- Speaks On Backing APC Guber Aspirants
- As Fayemi, Amosun’s Camp Strategizes For Governor
The former Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, dismissed a popular claim that he is backing one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants, seeking to get the party’s governorship ticket in Ondo state against incumbent Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
However, Tinubu quickly said that party members in the state should be able to “determine if the governor (Akeredolu) or another one of our able candidates is the person they prefer to lead the state”.
The APC governorship primary has been slated for July 20 and ahead of the date many of the aspirants who believed that Tinubu, a national leader of the APC is opposed to Governor Akeredolu’s re-election have been seeking his endorsement in order to have the upper hand in the primary fixed for next week Monday.
Some of the aspirants had expected a repeat of Tinubu’s action during the 2016 governorship election in the state. It was widely regarded then that Tinubu endorsed one of his allies, Dr. Segun Abraham.
Abraham, however, lost the primary to Akeredolu, who became the eventual winner of the governorship election.
Tinubu, in a statement released on Thursday by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Tunde Rahman titled: ‘Re: Ondo Guber Poll May Lead to Crisis in South-West APC’, said he has no anointed candidate in the Ondo governorship election and he is not seeking to influence the outcome of the primary scheduled to hold on July 20.
According to him, he is only seeking a keen, free and fair contest where all the aspirants would have a level playing field at the next Monday’s primary.
He said he wants a credible primary that is “is run according to the dictates of internal democracy and are devoid of bias for or against any candidate.
“In the matter of Ondo governorship race, Asiwaju Tinubu has stated his impartiality. As a leader of the party, he has no favoured or disfavoured candidate in the race. Neither is he trying to influence matters behind the scene in any regard.
“His hope is that all credible and strong party members who seek the nomination will be able to face each other in a fair contest. Let them compete for the party’s banner openly and without imbalance or slant in the contest”.
“Whoever reaches the finish line before the others, shall be the nominee of the party for the elections later this year. Asiwaju will gladly and actively stand by the party’s candidate to win the general election.
“It is at that point that you will see Asiwaju in strong action in support of a candidate. When you see him in action there shall be no mistake as to what his objectives are. The APC candidate will have a formidable ally at his side.
“Thus, the suggestion given by the report that Asiwaju has a favourite candidate is a fabrication of great falsity. Thus, he will not roil if a candidate is disqualified provided that the disqualification is based on a non-biased examination of the factual record.
“Interestingly, the party’s Screening Committee led by Alhaji Tumsa has not officially stated that it has disqualified any aspirant. If any aspirant is disqualified, however, such an aspirant has the right of appeal”.
Speaking further, Tinubu said he wishes Governor Akeredolu well and he believes the governor should be given the opportunity to present his scorecard to party members who will then determine if they want him to continue in office or not.
While saying primaries promotes competition of ideas and programmes, Tinubu added that primary should not be seen as a form of disrespect to incumbent governors.
“Those who try to pit Asiwaju Tinubu against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu should also cease their fable rousing. Asiwaju holds good will toward Governor Akeredolu. He believes the governor should have the opportunity to set out his record and resume before party members and let them determine if the governor or another one of our able candidates is the person they prefer to lead the state”.
“One would expect the governor to have a solid chance in the primaries. Yet, along with the governor, the party has the benefit of numerous capable candidates seeking the nomination”.
“Too many people incorrectly see a strong field of candidates as something wrong. They do not understand democracy and are thus behind the times. Allowing those who feel the civic duty free space to run for office strengthens the party and our overall democracy”.
“There should be competition of ideas and programs. Such competition brings vitality. This does not connote disrespect to the incumbent. It merely exalts the democratic ideal”.
“In the end, Asiwaju is for the party and the candidate chosen by the party, who that will be, the primary will tell us” the statement reads.
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo, Mr. Benjamin Akindola while reacting to the position as canvassed by Tinubu said, the action has doused political tension in the APC ahead of its primary.
Akindola said: “We are happy with the statement from Asiwaju that he has no anointed candidate in the primary but will throw his weight behind whoever emerges the party’s candidate. It has really doused the political tension in the state ahead of the primary and has also provided a level playing field for all the aspirants. It also portrays Asiwaju as father who of all who is passionate about unity in the South-West.”
The aspirants cleared to contest the primary election are: Governor Rotimi Akeredolu; Mr. Joseph Olusola Iji; Odimayo John; Olayide Adelami; Kekemeke Isaacs; Olusola Oke; Ifeoluwa Oyedele; Olajumoke Anifowoshe; Awodeyi Akinola; Adetula Olarogha; Dr. Abraham Olusegun and Dr. Nathaniel Adojutelegan.
Meanwhile, while conversations are currently on whether Tinubu will fully back Governor Akeredolu’s emergence at APC’s primary and subsequently, his re-election, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state and former governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun are leading the battle to ensure Akeredolu is re-elected.
Also, political pundits have posited that the Ondo election is set to expose the often reported cracks in the Southwest APC as political leaders in the region continue to wet the ground for the larger 2023 power play.
