoming election would be enhanced by unity, discipline and unwavering support for its candidate, Senator Olamilekan Adeola Yayi.
Oladele expressed confidence that Senator Adeola’s emergence as the party’s flag bearer would strengthen the APC’s prospects in the governorship election, describing him as a candidate with the experience, capacity and widespread acceptance needed to lead Ogun State to greater heights.
