ABEOKUTA–The Joint political groups, an affiliate to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abeokuta South Local Government area of Ogun State have reteraites it’s stands to the decisions of elders and leaders in the council on the emergency of Hon. Omolaja Majekodunmi and Surv. Sotayo Iretiolu as the Chairmanship and Vice-Chairmanship respectively.
The Groups which include;
DA like-minds; Independent Campaign Group (ICG); APC Youth League(APCYL); All Progressives Youth Forum(APYF); Dapo Abiodun Youth Movement(DAYM) and Afo Liberation Forum (ALF) said the groups have jointly and unanimously thrown their weight behind the decision of the leaders and Elders of the council.
The Co-ordinator, Abeokuta South Joint Political Group Forum, Mr Ali Mohammed made this known in a joint press conference held at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta Sunday.
According to the Co-ordinator, who stated that their decision is predicated on the wise saying that elders are wise and visionary, adding that they have the knowledge and a clear understanding of all the Aspirants.
“The leadership of the leading political groups affiliated to the All Progressives Congress, APC in Abeokuta South Local Government Alongside their respective members have jointly and unanimously thrown their weight behind the decision of the leaders and Elders on the Candidature of Hon. Omolaja Majekodunmi and Surv. Sotayo Iretiolu as the Chairmanship and Vice-Chairmanship Flag-bearers of the APC in the forthcoming Local Government Election in the state.
“It is also predicated on the maxim that “Elders are wise and visionary”! And this is suffice to say that they have the knowledge and a clear understanding of all the Aspirants who jostled for the seat and settled for the most credible alternative.
“Furthermore, Hon. Majekodunmi and Surv. Sotayo are loyal party men, upright in their dealings, immaculate hearts, humble and season administrators. They are professionals with traceable sources of income. Therefore, the development of Abeokuta South Local Government in line with the vision and mission of Governor Dapo Abiodun, MFR won’t be a herculean task for them.
“In the same vein, the fact that Abeokuta South is the foremost Local Government in Egbaland and Nigeria, we cannot afford its name to be pulled through the mire by supporting a chairmanship candidate whom we cannot validate his source of income or the one that won’t be confidential with the party and government secrets all in an attempt to make money.
“We don’t want to experience another unpleasant image in which Mr Abidemi Rufai has projected the state before the International community which subjected the state to ridicule in the committee of States in the country”, he stated
He therefore call on the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to atune to the decision of the leaders and Elders in the choice of the party Candidate as resolved.
Mainwhile, in a chat with Hon Adedayo Akintoye, a Chairmanship aspirant, he sited the consensus adoption of the sitting Caretaker Chairman of the Local Government Council, Mr Ayodeji Shomide which was based on his wonderful performance despite the ad-hoc nature of his office.
He stressed that with respect to all factors of suitability for nomination as Chairmanship candidate to contest and win the forthcoming Local Government elections for the party, loaded with requisite potential of his electoral value to spread spill-over effects on the Councillorship seats, Mr Ayodeji Shomide remains a candidate to beat.
“Think about the candidates of other political parties, Mr Ayodeji Shomide stands out as a winning progressive candidate who is able to square it up victoriously for the elective Chairmanship position without political rancour”, he stressed.
Hon. Akintoye also maintained that the choice of Mr Ayodeji Shomide from the blow of whistle by the party leaders within the Local Government chapter of the party has, upon his subsequent appointment as the Caretaker Chairman by the state administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR paid off in no small measure.
As the deadline for the submission of candidate names draws nearer, it is yet to be seen how the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), would resolve all the lingering aspirants crisis across the 20 Local Government Areas in order to keep it’s house in order going into the 2023 general elections.
